View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What do they look for at a junk shop on the way home from Aix?

2. What did Faustin decide should replace the melon field?

3. How far did they have to move the stone table to get it into the courtyard?

4. How old is Monsieur Menicucci?

5. What is as affordable in Provence as linoleum is in England?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was the biggest obstacle to the Mayles in buying a house in Provence?

2. Why were the journalists happy about the lead story "Provence Under Blanket of Snow?"

3. Why did Peter write that the final week in April ended on a sour note?

4. Describe the market in Coustellet.

5. What were the reasons Faustin gave to Peter Mayle for no longer growing melons?

6. Explain why Peter was cheered up by the story he hears about Christian , his architect

7. Describe in a sentence or two the bicycle trip the Mayles took on the first of May.

8. Describe the clothes Thierry Fructus, the insurance agent, wore.

9. What are the two things Antoine Massot, the Mayles' neighbor, likes to talk about with people he meets?

10. Why is the Cours Mirabeau considered the most handsome main street in France?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the book two markets are described. The Mayles go to these markets on Sunday. The first market they visit is in Coustellet, the second in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.

Choose one of these markets and write an essay on the market including a detailed description of the market, the people at the market and what was sold at the market. Tell

why you thought the market you chose to write about was colorful or particularly interesting. Did you learn anything about the people in Provence from reading about the market? What did you learn?

Essay Topic 2

Now that you have read the entire book and this is the last essay topic, do you think that you would want to buy a house in Provence and live there for a year anytime during your life? Write an essay telling how the book influenced your answer to this question. Include anything in the book which supports and explains your answer.

Essay Topic 3

One of the only tourist locations the Mayles visit during their year in Provence is Aix.

Part 1) Describe the main street of Aix in detail.

Part 2) Describe the social behavior of the students in the cafes of Aix. How are their actions a bit silly. Do you think they are superficial and vain? Do you think they ever study? How do they differ from what you know about American college students? How are they the same?

Part 3) Describe the shops the Mayles visit in Aix and the restaurant they choose to dine at.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 738 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample