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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. Who claims that Galileo would damn him if he (Galileo) would not see him?

2. What philosopher does Galileo and Andrea study in regard to objects floating?

3. Who does Galileo tell Virginia invited him to Padua?

4. Where does Scene VII open?

5. What does Signor Gaffone give to Virginia, "in mint condition," to give to her father?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Andrea say the inquisition was doing to the "truth"?

2. What lie does Galileo tell Virginia about being summoned by The Duke?

3. What did the astronomer at the University tell Virginia about her horoscope?

4. What does the Court's expect to happen at 5:00 on the day of Galileo's inquisition?

5. What problems does Virginia find with Galileo traveling to Padua and taking time off?

6. In the opening of Scene VII, why does the "Little Monk" admit to Galileo that he has not been able to sleep?

7. What do the experiment with the iron needle and water prove?

8. What was Galileo speaking about to the "Little Monk" when he spoke of his feelings for beauty and truth?

9. Why does Vanni want Galileo to leave Florence?

10. What were the problems that Galileo faced with living in both Florence and the Republic regarding the Discorsi?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many times, Galileo implied that a woman's place was not in the scientific world. Find at least two examples and discuss how these thoughts contradicted Galileo's teachings using textual evidence from the play.

Essay Topic 2

"He who does not know the truth is merely an idiot, but he who knows it and calls it a lie, is a criminal." Both Galileo and Andrea spoke these words during the action of the play. Find and discuss two references to being an "idiot" and a "criminal" in the play. Who was regarded as an "idiot"? Why? Who was regarded as a "criminal"? Why?

Essay Topic 3

Two of the scientific instruments/discoveries that Galileo made were concepts derived by other people. Discuss what kind of person/scientist that made Galileo. Do you think that science is a constantly evolving theory? Can discoveries be made by one person alone? Or did Galileo have the right, as a scientist, to "better" what had been made/speculated on to that point?

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