Read the following passage carefully and answer the next five questions by choosing the correct options:
I am a king, I am a slave,
I am a worm, I am God,
DERZHAVIN
The following day Charsky sought our room number 35 in the dark and dirty corridor of an inn. He stopped at the door and knocked. The Italian of the previous day opened the door.
"Victory!" Charsky said to him. "The affair is settled. The Princess --- offers you her salon. At a big party last night I succeeded in recruiting half Petersburg. Get your tickets and programmes printed. I guarantee you, if not a triumph, at least a profit. . . ."
"And that's the main thing!" cried the Italian, expressing his delight by a spate of lively movements, characteristic of his southern origin. "I knew that you would help me. Corpo di Bacco! You are a poet like myself, and there's no denying that poets are splendid fellows! How can I express my gratitude? Wait... would you like to hear an improvisation?"
"An improvisation! ... But can you do without an audience, without music, without the thunder of applause?"
"Nonsense! Where could I find a better audience? You are a poet, you will understand me better than others, and your quiet encouragement will mean more to me than whole storms of applause.... Find yourself a seat somewhere and give me a theme".
The Princess offered _____ to the Italian:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → a salon
Charsky brings the news: "The Princess --- offers you her salon." A salon is a large, elegant reception room in a grand house, where guests gather; the Italian is to give his performance there.
Example: The poet read his new verses in the countess's salon.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: a job — Incorrect. Misread: the Princess offers a place for the performance, not employment.
Option 3: a ticket — Incorrect. Wrong link: tickets are what the Italian himself must get printed and sell; the Princess does not give him one.
Option 4: an Invitation to a party — Incorrect. Wrong link: the "big party last night" is where Charsky recruited half Petersburg as the audience; the Italian is not invited to it.