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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. To what day, did the opening of Scene XII, say that Galileo would be a prisoner of the Church?

2. Whose palace is the beginning of Scene IX set at?

3. What author has Galileo begun to read again? (Revealed by Galileo to the "Little Monk" during their conversation in Scene VII.)

4. What gift is sent to Galileo by "someone passing through"? (Scene XII)

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

Short Essay Questions

1. When at the summoning Galileo, Galileo tells Virginia that he is afraid of Rector Gaffone. Why is Galileo afraid of the Rector?

2. Why does Vanni tell Galileo that he is on his side regarding Galileo's teachings?

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

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

5. What do Andrea and the "Little Monk" compare the possibility of Galileo recanting to?

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

7. Why does Galileo use the satire of Horace to explain the necessity of all parts of his study being present in his observations?

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

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

10. Why does The Grand Duke ask Galileo about his eyesight?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The invention of the telescope creates social unrest given the new discoveries that Galileo comes upon from peering through it. Therefore, based upon the discovery of the telescope, society experiences unrest because of the questions that the new discoveries create in regard to currently socially accepted beliefs, i.e. the Earth is the center of the universe. Based upon this fact, discuss two textually specific examples where scientific discoveries created social unrest. What was the discovery? Why did society react as it did? What was the reaction of Galileo to the unrest? What was the outcome of the unrest?

Essay Topic 2

Ludovico told Galileo about the telescope first being invented in Holland. Galileo then created a replica of his own, based off of Ludovico's description, and presented it to the University as his own. What did this do to the relationship between Galileo and Ludovico? What did this tell Ludovico about Galileo's character and scientific honesty? Why did Ludovico not turn Galileo in for misrepresentation?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the carnival scene. What was important about the scene? What did you learn from the scene? Given that it takes the movement away from the main action of the play, why was the scene necessary?

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