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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 the woman do for a living? Why is the woman famous?

2. What is the surname of the suspect's girlfriend and partner in crime?

3. What is the name of the person who visits Poirot to ask for help?

4. Who informs Hastings about the cheap flat?

5. What is the name of the town in which the Manor is located?

Short Essay Questions

1. What about the doctor's statement struck Poirot as being odd? Who may have influenced the autopsy?

2. What happens when the police attempt to find the housekeeper? What is Poirot's conclusion?

3. Why is the new tenant anxious about moving into the cheap flat?

4. Who finds out about the cheap flat? Who supplies the information? Who is it rented to? Where is it located?

5. What disturbing news does Poirot receive regarding a theft? Who is the main suspect?

6. What is the murder weapon? Where was it recovered by the police?

7. Why is Poirot sent to investigate the rental of an unusually cheap flat?

8. What item is in the possession of Lady Yardly and how does it relate to Miss Marvell's item?

9. What was the point of the empty package? Who perpetrated the hoax?

10. Who is the character that approaches Poirot and Hastings in the beginning of the story? How is the woman described?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In "The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb," five characters die due to unusual circumstances. Investigate how each person died, the cause behind the death, and the purpose. How would one be able to tell how the person died? Compare and contrast methods used during Poirot's time to modern science in which toxicology and other forensic methods are used to determine cause of death and types of poisons used.

Essay Topic 2

Agatha Christie is fond of creating alter egos and false identities for her characters. From a writer's point of view, what would be the purpose of this technique? Is it possible for the reader to unravel the mystery using the clues given by Christie and Poirot? Explain. Create a detailed alter ego for yourself as it might appear in one of Christie's mysteries.

Essay Topic 3

Poirot likes the idea of traveling but dislikes the actual traveling due to a delicate constitution. What does it mean to have a delicate constitution? What happens to Poirot when he travels? To what locations does Poirot often travel? Are the trips for business, pleasure or both? Who often travels with Poirot? What kinds of things might happen to Poirot while away from home? Is the problem psychosomatic or is it real? What are the symptoms? How could the symptoms be treated? Can this problem be prevented or cured? How might this problem be solved using modern medicine or methods?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 798 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample