Answer the questions at the end based on the text.

According to the canonical gospels, Jesus, whom Christians believe to be the Son of God as well as the Messiah (Christ), was arrested, tried, and sentenced by Pontius Pilate to be scourged, and finally crucified by the Romans. Jesus was stripped of his clothing and offered wine mixed with gall to drink, before being crucified. He was then hung for six hours (according to Mark's Gospel) between two convicted thieves. During this time, the soldiers affixed a sign to the top of the cross stating "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews" in three languages. They then divided his garments among them, but cast lots for his seamless robe. After Jesus' death they pierced his side with a spear to be certain that he had died. The Bible records seven statements that Jesus made while he was on the cross, as well as several supernatural events that occurred.

The baptism of Jesus and his crucifixion are considered to be two historically certain facts about Jesus. James Dunn states that these "two facts in the life of Jesus command almost universal assent" and "rank so high on the 'almost impossible to doubt or deny' scale of historical facts" that they are often the starting points for the study of the historical Jesus. Bart Ehrman states that the crucifixion of Jesus on the orders of Pontius Pilate is the most certain element about him. John Dominic Crossan states that the crucifixion of Jesus is as certain as any historical fact can be. Eddy and Boyd state that it is now "firmly established" that there is non-Christian confirmation of the crucifixion of Jesus. Craig Blomberg states that most scholars in the third quest for the historical Jesus consider the crucifixion indisputable. Christopher M. Tuckett states that, although the exact reasons for the death of Jesus are hard to determine, one of the indisputable facts about him is that he was crucified.

1. How many hours was Jesus hung
2. What did the sign above the cross translate to
3. What is a historical fact about Jesus
4. What do eddy and Boyd believe to be true
5. Who is Pontius Pilate
6. After his death why did they spear him
7. Where was it that they used to spear
8. How many statements does the Bible state Jesus said
9. What do Christians believe about Jesus
10. What was a fact James Dunn believed

Numbered answers:

A: 1. 6 hours
2. Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews
3. Baptism
4. The crucifixion of Jesus.
5. The one who arrested, tried, and sentenced Jesus.
6. To check that he died
7. his side
8. Seven
9. Jesus is the Son of God and the Messiah (Christ)
10. Jesus was baptized and crucified

Question: Edda, a Little Valkyrie's First Day of School

Written and illustrated by Adam Auerbach.

32 pp. Christy Ottaviano/Holt. $15.50.

Edda's home is in Asgard, "a land full of magic and adventure." But Edda, the littlest Valkyrie, doesn't have quite enough to do, until her father flies her "all the way to Earth for the first day of school."

The contrast between home and school is hard to get used to (in one, she can ride reindeer; in the other she gazes guinea pig through glass at the classroom). In his first picture book, Auerbach mixes the two worlds perfectly. Children are likely to appreciate the joke.

Planet Kindergarten

By Sue Ganz-Schmitt. Illustrated by Shane Prigmore.

32 pp. Chronicle. $14.99.

After careful preparations and a successful blastoff, a boy finds himself in a very unfamiliar environment. "We're aliens from many galaxies on Planet Kindergarten," he reflects as he sees his very varied classmates for the first time.

Prigmore, who designs for the movie industry, uses black backgrounds and bright colors to give this space adventure visual excitement and humor.

The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade

By Justin Roberts. Illustrated by Christian Robinson.

42 pp. Putnam. $18.99.

It makes sense that the author of the long, rhyming lines in "The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade" is a children's music performer. The story is about the power of one small person to fight prejudice.

Sally, whom no one ever seems to notice, is "paying super extra special attention" to the "terrible stuff" happening around her. When she decides to take action, she's not alone for long.

And Two Boys Booed

By Judith Viorst.

32 pp. Margaret Ferguson/Farrar, Straus & Giroux. $16.59.

Ever felt quietly confident one minute, and a shaking mess the next? In Viorst's story about determination, a little boy wakes up thinking about singing his song in the class talent show. 1. What book is written by Justin Roberts? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers: 1. The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade

Q: (CNN) -- Sen. John McCain's senior domestic policy adviser said Tuesday that the BlackBerry mobile e-mail device was a "miracle that John McCain helped create."

The adviser, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, discussing the nation's economic woes with reporters, said that McCain -- who has struggled to stress his economic credentials -- did have experience dealing with the economy, pointing to his time on the Senate Commerce Committee.

Pressed to provide an example of what McCain had accomplished on that committee, Holtz-Eakin said the senator did not have jurisdiction over financial markets, then he held up his Blackberry, telling reporters: "He did this."

"Telecommunications of the United States, the premiere innovation in the past 15 years, comes right through the Commerce Committee. So you're looking at the miracle that John McCain helped create," Holtz-Eakin said. "And that's what he did. He both regulated and deregulated the industry."

During the 2000 presidential campaign, Vice President Al Gore drew controversy when he said that during his time in Congress, he "took the initiative in creating the Internet" -- based on his work promoting funding and early research in that area.

The Obama campaign responded to the McCain adviser's comments Tuesday shortly after they were reported.

"If John McCain hadn't said that 'the fundamentals of our economy are strong' on the day of one of our nation's worst financial crises, the claim that he invented the BlackBerry would have been the most preposterous thing said all week," said Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton.

Meanwhile, McCain senior aide Matt McDonald said that the senator "laughed" when he heard the comment.

1. John McCain
2. the Blackberry
3. a mobile device
4. regulating the telecommunications industry
5. the Senate Commerce Committee
6. the economy
7. creating the internet
8. 2000
9. Vice President
10. president
11. with funding and research
12. controversy
13. a financial crisis
14. the claim that he invented the BlackBerry
15. preposterous
16. fundamentals
17. Obama campaign spokesman
18. Matt McDonald
19. he laughed
20. Telecommunications

Numbered questions:
1. Who is Douglas an adviser to?
2. What is he trying to give credit to John McCain for?
3. What is that?
4. How did he say he contributed?
5. What committee was he part of?
6. What did that give him experience in?
7. What id Al Gore try to take credit for?
8. When?
9. What was his job when he claimed this?
10. What was he trying to become in 2000?
11. How did he help with making the internet
12. What did this statement create?
13. What was happening when McCain called the economy strong?
14. What did that overshadow?
15. What did Obama call it?
16. What part of the economy did McCain think were in good shape?
17. Who is Bill Burton?
18. Who is McCain's senior aide?
19. how did he respond to Burton's comment?
20. What does Holtz-Eakin think is the best invention?