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. What is Sachi doing?

2. What does Dan feel at the end of chapter 12?

3. Where does Dan awaken?

4. What do four Hawaiian punks do?

5. What does Dan think is one reason Socrates sends him to Mama Chia?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the third level concern?

2. What is the path to the heart? Does this seem difficult?

3. How does Mama Chia explain the Tower of Seven Floors?

4. Describe Dan's experience of "rebirth."

5. Where does Mama Chia take Dan to stay for a few days and what is his initial response?

6. What do you think Mama Chia means when she says that "The Great Leap" is frightful, but above the heart, it becomes "an elevator ride?"

7. What happens with Dan and the punks and do you think it will have significance later?

8. What does Dan realize he has to do and what do you think that means?

9. What do you think Mama Chia means when she says one must clean the lower floors before ascending to higher floors?

10. Does Dan change his mind about the settlement? How?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

As Mama Chia and Dan are hiking, Mama Chia declares that Dan is strong enough to carry her backpack and sets off. Dan laments, knowing that he is supposed to do something but does nothing. Discuss one of the following:

Analyze what you think Dan is supposed to do and why he seems paralyzed in inaction.

How does Dan finally overcome his inability to do what he is supposed to do?

Do you feel there is something important in your life that you are to do? Discuss your approach to fulfilling that sense of purpose.

Essay Topic 2

Dan says that Mama Chia mentions an Arab aphorism, "Trust God but tie the camel." Discuss the following:

Research and discuss the origins of this saying and to what it originally applied.

How does Mama Chia use it in the context of this book? Does it seem appropriate?

How does Dan respond to her statement? Does he "tie his camel"? Discuss fully.

Essay Topic 3

Dan writes that every day one must choose to master the energy of life or squander it. Discuss the following:

What do you think Dan means by the above statement? Give examples from the text and your own life if applicable.

Analyze and discuss several times in the text when you think Dan squanders the energy of life.

Analyze and discuss several times in the text when you think Dan masters the energy of life.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,164 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample