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 game do the Mayles play at the end of July?

2. What surprise gift do the Mayles receive?

3. What was the weather like in October?

4. How many goats and drivers took part in the goat race?

5. What present do the workers give the Mayles?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Who is Roger and what happens to him?

3. List the locals who come to the Mayles for Christmas tips and tell what they bring as gifts

4. Why can't the meter reader read the meter and how does Menicucci fix the problem?

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

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

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

8. At the suggestion of Bernard, the pool man, where do the Mayles go to eat?

9. What were some of the "August Sayings" of visitors to Provence?

10. Describe the rusty contraption Peter finds at the edge of the vineyard.

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

Peter travels to the Cote D'Azur to visit his friend in one chapter.

Part 1) Describe the Cote D'Azur in detail.

Part 2 ) List the things about the Cote d'Azur that you find ugly, negative or repellent.

Part 3) Compare the region of Provence where Peter lives with the Cote d'Azur he sees on his trip to visit his friend.

Essay Topic 3

The Mayles hire a number of different workmen to renovate their house and property in the book. Write an essay describing two or more of the workmen. What were their names? Specialty? What are some of the characteristics peculiar to workmen of Provence? Are they dependable? Do they work hard? What did each workman do to renovate the Mayles' home? How did Madame Mayle influence the workmen so that they finished the renovation of the house before Christmas?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 844 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample