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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Taita do before he tells Pharaoh that Lostris is pregnant again?
(a) He tells Tanus that the child is really his.
(b) He casts the horoscope to see if the child will be born under good stars.
(c) He consults the oracles to see if the child will be a boy.
(d) He offers sacrifices of thanks at the temple of Hapi.

2. When Tanus accuses Lord Intef of being the chief of the Shrikes, what is Lord Intef's reaction?
(a) He runs through the small sacristy door.
(b) He laughs.
(c) He stands silent.
(d) He begins denying everything vigorously.

3. How does Pharaoh react to the accusations of Lord Intef's guilt?
(a) He condemns Lord Intef immediately.
(b) He wavers, wanting the accusations to be false.
(c) He gives Lord Intef one year to prove himself innocent.
(d) He forgives Lord Intef after only a few moments.

4. Why are the Egyptians easily able to capture the Shilluk village in Cush?
(a) The men are out on the plain hunting oryx.
(b) The people had been betrayed by their chief.
(c) The people are not hunters and thus not prepared to defend themselves.
(d) The village is small and insignificant.

5. How old is Lostris when she becomes queen?
(a) Thirty.
(b) Twenty-one.
(c) Twenty.
(d) Forty-five.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where does the Shepherd King shoot his first arrow as the battle begins?

2. Why does Queen Lostris establish a stone monument just past the first cataract?

3. How does Taita map out the Nile as the ships travel on it?

4. Why is Taita filled with terror when he sees the dust cloud of the approaching enemy?

5. What is a large part of a physician's training?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do Lostris and Tanus disagree over the fate of the Hyksos horses? How does this argument illustrate their respective places in society?

2. When Tanus returns to Thebes to reveal Akh-Seth and exonerate himself from the death penalty, what sounds are there? How do the sounds, especially voices, help to explain the scene?

3. At age five, how does Memnon begin to assert himself? How does Smith draw out the contradictions between his age and his social position? What does Memnon's attitude predict for the future?

4. What is the reaction of both Tanus and Pharaoh to the news of Lostris's pregnancy? What do their reactions say about their personal priorities?

5. How does Lord Intef die? Considering his life, is this a suitable death? Why?

6. Why do the common people love Lostris? What does she do to encourage their love? How does she prepare the way for their acceptance of Memnon as rule?

7. Who is Arkoun? Why is he a powerful man? At the same time, what in Taita's descriptions portray him as a pathetic man?

8. What does Taita call the worst day in Egypt's history? Why does he say this? How is he one of the central characters in the actions of this day, though it may not seem like it?

9. How does Taita justify the enslavement of the Shilluk people? What does he observe about their customs and what does he seek to change? How do the Shilluk customs of marriage differentiate, in a large part, their culture from that of the Egyptians?

10. How does Pharaoh bring justice following the revelation of Lord Intef as Akh-Seth? How is his punishment for the Shrikes suitable? Additionally, how is it the harshest punishment an Egyptian can suffer?

(see the answer keys)

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