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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Mrs. Hubbard insist on showing to the investigators?

2. Who lied regarding his/her first name?

3. What about the case makes it intriguing to Poirot?

4. What event is temporarily held up by the investigation?

5. What is Miss Debenham's profession?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Poirot manage to get the Count and Countess alone?

2. What is the true identity of the Countess Adrenyi?

3. How does Poirot think the outcome would have changed if the police had been involved?

4. What item does Poirot expect to find in Hildegard Schmidt's luggage?

5. Which of Poirot's questions trips up Miss Debenham?

6. What item convinces Bouc and Constantine that Poirot is on the right track?

7. Why did Miss Debenham lie about her former position?

8. What caused the murderers' original plan to go awry?

9. What point does MacQueen reiterate when Poirot approaches him to conduct a search?

10. What item is found in Mrs. Hubbard's sponge bag?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Two puzzling clues were the unknown conductor and the woman in the scarlet kimono. What was the purpose of these ruses? Would the use of these non-existent people have fooled the police? Who do you think posed as these people? Was it one or more persons? How did Poirot know where to find the discarded items of clothing?

Essay Topic 2

First impressions play a large part in the story. When Miss Debenham saw Poirot she referred to the detective as "peculiar but harmless." Explain how Poirot would have assessed his first impression of Miss Debenham, Colonel Arbuthnot, and Cassetti/Ratchett.

How did Poirot happen to be on the same train as the victim? Was it by accident or was it planned? How did Poirot react when he realized that Colonel Arbuthnot and Miss Debenham were also on the train?

Essay Topic 3

Cassetti posed as Ratchett, a successful businessman, since he fled from America. Explain how it was possible for Ratchett to keep his true identity a secret for so long? Do you think MacQueen knew Ratchett's real identity when he accepted the job as secretary?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 480 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample