People and Places
Who is called a 'Renaissance man' in the article because he studied art, science, and engineering?
Who is Leonardo da Vinci
In what year did a ship bring the plague to Italy?
The year 1347.
What invention by Johannes Gutenberg is named as very important?
The printing press.
What does the word 'prospered' most nearly mean in the article?
Became wealthy.
Quote one sentence from the passage that tells what the Renaissance was.
Exact sentence: “The Renaissance was a period in Europe when people began to rediscover art, learning, and science from ancient Greece and Rome.”
Name one northern Italian city-state mentioned that prospered during the Renaissance.
Where is Venice (or Milan or Florence).
What fraction of people did the disease kill according to the article? (Answer using words.)
More than one-third of the people (or one-third).
Give one way artists changed their work during the Renaissance (what did they try to show?).
Show real emotions and details.
What does 'luxury goods' refer to? Give two examples.
Goods people buy that are not necessary: wine, silk (or oil, cheese).
What is one main idea of the passage? Give one supporting detail.
Main idea example: The Renaissance caused new ideas and changes in art, learning, and science — supported by printing press spread and artists showing real emotions.
Which central Italian political area is mentioned as prospering (hint: related to the pope)?
The Papal States
Name one economic change that happened after the population drop (an effect mentioned).
Cities became smaller; production slowed; grain prices dropped; people produced luxury goods (any one).
Which ancient civilizations’ ideas did Renaissance Italians study and copy? (Name both.)
Ancient Rome and ancient Greece.
Find the word in the passage that means 'to find again.'
Rediscover (or rediscovery)
Summarize the passage in two or three sentences using key details.
Sample summary: The Renaissance was a time when Europeans rediscovered classical art and ideas after hard times like the plague. Cities that traded became wealthy, supporting education and artists, and inventions like the printing press helped spread ideas.
According to the passage, what did rich families pay for that helped spread Renaissance ideas?
Education (schools) and support for artists.
Explain how the printing press affected the spread of Renaissance ideas (two short points).
Made books cheaper and easier to get; ideas spread faster.
How did scholars and writers use old books from ancient Rome and Greece?
They read old books and copied classical styles / developed new ideas about art, science, and life.
Which phrase shows the new way of thinking: living fully on earth?
“People wanted to live fully on earth, not only think about the afterlife.”
What inference can you make about why education expanded beyond religion? Support with a sentence.
Inference: Because wealthy families could pay for education, schools taught more than religion — supported by “Money bought education for the privileged few” and “Schools began teaching more than religion.”
Which two kingdoms to the south of Italy are named as prospering?
Naples and Sicily.
Describe how changes in production helped cities like Florence prosper — use details from the text.
Because workers and businesses changed to make luxury goods and trade continued, city-states prospered (support with text about wine, oil, silk, luxury goods and trade).
Why are 1350–1550 considered important for Western civilization? Give two details.
Evidence: printing press spread ideas; artists and scholars applied classical models; changes between 1350–1550 affected all levels of society (any two details).
Explain the meaning of 'renewed interest' using a detail from the article.
“Renewed interest” means interest again — people returned to classical ideas (support: lawyers studied Roman law; scholars read old books).
Identify two causes and effects from the passage. Match each cause with its effect.
500 Causes/effects example: Cause — the plague killed many people; Effect — cities became smaller and production slowed. Cause — printing press invented; Effect — books became cheaper and Renaissance ideas spread faster.