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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 were the pieges a feu that Massot threatened to use against the Germans?

2. Who is summoned to fix the washed out drive?

3. What was the weather like in October?

4. What do the people of Provence collect in baskets in the woods?

5. Which goats were supposed to do well in the race?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the plan Madame Mayle has for getting the workmen back on the job to complete the work before Christmas.

2. What frightened friends of the Mayles who were staying at a nearby hotel?

3. What is the game the Mayles play at the end of July and why do they like it?

4. Describe the woman who advises the Mayles about olive oil.

5. What English Christmas festivities did the Mayles miss?

6. What does Menicucci do at the Mayles house in August?

7. Describe the Cote d'Azur.

8. What is the irony of Christmas Day to the Mayles?

9. Who is Roger and what happens to him?

10. What does Faustin advise the Mayles to do and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

As has been mentioned before, there are many colorful characters among the people of Provence whom the Mayles come in contact with.

Part 1) Describe the neighbor, Massot. Is he a sympathetic character? An interesting character? What are some of the strange things he thinks and does?

Part 2) Menicucci is a character whom Peter turns to when he has a problem. Write an essay with a description of Menicucci which explains why Peter trusts him so. Mention some of the things Menicucci does for Peter in the book.

Part 3) Faustin and his wife Henriette are also important characters in the book. Describe them and their relationship to the Mayles. How do the couples interact?

Essay Topic 2

Early in the book the Mayles experience the Mistral.

Part 1) What is the Mistral? Where does it come from? Why is it important in the book? It appears twice in the book. Write a short description of the two different appearances of the Mistral.

Part 2) What are some of the effects on people and animals attributed to the Mistral in the book? How is the Mayles' house affected by the Mistral?

Part 3) Monsieur Menicucci has a theory about why the last three winters in Provence have been colder because of a change in the Mistral. Explain his theory. Does it seem

plausible to you?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 903 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample