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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 role does Shear-jashub say Jews in Babylon have played in history?

2. What information does Ahmed Rish refuse to give Jacob Hausner?

3. Why is helping the rescue operation a no-lose situation for the Iraqi government?

4. What connection does Benjamin Dobkin, like most Jews, have with Babylon?

5. What other group suffered disproportionate losses?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Dr. Al-Thanni remind Joshua Giddel of Archimedes?

2. Why does Miriam Bernstein believe the role of the scribe is so important?

3. Who suffered disproportionately during the captivity, and why?

4. What motives does Nathan Burg attribute to Jacob Hausner for wanting to stay behind when the aircraft left the mountaintop?

5. Why does Benjamin Dobkin initially direct is call to Athens, and then change his mind?

6. Why do Jacob Hausner and Nathan Burg conclude that the conduct of a war is too important to be left to politicians?

7. How and when was Jeremiah's prophecy fulfilled that said, "The sea shall come up upon Babylon; she is covered with the multitude of the waves thereof"?

8. Why does Miriam Bernstein believe that Jacob Hausner wanted to stay behind?

9. Why does Benjamin Dobkin have a sense of deja vu when he enters by the Ishtar Gate?

10. What advantages does the Sherji, the hot desert wind, give to the attackers?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Pazuzu is a powerful symbol in this story, representing different things to different people. In your essay, analyze its significance to the Arab attackers, to Benjamin Dobkin, and to Rabbi Levin. Whose understanding of the Pazuzu turns out to be more accurate?

Essay Topic 2

Shear-jashub's name, besides identifying him as Jewish, was originally given to the prophet Isaiah's son and has deep significance. Research the meaning of the name and in your essay discuss why you think DeMille selected it for this character.

Essay Topic 3

The setting is critical to this story. In your essay, outline the cultural and political setting in which the characters find themselves. Consider the contrast between the tourists who will come later in the year to visit the site of the ancient Babylonian captivity and the characters who are themselves actually captive there.

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