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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the fifth idea?

2. What is the third idea?

3. What is Kobbi's profession?

4. Of what can no one name an instance?

5. When the man tells a story of a missed business venture, who was the person who gave him the initial advice?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Arkad challenge the men to think of when they ask about luck?

2. What are some of the lessons that the tablets reveal?

3. What does Algamish ask of Arkad in exchange for his financial advice?

4. What is the second story of Mathon (about the objects Mathon keeps in his token chest) meant to teach?

5. Who has lost all his gold and can not buy himself food at the start of this chapter?

6. How can a man prepare for the future beyond his time on earth right now?

7. What does Bansir do for a living?

8. What is Debasir eating as he teaches his companion?

9. Why did Babylon finally fall to invaders?

10. What happens when fate does reward someone, per Arkad?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is on each of the five clay tablets of Dabasir? Why did Dabasir keep track of his financial growth on these tablets in the first place? Is this record keeping consistent with the Babylonian times? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

After hearing the story of Sharru Nada and Arad Gula, Hadan Gula seems to understand the lesson of having to work hard in order to gain wealth. But does it seem as though this story will actually drive the grandson to work as hard? If you were to hear such a story about your grandparent, would it compel you to change your life? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

The idea of luck and its misfortune is brought up at several points of the book. But when Arkad cautions the men against gambling, do you think this goes against his other advice about taking immediate action? If someone does something quickly and without hesitation, Arkad seems to say that this is a favorable way to live and to amass wealth. But at the same time, it's risky. Does Arkad contradict himself in the fourth chapter, in your opinion?

(see the answer keys)

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