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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, according to Sinuhe's father, is the most important thing for a young man to learn if he wants to be leader among his people?
(a) To write.
(b) To know how to open a skull.
(c) To speak well.
(d) To know the royal family.

2. The morning after Sinuhe and Minea have slept on the boat escaping from Babylon, what is the noise they hear?
(a) The slaves on the land.
(b) The men working.
(c) Kaptah beating on the inside of the jar.
(d) An approaching storm.

3. Why will Minea not board the second vessel bound for Crete from Hatti?
(a) The master of the vessel stared at her.
(b) The vessel looks unsafe.
(c) The vessel is cursed.
(d) The master of the vessel has evil eyes.

4. What does Sinuhe transport Kaptah in to get him to the boat to escape Babylon?
(a) He dresses him like a woman.
(b) Rolled in a mat.
(c) Hidden in a barrel.
(d) In a large earthenware jar.

5. After Sinuhe falls in love with Minea, what does he want her to do?
(a) Return to Babylon.
(b) Return to her home so they can be married.
(c) Go the Smyrna.
(d) Renounce her god.

Short Answer Questions

1. When Sinuhe admits to the priest that the god Ammon did not speak to him, what do the priests and his classmates do?

2. What fate awaits Minea in her homeland?

3. What color are Nefernefernefer's eyes?

4. How does Horemheb make money on his men after he give them their rewards?

5. What does everyone know about the opening of the pharaoh's skull?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Horemheb want Sinuhe to be his spy? What does Sinuhe have to offer that others cannot? What does Sinuhe have to gain from this experience? Will this affect Sinuhe's life if and when he returns to Egypt? Why? Why not?

2. What is important about being able to read more than one Egyptian character at a time? How does this make the reader different in the eyes of others?

3. What are the two truths of the young prince and Horemheb? How are they in conflict from the beginning? How does Horemheb argue with the sickly young prince about his truth when he first meets him? What does Horemheb fear of the future?

4. What does the Keeper of the Archives In Hatti tell Sinuhe about the King? What is he warning Sinuhe about? What will happen in the future for the lands around Hatti?

5. When Ptahor is opening the skull of the pharaoh, the young prince steps forward and speaks of a blessing from the god Aton. How does Ptahor react to this? Why does he react as he does?

6. Why do Kipa and Senmut tell their neighbors that Kipa gave birth to Sinuhe? Why does Senmut register Sinuhe in the book of births? What will this do for Sinuhe later in life? What difference will this make in his life?

7. Explain how embalming works int he House of Death. What do the priest tell people who bring their loved ones for preparation for burial? What do they actually do? How does Sinuhe view this?

8. Why does Sinuhe continue to give Nefernefernefer all he possesses? Why can he not pull himself away from her? What is her appeal to Sinuhe? What is his behavior a metaphor for?

9. In Babylon, the astrologers know the heavenly bodies. What does this tell us about the people of Babylon? Is this advanced science for the time? Why? Why not? How will this knowledge affect the gods that they worship?

10. What is Ptahor's job? Is this a cure for any disease or is this a quick way to die? Why do you think Ptahor is called to the pharaoh?

(see the answer keys)

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