View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. To what location are the travelers heading in Chapter 59?

2. To where are the colonists who have boarded the ship in Chapter 57 going to be taken?

3. Who do the travelers invite onto the ship to teach them the proper way to act when presented to the Emperor?

4. Where does the ship anchor in Chapter 57?

5. What were the people who were taken aboard the ship in Chapter 57 fleeing?

Short Essay Questions

1. The travelers finally reach Nazareth, once said to be home of the Holy Family. What does Twain do to try to make the significance of the place more real for him? Does his method appear to work?

2. The group finally reaches Damascus. How do the citizens of Damascus feel about Christians and why?

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

4. 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?

5. Despite many precautions, what disease does Twain contract, and what are his theories on how he contracted it?

6. 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?

7. 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?

8. Though most of the towns and villages on their pathway through the Holy Land are a disappointment to Twain, the city of Shechem is a pleasant surprise. Describe what makes Shechem so unique.

9. Because the travelers are not permitted in Greece, they decide to move on to Turkey. What are some of the dubious customs of Turkey, and what does Twain say about those customs when comparing them to those of America?

10. Describe the scene of the journey to Mary Magdalene's former home in the tiny, extremely impoverished village of Magdala. How do you think the group feels once it has seen Mary's home and is on its way out?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Smyrna, the group is confronted with a high hill awash with oyster shells and broken pottery. This appears to be an incredible source of consternation for Twain. Why do you think he obsesses so heavily over the origin of these objects so out of context? Do you think he, himself, feels so out of place that he must find a reason for the shells and pottery to justify his reason for being there? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Twain relates several legends during the trip, from entertainments to cautionary tales. What purpose do you think these legends serve? Do you think they are important to the story or extraneous? Why or why not? Select one such story and outline its importance to the story.

Essay Topic 3

Compare/contrast the group's journey through the Holy Land to their journey through France. Though there are some very similar encounters/situations, the Holy Land tour appears to be more appealing to the group overall. What factors do you think contribute to the group's favoring the Holy Land over France? Or, if you believe the opposite to be true, explain why and site examples from the text to support your answers.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,128 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample