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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. Who is the priest Vittoria introduces Giovanna to?

2. What area of the city does Andrea hate to drive in?

3. What does Nella tell Giovanna when she says she wants to see Vittoria?

4. What kind of car does Vittoria drive?

5. What does Vittoria argue with the cemetery attendant about?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Vittoria implore Giovanna to do regarding her parents in Part II?

2. What are some of the reasons Giovanna's parents tell her to explain the rift between them and Vittoria?

3. What is one major source of tension between Giovanna and her parents in Part I?

4. What does Vittoria tell Giovanna about herself and Enzo that enthralls Giovanna?

5. What does Vittoria tell Giovanna about a gift she supposedly gave Giovanna when she was a baby?

6. What kind of relationship does Vittoria have with Enzo's widow and children?

7. Why is Giovanna so interested in her Aunt Vittoria in Part I?

8. What does Giovanna overhear her father telling her mother about her two years before he leaves the family?

9. According to Vittoria, what happened between she and Andrea that began their big fight?

10. What do Giovanna and Angela frequently do that makes Ida feel left out when all three girls sleep over together?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How would you describe Giovanna's attitudes towards religion, particularly after reading the gospels? Write an essay explaining your answers.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay exploring Giovanna's conflicting feelings about her sexual encounters with Corrado, citing specific references to the text to help support your answers.

Essay Topic 3

How would you describe Giovanna's relationship with her friend Angela early in the novel? How and why does the girls' relationship change as the novel progresses? Write an essay explaining your answers.

(see the answer keys)

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