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. What does Loredan say the squalid pigeons are the symbolic heroes of?

2. What is Signor Seguso's nickname?

3. What does the narrator note about the continuing relationship between Woody Allen and Mayor Cacciari since Allen had been charged with trespassing?

4. Why does Count Volpi say the Venetians vilify his father?

5. Why does the narrator ask about the screens on the window?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the Fenice custodian's attorney say about the panel of experts?

2. How does Archimede Seguso react to the fire?

3. What does Gino Seguso tell the narrator about Giampaolo's actions and intentions since Giampaolo left the company?

4. Describe the Plant Man.

5. Describe Capitano Mario Moro.

6. Explain what Rose tells the narrator about the safety of the city of Venice.

7. Describe Rose's experiences with Ezra Pound.

8. Describe the exchange between Ludovico De Luigi and Venice's mayor during the meeting at the Ateneo Veneto in Chapter 2.

9. What does Giampaolo Seguso tell the narrator about the rift with his family?

10. Paraphrase what Alvise Loredan tells the narrator at the Carnival ball in Chapter 6.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe what you believe about Enrico Carella's guilt or innocence by detailing Carella's perspective on what happened the night of the fire as well as what Felice Casson finds out that undermines his story, and then explain and back up your own opinion.

Essay Topic 2

Using specific details from the story, compare and contrast Gino and Giampaolo Seguso's views of family as presented in Chapter 7.

Essay Topic 3

Using the example of the Fenice fire investigation, describe how the narrator portrays guilt and innocence in this crime and within Venetian culture.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,574 words (approx. 6 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample