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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. Where does the ship anchor in Chapter 57?

2. Who is a famous ancient person who had a part in the history of Ephesus?

3. Who do the travelers drop in on to say hello while they are in Odessa?

4. What is Twain given in Smyrna that he puts under his hat?

5. What does Twain hail as the only way to travel?

Short Essay Questions

1. Expecting the worst on the trip to Sevastopol, the group is on alert and a bit scared about what might happen. Describe the group's experience and how they react to the Russians.

2. On a hill in Smyrna are layers of broken crockery and oyster shells. Twain is perplexed by who might have put these items in such an odd place. What are some of the possible origins for the shells and crockery given by Twain in Chapter 39?

3. Though the excursion is now complete, Twain and several of his friends feel that there is something missing. Where do they decide to go and why?

4. The men come upon young Jack on the verge of destroying an innocent turtle. What is Jack's issue with the turtle, and what does that tell you about Jack's personality?

5. Twain and the group have, to this point, been surrounded by foreigners with nothing to gain from the group but their money. Their experience with the Russians is happily different. What happens to make the group feel this way?

6. Twain finds himself quoting the writer of "Life in the Holy Land" referring to Palestine as monotonous and uninviting. However, Twain also offers his own description of Palestine. How does he feel about the area?

7. Describe some of the historical areas that the group can see from the hill 1,200 feet above the Lake of Galilee.

8. Describe the actions of the group once the ship drops anchor in Egypt. Who ends up on the ship with them?

9. Twain's caravan stops at a fountain for a rest period on its way to Damascus. What observation does Twain make at this fountain, and how does it make him feel?

10. Mark Twain is eager to oblige the New York Herald's request for a complimentary summary of the excursion . What does Twain do to make the document more readable and user friendly?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the travelers' attitude toward tour guides. Why do they rename the guides? Do you think it is genuinely for ease of pronunciation, or do you think they feel a need to depersonalize the person guiding their every move? Why? Is it something you would expect from an American? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

There are several situations mentioned in the book that Twain finds disturbing, such as the naked girl in Egypt. Describe another situation that Twain finds disturbing. Why do you think these events have such an impact on his psyche? Is it simply because it is something not commonly seen in America, or do you think it has something to do with prejudice? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Twain uses other people's words to write his article at times. For example, when in Nazareth, he copies an extract from the Apocryphal New Testament. Why do you think he does this? Twain doesn't strike one as a person in want of words, so why is it important to note that he does quote other writers?

(see the answer keys)

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