Youtube Exercise » English Grammar Homework

Venice: City of Dreams

Rick Steves' Europe

2.2M views 12 years ago

Warm-up Questions

When you hear the title “Venice: City of Dreams,” what images or feelings do you expect (romance, history, water, art, etc.)?
What is one thing you already know about Venice, and what is one thing you want to learn from the video?
Do you think a “city of dreams” is usually a real place or an idealized idea? Why?

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Venice: City of Dreams

Venice’s power: politics, trade, and control (00:00 – 08:55)

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1. What does the speaker say Venice’s “magic” sits on?

A foundation of royal family rule
A foundation of political and economic might
A foundation of modern technology and industry
A foundation of farming and vineyards

2. What was the Doge, according to the video?

A hereditary king with absolute power
A foreign governor appointed by the Pope
A military commander who ruled the navy
An elected leader chosen by nobles to oversee laws and decisions

3. Why did Venetians want important relics like St. Mark’s remains?

To attract new settlers to the lagoon
To improve trade with France and Spain
To gain religious importance and a kind of legitimacy
To protect the city from floods

Venice: City of Dreams

St. Mark’s Basilica, the campanile, and Venice today (08:55 – 15:23)

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1. What kind of scenes are featured in the basilica’s entrance hall?

Portraits of famous Venetian merchants
Scenes of Venetian naval battles
New Testament miracle scenes
Old Testament scenes presented as an elaborate, cohesive series

2. How does the speaker describe Venice’s current situation with tourism?

It survives mainly because people commute by car
It is thriving mainly because of manufacturing
It has eliminated tourism to protect local life
It survives on the artificial respirator of tourism

3. What is “cicchetti,” as explained in the bar scene?

A formal multi-course banquet
A kind of coffee traditionally served in Venice
A sweet dessert served after dinner
A small bite you normally have with a glass of wine

Venice: City of Dreams

Palaces, art, and the gondola experience (15:23 – 24:58)

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1. Why could Venetian palazzos be “sumptuous rather than fortified”?

Because Venice had no trade rivals
Because Venice had natural lagoon defenses
Because all palaces were built by the Church
Because Venetian law banned stone buildings

2. According to the video, why can a gondola move straight with a single oar on the side?

It is built with a slight curve so the oar propels it in a straight line
It uses two oars, one on each side, to balance perfectly
It has a rudder and a keel that control direction
It has a hidden motor under the boat

3. What does the speaker recommend when taking a gondola ride?

Choose the cheapest gondola without talking to the gondolier
Wait until early evening when crowds are gone and the light is right
Only take gondolas during storms for better photos
Go at midday when the crowds are biggest

Venice: City of Dreams

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1. Which idea best describes the main message about Venice in this episode?

Venice’s beauty is closely connected to its history of wealth, power, religion, and art
Venice became important because of farmland and natural resources
Venice is mainly a modern business city focused on new development
Venice is famous mostly for its beaches and mountains

2. Which pair of places is presented as the Venetian Republic’s religious and political center?

The Frari and the Bridge of Sighs
La Salute and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection
The Rialto Bridge and the Arsenal
St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace

3. What contrast does the video repeatedly highlight about Venice?

A car-free, romantic surface versus a hard, practical foundation of power
A quiet city with no tourism versus a city with only tourists
A small village atmosphere versus huge skyscrapers
A desert climate versus a rainforest climate

Discussion Questions

Discuss the ideas from this video

Venice: City of Dreams

The video says Venice’s beauty rests on “political and economic might.” Do you think great art and architecture usually require great wealth? Why or why not?
Is it acceptable to “pillage” art and display it as “spoils of war,” as described in the basilica? How should cities handle artworks taken in the past?
Tourism is described as an “artificial respirator.” What are the benefits and costs of tourism for historic cities?
If you visited Venice, which experience would you choose first (Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Basilica, vaporetto ride, cicchetti, modern art, gondola)? Explain your choice.