History Through Film

Period E

Name: ________________________________

Parts of the Test

1. Multiple Choice - /15 points
2. Matching - /6 points
3. Short Answer (5 of 6) - /25 points
4. Movie Reflection - /5 points
____________________________
/50 Points
Part I-Multiple Choice: Choose the correct term that best answers the following questions (1 points each)

____1. The Iran Hostage Crisis was a diplomatic crisis between the _____________ and ___________ which
lasted from __________ until _____________.
a. United States/Iran/1953/1982 c. Iran/Britain/1978/1980
b. United States/Iran/1979/1981 d. Iran/Canada/1979/1981
____2. Tensions between the United States and Iran develop from a 1953 conflict over
a. Natural Resources b. Money c. Overthrowing an Iranian Leader d. Natural Energy
____3. The President of the United States throughout the duration of the Iran Hostage Crisis
a. Ronald Reagan b. Richard Nixon c. Jimmy Carter d. Bill Clinton
____4. By the late 1960s/early 1970s, many Iranians had begun to
a. Show resentment towards the Shah and his government and brutal tactics
b. Idolize with a radical cleric whose ideals broke from the past and gave more autonomy towards the
Iranian people
c. Show increasing confidence in the Shah and his government
d. Both A and B
e. None of the above
____5. By 1979, the revolutionaries had forced the Shah to retreat to
a. United States b. Egypt c. Europe d. Canada
____6. The immediate cause of action for the Iranian students storming the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979
was
a. The election of President Carter
b. President Carter allowing the Shah into U.S. for cancer treatment
c. U.S. involvement in Iran
d. None of the above
____7. The number of hostages held at the U.S. Embassy in 1980 was
a. 60 b. 66 c. 50 d. 52 e. 70
____8. Inside the Embassy, the hostages were subjected to
a. Being blindfolded and paraded in front of TV cameras and jeering crowds
b. Not being allowed to speak or read
c. An uncertainty of fate, not knowing whether or not they would live, be tortured, or killed
d. All of the above
____9. Amongst the Iranian students demands were
a. The return of the Shah for public trial and execution
b. That the United States would not intervene in Iran
c. An apology from the United States
d. All of the above
e. None of the above
____10. In what can be considered somewhat ironic, the hostages were freed on what day
a. Election Day c. President Reagan’s Inauguration
b. New Years d. President Carter’s Inauguration
____11. The number of days the Americans are held hostage in Iran was
a. 444 days b. 600 days c. 555 days d. 200 days e. 88 days
____12. In the movie, once the entrance to the U.S. Embassy is breached, what is the first priority for those
working inside?
a. Flee the building b. shred/burn all documents c. engage in a fight with the Iranians
____13. In the movie the CIA proposes the use of which of the following ideas to free the 6 Americans?
a. Bicycles b. Pose as Teachers c. Pose as Humanitarians d. All the above
____14. According to the movie, what steps does Mendez and the CIA go through in order to make the “fake
movie” seem legitimate?
a. Backing of Hollywood producers b. Advertisement in newspaper
b. Production of a script d. Posters and place cards
e. All are correct
____15. According to the movie, what final hurdle must be cleared before Mendez and the 6 Americans can
obtain tickets and fly out of Iran?
a. Approval from Canada b. approval from President Carter c. approval from Iran

Part II-Matching: Match the following people or terms to their correct definitions. (1 point each)
___1. Canadian ambassador who the 6 Americans live with. a John Chambers

_ 2. Shah of Iran who rules until his takeover in 1979 b. Mohammad Pahlavi

___3. U.S. CIA Agent who frees the 6 Americans in Iran c. Kenneth Taylor

___4. Famous Hollywood makeup artist d. Jack O’Donnell

___5. Name given to the covert rescue of the 6 Americans e. Tony Mendez

___6. U.S. CIA officer, boss of the agent who rescues the Americans f. Canadian Caper
Part III-Short Answers: Respond to 5 of the following in a few sentences. (5 points each)
1. In order for the 6 Americans to escape Iran, what scenario (according to the film) does Mendez come up
with? What does he do to help insure its success/ believability? What does he do to prepare the 6
Americans for their escape?

_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Upon viewing the film, many Iranians believe they were portrayed as, “hysterical, screaming,
untrustworthy, irrational, bearded and lethal antagonists.” Many citizens believe the film portrayed them
as "ugly, poor, strictly religious, fanatical and ignorant.” How do believe the film portrayed the Iranians?
Give an example or two. Is the criticism from the Iranians fair and just?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________

3. In addition to how the Iranians were portrayed, there are several inaccuracies with the film. Canada’s
true role in the plan/escape was not fully shown in the film. The Americans and Mendez never went into
the bazaar. The number of days in Iran was 79 days for the 6.The ending scene at the airport with police
vehicles on the runway and being cross-examined at the airport did not happen; it went very smoothly.
Do you believe this many inaccuracies helps or hurts the film? Or is it a combination of both? Explain.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Once the CIA realizes the six Americans are living with the Canadian ambassador, Jack O’Donnell says
to Tony Mendez, “Brits turned them away. Kiwis turned them away. Canadians took them in.” And
while it is certainly true the Canadians did aid the Americans, Britain and New Zealand diplomats also
came to the aid of the Americans.
The film fails to present the “act of courage, bravery, and risk by the New Zealand diplomats.”
New Zealand Prime Minister, John Key stated, “But in the end, this is Hollywood . . . I think we've
made our point, and we should probably move on.” Do you agree with Prime Minister Key's assertion
that "this is Hollywood" or do you think the New Zealand, Canada, and UK governments were justified
in being offended by the historical inaccuracies?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

5. Considering the strained relationship and tension and hostility between the United States and Iran then
and now, should this film have been made? Could it contribute to further increasing tensions or do
audiences generally accept the mentality of “this is simply Hollywood?” Did Ben Affleck take too many
liberties with the story? Does saying that it is "based on a true story" absolve him of criticism?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

6. Why do you think this operation remained classified until the late 1990s? How would History and the
Iran Hostage Crisis situation been different if the plan had failed?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Part IV – Film Review (5 points)
Though the film contained many inconsistences, do these help or hurt the film? What do you believe the
film did well with? Disregarding some inaccuracies, how would you rate the film (A-Best, F-Worst) for its
overall presentation of the topic? Can History be learned through film?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Automatic Bonus:
There are 51 possible points and this will be graded out of 50, so you
get a free one away!