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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. Why does the trip to Damascus have to be made in two days?

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

3. Who is guarding the boys in Chapter 49?

4. What do the pilgrims hand out in Magdala?

5. What is Endor's only fame?

Short Essay Questions

1. On the one-year anniversary of the excursion, Twain returns to say an encore farewell. What does he say about the trip, and what advice does he give future excursionists?

2. Twain notices something about the Russian emperor during their visit that makes the emperor appear even move down to earth and human. What does Twain notice?

3. The group takes a trip to the Egyptian pyramids. What is their reaction to the pyramids, and what object garners the most admiration from the travelers? How much do they admire this object?

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

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

6. 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?

7. 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?

8. What are some of the challenges faced by Twain and his friends when trying to guide their donkeys to Ephesus?

9. 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?

10. 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.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Shechem seems to be a very original place. Describe the people and atmosphere of Shechem. Why do you think the people follow the customs that they do? Compare/contrast the Mount of Blessings and the Mount of Curses. From what do you think their names originated? Why? Do you think Twain is impressed with Shechem and its people? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

There are many points in the story where Twain notes that, though he cannot see or visualize something, it must be true because it was written about. What does this say about Twain? What does this say about his faith in the written word? Select a particular instance that outlines this.

(see the answer keys)

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