Question

Which excerpt from "The Cask of Amontillado" best infers what will be Fortunato's downfall?

The gait of my friend was unsteady, and the bells upon his cap jingled as he strode
He had a weak point --this Fortunato --although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared. He prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine.
"Nitre," I replied. "How long have you had that cough?"
"My friend, no; I will not impose upon your good nature. I perceive you have an engagement. Luchresi--"

Which of the excerpts below is an example of foreshadowing?

How remarkably well you are looking to-day. But I have received a pipe of what passes for Amontillado…
"I have my doubts," I replied; "and I was silly enough to pay the full Amontillado price without consulting you in the matter.
There were no attendants at home; they had absconded to make merry in honour of the time. I had told them that I should not return until the morning, and had given them explicit orders not to stir from the house.
I broke and reached him a flagon of De Grave. He emptied it at a breath. His eyes flashed with a fierce light. He laughed and threw the bottle upwards with a gesticulation I did not understand.

Which excerpt from "The Cask of Amontillado" best summarizes the overall theme of the story?

"For the love of God, Montresor!" "Yes," I said, "for the love of God!"
He had a weak point --this Fortunato --although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared. He prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine.
A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong.
He turned towards me, and looked into my eves with two filmy orbs that distilled the rheum of intoxication.

Which excerpt from "The Cask of Amontillado" presents the reader with the initial conflict of the story?

"I have my doubts," I replied; "and I was silly enough to pay the full Amontillado price without consulting you in the matter. You were not to be found, and I was fearful of losing a bargain."
The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge.
He had a weak point --this Fortunato --although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared. He prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine.
"The nitre!" I said; "see, it increases. It hangs like moss upon the vaults. We are below the river's bed. The drops of moisture trickle among the bones. Come, we will go back ere it is too late. Your cough --"

Answer 1

Out of the listed excerpts the one that best infers what will be Fortunato's downfall would be, He had a weak point --this Fortunato --although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared. He prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine.

Answer 2

First question:

The excerpt from "The Cask of Amontillado" which best infers what will be Fortunato's downfall is the following one:

"He had a weak point --this Fortunato --although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared. He prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine."

It infers Fortunato's downfall since Luchresi attracted his "friend" to the place where Fortunato was chained to a wall by putting Fortunato's connoisseurship in wine in doubt.

Second question:

The excerpt which is an example of foreshadowing is the following one:

"There were no attendants at home; they had absconded to make merry in honour of the time. I had told them that I should not return until the morning, and had given them explicit orders not to stir from the house."

It is an example of foreshadowing since the reader learns the two men will spend some time alone, and because at this point the reader already knows how Luchresi feels about Fortunato, it is not hard to think that things will end badly.

Third question:

The excerpt from "The Cask of Amontillado" which best summarizes the overall theme of the story is the following one:

"A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong."

The theme is revenge in a very specific way: the person seeking it must make it clear to his victim the wrong that is being done is done by him or her, that is, the avenger. Otherwise, revenge becomes useless, according to the narrator.

Fourth question:

The excerpt from "The Cask of Amontillado" which presents the reader with the initial conflict of the story is the following one:

"The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge."

That is the initial conflict of the story, since it is a story of revenge. The narrator lets the reader know how he feels about Fortunato, and how strong that feeling is. Plus, the narrator tells the reader about his intentions of revenge.