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 is the name of the renowned burial ground for romantically famous people in France?

2. What cultural customs thrive in Tangier?

3. What happens to Twain in Florence when he gets lost and asks guards for directions?

4. What is the name of the ship?

5. What is the first site seen in Rome?

Short Essay Questions

1. Compare/contrast Twain's first opinion of Venice to his opinion after he arrives at the Grand Canal.

2. Twain accompanies his group to the Coliseum. As he watches them scrabble for pieces of the huge building, he finds a playbill where a woman invites a man on a secret date. Why is this piece of trash more interesting to Twain than the souvenirs his friends seek?

3. What impresses Twain about St. Peter's?

4. 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?

5. 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?

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

7. Twain and his friends finally reach France. However, their first stop, Marseille, is fraught with problems. What are some of these problems? Do you think that some or all of these problems could have been avoided? Why or why not?

8. Describe Twain's Parisian quest and its result.

9. What is the legend associated with the Grotto Del Cane? From what event did this legend arise?

10. 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?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Twain is a travel writer at this point. Does his writing style strike you as that of a travel writer? Why or why not? Do you think he is fair and impartial with each location he visits? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Twain relates several legends during the trip, from entertainments to cautionary tales. What purpose do you think these legends serve? Do you think they are important to the story or extraneous? Why or why not? Select one such story and outline its importance to the story.

Essay Topic 3

Describe the tour through Jerusalem. What do you believe were highlights to Twain? What do you believe were lowlights? After the excitement built throughout the trip, do you think he is pleased, sorely disappointed, or somewhere in between? Why?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,187 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample