As a supplementary text focused on reading, this develops the reading and interpretive skills of students on intermediate or high-level introductory courses in Italian. Students learn to discern the layers (as in an artichoke) of meaning in authentic texts, through reading strategies and conversational activities. A "Help!" index (Il carciofino: Suggerimenti ed aiuti) provides clues for students who are having trouble with activities or who are stumped by some of the games in the text.