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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. What is the second stop on the trip?

2. Twain is sick of whom in Chapter 27?

3. How do the passengers of the ship track Twain's progress when he sneaks ashore in Athens?

4. Due to Italy's tenuous financial state, Twain is confused by its what?

5. In Chapter 28, what finally sparks some interest from Twain and his friends?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 13, the group hires a tour guide to show them famous sites. Despite being tasked with this duty, the guide seems more interested in obtaining money by taking the tourists shopping and earning a commission. He even manages to keep them from making the Louvre before closing. What does this say about the tour guides in Paris, and how might this affect the group's hiring of other tour guides in the future?

2. On a visit to the Capuchin Convent, the group is led into a vault decorated with the bones of ancient deceased monks. What is it about this vault that so fascinates Twain?

3. Twain's first exposure to another people is when he lands in the Azores Islands. He listens to the people speaking Portuguese and scoffs at the many beggars. What is his first impression of the people of the Azores, and why do you think he feels the way he does about them?

4. Twain has a moment of questioned faith in Chapter 6. What inspires this questioning? Is he questioning his faith or the object? Why does he question at all?

5. The ancient city of Pompeii was buried under an eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Twain imagines what the lives of the people of Pompeii must have been like and wonders whether U.S. history would be correctly reported if something similar occurred in the United States. What do you think prompts Twain to wonder such a thing?

6. After their visit to Versailles, the travelers return to find that a "great battle" has taken place on the ship, and they have missed the events. What was the battle about, and who were the participants?

7. Venice is a city of many stories and legends. Describe the legend of the patron saint of Venice, St. Mark.

8. Stuck waiting in the tiny town of Annunciation, Twain and his companions decide to attend the theater to see a famous singer perform. What happens at the performance? What does this event do for Twain's opinion of the people who have attended?

9. What observation does Twain make that seems unlikely in the heavily Christian city of Rome?

10. Mark Twain chooses to insert some of his well-known humor in his story about the group's capers in Athens. What purpose do you think the humor has in this chapter?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Smyrna, the group is confronted with a high hill awash with oyster shells and broken pottery. This appears to be an incredible source of consternation for Twain. Why do you think he obsesses so heavily over the origin of these objects so out of context? Do you think he, himself, feels so out of place that he must find a reason for the shells and pottery to justify his reason for being there? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Shechem seems to be a very original place. Describe the people and atmosphere of Shechem. Why do you think the people follow the customs that they do? Compare/contrast the Mount of Blessings and the Mount of Curses. From what do you think their names originated? Why? Do you think Twain is impressed with Shechem and its people? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the scene between Jack and the turtle. What does this story tell you about Jack's character? Do you think he is gullible or simply not very smart? Why? Why do you think the preacher tells him that story in the first place? Do you think Jack truly believes it? Why or why not?

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