[This intermediate Italian text] is written in simple but authentic Italian, making it easily accessible to the language learner interested in Italy's ... place in world culture, art, and history. Suitable for students with two years of Italian, the textbook presents the land and people of Italy, past and present. [The book] gives students practice in all four language learning skills, [including] reading texts, carefully controlled for level and length ... Comprehension and speaking activities are included in the reading pages. Active listening and writing exercises are in the workbook section at the back of the book.-EMC Paradigm Foreign Language Catalog - School Division 1997.