MESOPOTAMIA GAME

THE SITUATION

YOU ARE BUILDING A HOME FOR A WEALTHY MAN. THE COST OF THE HOME IS A FLAT RATE, MEANING IF YOU GO OVER-BUDGET, THE EXTRA MONEY WILL COME OUT OF YOUR POCKET. YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN 20 SHEKELS, AND YOU’LL MAKE A SERIES OF DECISIONS IN BUILDING YOUR HOME. KEEP IN MIND, THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES TO THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE.

CHOICE 1

• YOU’RE DECIDING WHAT TYPE OF TRANSPORTATION YOU SHOULD USE TO GET YOUR BUILDING MATERIALS TO THE CONSTRUCTION SITE. WHAT TYPE OF TRANSPORTATION WILL YOU USE?

A) I’LL CARRY THE MATERIALS MYSELF!

B) I’LL HIRE SOMEONE ELSE TO CARRY THEM FOR ME.

C) I’LL RENT A TEAM OF OXEN TO MOVE MY MATERIALS.

CHOICE 2

• YOU’RE TRYING TO SAVE MONEY BY BUYING A TREE. THE MAN SELLING THE TREE GIVES YOU A SET PRICE. HOW WILL YOU BUY THE TREE?

A) I’LL PAY HIS PRICE. AFTER ALL, IT’S STILL BETTER THAN PAYING MORE FOR THE MATERIALS ELSEWHERE.

B) I’LL NEGOTIATE WITH THE MAN. I THINK I CAN GET THE TREE FOR EVEN CHEAPER THAN THE MAN’S ASKING PRICE.

C) I’LL SNEAK ONTO THE MAN’S LAND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND CHOP THE TREE DOWN WITHOUT PAYING FOR IT!

CHOICE 3

• NOW THAT YOU’VE MADE ALL THE NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS FOR BUILDING THE HOUSE, YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO BUY THE REST OF THE REQUIRED MATERIALS. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO YOU, BUT THE COST WILL COME OUT OF YOU POCKET. WHAT WILL YOU DO?

A) I’LL BUY THE CHEAP MATERIALS. THEY SAVE MONEY FOR ME! (3 SHEKELS)

B) I’LL BUY THE MORE EXPENSIVE MATERIALS. WITH THEM, I CAN MAKE SURE THE HOME I’M BUILDING IS OF HIGH QUALITY. (6 SHEKELS)