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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. What sort of stories does Elias's mother teach him?

2. What do the Zionist soldiers tell the people of Biram?

3. What is Elias immersed in at his new home?

4. How do the Zionist soldiers act?

5. Where do Elias and his friend Faraj decide to go?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Elias's teachers view him at the seminary and why?

2. Who was taken out of Gish from Elias's family and who was left?

3. What events of the 1960's colored Elias's view of the church and why?

4. What did Elias begin to do after so many people were taken from the village of Gish? What did he believe about the situation?

5. What happens in Palestine when the United Nations steps into the conflict?

6. What did the new Jewish landowners find out about their land and what did they do about it?

7. How did Elias feel about school and where else did he learn what he considered important?

8. What was Elias's main struggle with understanding Jews?

9. What did the Bishop suggest for Elias?

10. What did Michael Chacour begin to realize about Elias and what did he do about it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Michael Chacour began to realize that Elias, at age twelve, preeminently, was more spiritually oriented than the other children. Accordingly, when the Church Bishop visited, he requested assistance in locating a school for his youngest son. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think it is a positive step for Michael to send a twelve year old away from home for the purpose of schooling? What would be the advantages for Elias? The disadvantages?

2. If you or your child could not obtain the type of schooling you want while living with your family would you being willing to leave at age 12 or send your 12 year old away to school? Why or why not?

3. What are the goals that Michael has for Elias in going away to school? Do you think Elias fulfills those goals?

Essay Topic 2

In "Singled Out," it is the end of 1949, and things had begun to change somewhat. The new Zionist landowners were unschooled in the proper cultivation of the orchards and needed to employ native Palestinians to care for them. Discuss one the following:

1. Compare and contrast Michael's reaction to working in his own orchards as hired help with that of Elias' reaction. Which reaction is more like to how you would feel? Which seems psychologically healthier? Which seems more in line with the doctrines of Christianity?

2. In this same chapter, it states that other villagers left for Haifa, hoping to secure better jobs in the new factories being built by the Jews. What is the irony in both this situation and in that of the former orchard owners working as hired hands in their orchards?

3. How do you think the Jewish families who steal the Palestinian lands justify such actions? Is the land stolen? Or paid for by fair market value? Even if the land is paid for, if the villager does not want to sell but is forced to do so, it that a fair exchange?

Essay Topic 3

In May, 1948, the British withdrew from Palestine completely, leaving the Zionists to pursue their land grabs, blowing up entire villages in their path. Discuss the following:

1. Is there any justification for the Zionist policy towards the Palestinians according to Chacour? Do you think the actions of the Zionist are justfied? Why or why not?

2. What would you have done if your village was suddenly occupied by Zionist soldiers? Would you have welcomed them, tried to sabotage their purpose, or forgiven their actions?

3. How does the guilt that the Europeans experience over the Holocaust contribute to their recognizing Israel despite the violations against native Palestinians?

(see the answer keys)

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