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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. Who offers to rescue Flora in his plane?

2. Why does Flora take an indirect train route to Howling?

3. In what shape is the farm layout?

4. What does Flora ask of Judith?

5. What does Adam call Flora several times?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the topic of the book Mr. Mybug is writing and what is Flora's reaction to hearing about it?

2. To which relatives does Flora write?

3. What do you think is the significance of Adam calling Flora "Robert Poste's child" in their few exchanges?

4. What does Aunt Ada Doom keep talking about and what's your "take" on this?

5. Who is the other Starkadder Flora is beginning to mold in this chapter and what seems to be Flora's plan?

6. Give a very brief synopsis of COLD COMFORT FARM.

7. Give a brief description of Cold Comfort Farm.

8. What shows how strongly Flora thinks she is Cold Comfort Farm's guide to sanity?

9. What self-imposed task seems next to impossible once Flora is confronted with the realities of Cold Comfort Farm?

10. If you were Miriam and had just delivered a baby, how would you feel about being asked to go wash curtains? Do you think this scene could have any other significance?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The story is set in motion as Flora makes up her mind to stay with the relatives on Cold Comfort Farm. There is a mystery alluded to, which the author never solves--that of a debt owed to the daughter of Richard Poste. There is also a rather melodramatic statement that Cold Comfort Farm is doomed, as alluded to in the post card Flora receives from an unknown writer. Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Why is Cold Comfort Farm doomed and does that change? Use specific examples to illustrate your stance.

2. What is the mystery about Flora Poste's father? Is the mystery solved to your satisfaction? If not, do you think the book is flawed because of this? Why do you think the author chooses not to totally solve the mystery?

3. Do the first two chapters make you want to continue reading the book? Why or why not? From what you learn in the first couple chapters, does the rest of the book seem to make sense? What does not fulfill your original expectations after reading the first two chapters? Does this have any effect on your overall satisfaction with the book?

Essay Topic 2

Aunt Ada Doom may be the least likeable character in the novel--at least until the very end of the book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully analyze Aunt Ada Doom's character. Is she a sympathetic character? Likable? Believable?

2. Do you believe Aunt Ada Doom actually "saw something nasty in the woodshed"? Why or why not?

3. Do you believe Aunt Ada Doom is actually crazy? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

There are a number of symbols in the story, one being the bull called "Big Business," who figures predominantly in Chapter 12. Discuss the following:

1. Why do authors use symbols instead of just being straightforward and telling the reader what s/he should know?

2. How is the bull's name is symbolic? Give several specific examples.

3. Identify two other symbols in the book and their meaning in relation to the book's theme(s).

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,186 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample