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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. Why does Frank buy postcards in Arezzo?

2. What is ironic about the setting around Frank when he calls Eda about going to Florence?

3. Why are most of the things that they see while window shopping in Florence unsuitable for Eda?

4. In the restaurant in Spoleto, what is Frank distracted by?

5. What reason does Eda give for refusing to go to Florence with Frank and Alan?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Frank decide not to tell Alan about his conversation with Eda, and why?

2. What is symbolic about the car that Frank and Alan are in while they tour Europe?

3. What is Eda's reaction to Frank's explanation of the situation with Alan, and how does Frank treat her decision?

4. What does Brenda suggest to Frank about New York, and what is it implied that she is hinting about?

5. What has happened in Brenda's life since she and Frank broke up?

6. What does the narrative imply happens between Alan and Eda on the night before the story ends, and what is Alan's reaction to it in the morning?

7. When the second part of the story opens, where are Alan and Frank, and who is with them?

8. In the hotel bar in Spoleto, what does Alan tell Frank about Europe, and what is Frank's response?

9. What do Frank and Brenda fight about when it is time for her to leave Italy, and how does Alan become involved in the argument?

10. What joke does Brenda make about Italians during the conversation about espresso?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Salter has said that he does not agree that his sensibility as a writer is "French," but that regardless, he very much admires French writers for their lack of sentimentality. Write an essay that considers both to what extent "American Express" reveals this disdain for sentimentality and how this impacts its readers. Support your claims with textual evidence.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay that makes and defends a claim about the significance of alcohol in "American Express." Support your assertions with evidence from the text.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay that makes a claim about the purpose of including Alan in the story--why not just make the story about Frank, and leave Alan out entirely? Support your assertions with evidence from the text.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 986 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample