View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. From what does Pietrarsa suffer while waiting for the fountain to be built?

2. Why does the mayor of Pietrarsa finally agree to move the fountain?

3. What does the narrator of "The Fountain of Pietrarsa" bet the engineer?

4. What happens every time a plan is made for the fountain in "The Fountain of Pietrarsa"?

5. In "The Fountain of Pietrarsa," what happens while the fountain's construction is halted?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to the statue of San Pantaleone at the end of "The Idolaters"?

2. Why do the townspeople of Pietrarsa gather outside the mayor's house in "The Fountain of Pietrarsa"?

3. What is Giacobbe's plan for his visit to Mascalico?

4. What is the problem with Professor Gori's frock-coat?

5. In "The Fountain of Pietrarsa," how does the engineer feel at the end of the story?

6. Why does the engineer in "The Fountain of Pietrarsa" agree to take the narrator's bet?

7. How do the people on the train act in "Broken Toys"?

8. Why is the town of Pietrarsa building a fountain in "The Fountain of Pietrarsa"?

9. What role does the statue of San Pantaleone play in the lives of the townspeople in "The Idolaters"?

10. How does the Marquis feel about Nunzia's methods of raising her social status?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Select one story and consider the impact of the author's biography on the creation and message of the story.

Essay Topic 2

Describe the struggles between the upper and lower classes in Italy throughout the time periods these stories represent. Select three stories that best illustrate these struggles.

Essay Topic 3

Explore the use of symbolism in this collection. Choose three symbols that are used in the stories and describe each. Compare and contrast the use of each symbol.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 733 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample