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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 French machine does Peter Mayle first plan to use to move the large stone table?

2. How are the truffles which the Mayles eat prepared?

3. What possession does Tony like to flaunt?

4. The euphoria of bicycling lasted until what?

5. What does Madame Mayle purchase in an antique dealer's town one Sunday?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the person who makes a telephone call to the Mayles at the end of March.

2. What gift did the pool man give to the Mayles?

3. Why did the Mayles purchase a house in Provence?

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

5. Retell briefly the story Massot told about a peasant who coveted his neighbor's house.

6. Describe the market in Coustellet.

7. What does Menicucci's assistant wear in April?

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

9. How does donating blood in Provence differ from donating blood in England?

10. What strikes you about the students in Aix?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Time and time again throughout the book you can see how Peter and his wife treat the people of Provence: their neighbors, the workmen they hire , the people they meet in the village etc. Write an essay describing the way the Mayles view and treat the people they come in contact with in Provence. Do you think they have chosen a good approach to getting to know the people in Provence? Would you do likewise if you were to spend a year in Provence? If not, what would you do that would be different? Do you think the Mayles' friendly interaction with the people they come in contact with has the greatest impact on how they view their year in Provence? If not, what other thing is more important?

Essay Topic 2

Choose the character in the book you like the least. Who is that character? What is his or her name? Describe his or her appearance if that is given. Describe his or her personality and character. Is this person important to the book or the Mayles? In what way? Why don't you like that character?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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