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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 can Margot do on Aretino in Sandro's apartment?

2. Who will Sandro rejoin?

3. Who becomes ill in Chapter 9?

4. What is Margot doing on December 20th?

5. Who is going to help Margot with finishing Aretino?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Sandro think about his day so far as he and Margot are eating at a Chinese restaurant?

2. Where does Margot go to watch Sandro's work and how does he feel about what he is doing?

3. What do the judges decide about Sandro's annulment application?

4. What does Madre Badessa say about Aretino?

5. How does Sandro's feelings change from the time of entering the annulment proceedings to after meeting with the judges?

6. What does Margot decide about leaving Florence and then what makes her change her decision?

7. What does Sandro think about as he looks at Margot as they are riding in a taxi in Chapter 14?

8. Describe Margot's meeting with the Bishop.

9. Why do Margot and Sister Gemma have a discussion about religion when visiting Sister Agape?

10. What is Father Francisco's directive concerning the nuns disturbing him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Margot learns about the inner workings of the convent and its vast land holdings as well as the politics of the church. Discuss the following:

1. Discuss the idea of a church holding great wealth. Do you think a church should have a great deal of wealth, or should it be spending everything to help people to have better lives? Why would a church hold on to its wealth rather than distributing it?

2. Discuss the paradox of the words, "In God We Trust" appearing on paper currency in the United States.

3. The Bishop, who has taken a vow of poverty, is quite concerned with controlling the assets of the convent. Who do you think should control the convent's assets? Do you think the Bishop has the convent's best interests at heart? Why or why not.

4.

Essay Topic 2

Titles can often say much about a story. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think there is something ironic about the title The Sixteen Pleasures? Why or why not. Discuss fully.

2. What do you think are the Sixteen Pleasures? How do the sixteen pleasures relate to three of the main characters? Two of the minor characters?

3. Thoroughly discuss whether you think the title of the book is the best one possible and why. Why do you think the book is titled The Sixteen Pleasures? Would you be interested in reading this book if you saw it on the library shelf?

4. Discuss the title of the book in relation to the theme of religion. How are the two connected? Do you think religion as it is represented in The Sixteen Pleasures is contrary to the idea of pleasure? Who among the religious orders do you think would believe pleasure is a positive thing to seek? Who do you think would believe one should deny themselves pleasure? Discuss thoroughly with examples.

Essay Topic 3

In Chapter 5, when Margot joins some nuns in the library, she, at first, thinks that they need a man with some strength to help take apart the bookshelves that have swelled. The nuns show her how to readjust her thinking to make the task manageable without a man. Discuss the following:

1. There is a proverb of unknown origin that reads, "necessity is the mother of invention." Relate this proverb to the situation in the library and in your own life.

2. It is generally accepted that most men have greater brute strength than most women (but not all by any means). How do you think this fact has impacted gender roles throughout the ages? Discuss thoroughly.

3. Margot, who loves men and finds them very attractive and likes their company, naturally thinks first of getting help from a male when a task needing strength arises. The nuns, on the other hand, who are restricted in their interaction with men, do not even thing in terms of having one come in to do the work that requires strength or courage. Men, on the other hand, tend to think of asking a woman for help when it comes to cooking or sewing or something that requires sensitivity. These statements are generalizations and there are many exceptions, but think of them in terms of general truths. Discuss the following question: How do these type of generalizations (men to women and women to men) tend to perpetuate gender polarization in various cultures. Is it healthy to perpetuate such ideas? Why or why not? Discuss in relation to The Sixteen Pleasures and in relation to your own culture and experiences.

(see the answer keys)

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