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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. Which spaceship lift-off does Ralph Curtis play for the narrator?

2. What did Ezra ask Mary to do as an exercise that led to her lifelong study of his work?

3. Who painted the portrait of Patricia Curtis in a strapless white gown?

4. Who did Jane Rylands want painted into the portrait of Dadie Rylands she had commissioned?

5. Why is Nicola's lawyer suspicious of Gardin?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the problem Patricia Curtis has with her siblings and the Palazzo.

2. Describe the evidence the narrator presents against Gardin's theories.

3. Describe Gianpietro Zucchetta's view of the fire and Casson's investigation.

4. Describe the results of the bidding competition for the rebuilding project and explain how and why they became a problem.

5. Describe Mario Stefani and his role within Venice.

6. Explain who Gianni Agnelli is and why he's considered the favorite to win the bidding competition for the rebuilding of the Fenice.

7. Describe De Luigi and the narrator's activities at the end of Chapter 11 and how the police react.

8. Describe what Casson tells the narrator made him certain that Carella and Marchetti were guilty.

9. Describe Larry Lovett and his position with Save Venice.

10. Describe the feelings Daniel Curtis, Patricia's son, has about the Palazzo.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Using Daniel and Patricia Curtis as examples, illustrate the novel's theme of the need to hang on to the past, and explain how this theme comes up within other stories in the book as well.

Essay Topic 2

Using Archimede Seguso's "La Fenice" collection as an example, explain how beauty and neglect resurface throughout the book.

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast Gino and Giampaolo Seguso's views of the role of tradition in the family glassblowing business using specific details from the story.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,738 words (approx. 6 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample