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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 was the first name of the victim?

2. Who was waiting outside for Poirot to solve the case?

3. Who is found sneaking into the cheap flat at midnight?

4. The female character comes from which country?

5. What is the surname of the people the woman and her husband are scheduled to visit?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why were the Robinsons considered to be perfect as the new tenants?

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

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

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

5. What is the purpose of Mary Marvell's visit to Poirot? What does the woman bring to show Poirot?

6. What strikes Poirot as peculiar regarding the new tenants?

7. What event causes an uproar during the dinner at Marsdon Manor? Who informs the diners of the disturbance?

8. Even though special precautions were taken, the bonds were stolen. What happened to the bonds?

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

10. What has the woman so upset about one of her possessions? What are the consequences if Marvell does not comply?

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

Jewels are often used in mysteries as an item that is stolen. Explain why it is common for jewels to be the choice items for thieves. What types of jewels are most likely to be stolen and from whom? What jewels were stolen throughout "Poirot Investigates?" Were the jewels loose or were they set in some way? Which is the most common setting for loose jewels? How would a thief hide a jewel? How would one sell a stolen jewel? What is the most unusual jewel in the book? Why is it unusual?

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