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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "The Adventure of a Bather", what does Isotta lose?

2. In "Dollars and the Demimondaine", who goes into the bar first?

3. "The Adventure of a Clerk," how does Enrico Gnei feel after starting work?

4. In "The Adventure of a Poet", where do Usnelli and Delia go swimming?

5. In "The Adventure of a Nearsighted Man", why don't people recognize Amilcare?

Short Essay Questions

1. In "Transit Bed", who sleeps in the bed and why?

2. Describe the characters of Delia and Usnelli in "The Adventure of a Poet".

3. Write a synopsis of "The Adventure of a Soldier".

4. Explain the title of "Desire in November".

5. In "The Adventure of a Bather", who is the bather?

6. In "The Adventure of a Reader", why does the woman get mad at Amedeo and what does she do to get his attention?

7. In "The Adventure of a Clerk", what is the clerk doing?

8. In "Dollars and the Demimondaine", how does Emanuele try to get Jolanda out of the bar?

9. In "The Adventure of a Nearsighted Man", what has the man been avoiding and why?

10. In "Desire in November", who is Barbagallo?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Italo Calvino is a critically acclaimed author.

Part 1) Describe Calvino's popularity and place in history as a writer.

Part 2) Explain why he was and still is pivotal to contemporary literature.

Essay Topic 2

Sex is mentioned in many of the stories. Explore and discuss why it is important and why it is necessary.

Essay Topic 3

Explore and discuss examples of social class divisions within the story, being sure to touch upon:

a) Outlooks on life

b) Stereotypes

c) Morality

d) Perception of other classes

Be sure to cite examples from the text.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 750 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample