Question: (CNN) -- As Easter comes into view, the thoughts of billions of Christians turn to Jerusalem, to a sacred weekend that includes the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Of course, people regard these events with various degrees of literalness. But Easter retains its power.

It is, in fact, the essential Christian celebration, as the Gospels focus hugely on this part of the Jesus story. They describe in slow motion his entry into Jerusalem and the final week leading up to the crucifixion on Good Friday, the uncertain stillness of Holy Saturday, when the world seems to have slipped into total darkness, then the joy of the Resurrection itself, with a sense that boundaries have been broken -- most aggressively, the membrane between life and death.

Questions arise, of course. Did Jesus really rise from the dead? What would that look like? Many Christians imagine some literal wakening from the dead and refuse to accept the slightest hint that the Resurrection might be regarded as symbolic without denigrating it.

Indeed, if you read the Gospel narratives closely, it's not easy to say what actually happened. All four of them skip the actual Resurrection. That is, we never see Jesus waken. The first inkling of change comes when a few women close to him visit the tomb. Accounts differ on who turned up at the tomb that morning: Mary Magdalene, a close friend of Jesus, alone or with Mary, his mother, and with Salome (who is either Mary's sister or the mother of apostles James and John). 1. How many Gospels are there?
2. What is excluded from them?
3. Of whom?
4. Do we know who visited the location of his body?
5. How many Mary's may have been there?
6. What line may have been crossed?
7. What holiday keeps its appeal?
8. And which religion observes it?
9. What part of the bible is it centered around?
10. How long was the journey?
11. How was he executed?
12. What religious holiday is observed on that day?
13. And which one follows?
14. What occured that day?
15. Does the bible ever state that he woke from the dead?
16. But do many believe that it actually occured?
17. Are they willing to entertain any other possibilities?
18. Is it difficult to know the truth about what happened?
19. When is the first hint that something isn't right?
20. Is his mother believed to be one of them? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers: 1. Four
2. the Resurrection
3. Jesus
4. Accounts differ
5. Two
6. between life and death
7. Easter
8. Christians
9. the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus
10. a weekend
11. crucifixion
12. Good Friday
13. Holy Saturday
14. Resurrection
15. no
16. yes
17. no
18. yes
19. a few women visit the tomb
20. yes

Question: Have you ever heard of Back-to-Front Day? It is a festival in Britain. On that day, the adults have to go to school. And the children? They are the policemen and firemen; they sit in the offices and call New York and Paris; they are doctors and nurses. "Stand in the corner, Mr. Bass!" said Mary. Mary was six and had a class of twenty-three men and fifteen women. They were making too much noise. John was a policeman. Though his uniform was too big, he walked down the street with pride. "Hm, why are you not at school?" "Oh, I ... I have something important to do," said the man. "Fiddlesticks !" said John angrily. He took out his notebook. "Name?" he asked. "Mr. Green." John wrote it down and blew his whistle and a police car appeared. "I have a _ here," said John. "Drive him to school!" At the hospital a small doctor climbed on one chair in order to examine Mrs. Brown's throat, and Nurse Jenny took Granny Lisa's temperature. The best part of Back-to-Front Day is in the evening. The children put the adults to bed, very early. They tell them a story, too -- after the adults wash their faces and brush their teeth. How interesting Back-to-Front Day is! 1. Why was John's uniform too big?
2. What is Back to Front Day?
3. What do grownups do?
4. And the kids?
5. What was John
6. How did he feel about that?
7. Why was he mad at Mr. Green?
8. What was his excuse?
9. What did John do with him?
10. How did he summon the police car?
11. How old was Mary?
12. What was her job?
13. Who did she punish?
14. How?
15. What had he done?
16. How big was her class?
17. Who was a nurse?
18. What did she do?
19. What did the kids do early that evening?
20. What did the adults do before bed? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers: 1. unknown
2. a festival
3. They go to school
4. They are the policemen and firemen
5. a policeman.
6. Proud
7. Because he wasn't at school.
8. I have something important to do
9. Had him driven to the school
10. blew his whistle
11. six
12. She is a teacher
13. Mr. Bass
14. She made him stand in the corner
15. Made too much noise
16. 38 adults
17. Jenny
18. took Granny Lisa's temperature.
19. put the adults to bed, very early.
20. wash their faces and brush their teeth

Question: CHAPTER X

Peter Steinmarc, now that he was an engaged man, affianced to a young bride, was urgent from day to day with Madame Staubach that the date of his wedding should be fixed. He soon found that all Nuremberg knew that he was to be married. Perhaps Herr Molk had not been so silent and discreet as would have been becoming in a man so highly placed, and perhaps Peter himself had let slip a word to some confidential friend who had betrayed him. Be this as it might, all Nuremberg knew of Peter's good fortune, and he soon found that he should have no peace till the thing was completed. "She is quite well enough, I am sure," said Peter to Madame Staubach, "and if there is anything amiss she can finish getting well afterwards." Madame Staubach was sufficiently eager herself that Linda should be married without delay; but, nevertheless, she was angry at being so pressed, and used rather sharp language in explaining to Peter that he would not be allowed to dictate on such a subject. "Ah! well; if it isn't this year it won't be next," said Peter, on one occasion when he had determined to show his power. Madame Staubach did not believe the threat, but she did begin to fear that, perhaps, after all, there might be fresh obstacles. It was now near the end of November, and though Linda still kept her room, her aunt could not see that she was suffering from any real illness. When, however, a word was said to press the poor girl, Linda would declare that she was weak and sick--unable to walk; in short, that at present she would not leave her room. Madame Staubach was beginning to be angered at this; but, for all that, Linda had not left her room. 1. Who was enaged?
2. to who?
3. did they pick a date yet?
4. Who was he trying to get to set it?
5. what was so special about the bride?
6. was she a poor girl?
7. was she well?
8. why did she stay in her room?
9. how did the Masdame feel about this?
10. did Linda end up leaving?
11. When was Peter to have peace?
12. Did Madame wan to delay the wedding?
13. How did she feel about being pressed?
14. What did she tell Peter?
15. did he attempt to assert his power?
16. how?
17. Did she take this as a threat?
18. did she believe the threat?
19. What month was it?
20. did she believe Linda had a real illness? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers:
1. Peter Steinmarc
2. a young bride
3. No
4. Madame Staubach
5. Linda kept her room
6. Yes
7. No
8. Linda said she was weak and sick--unable to walk
9. Angered
10. No
11. When the thing was completed
12. No
13. Angry
14. Hee would not be allowed to dictate on such a subject
15. Yes
16. By saying "if it isn't this year it won't be next"
17. No
18. No
19. November
20. No