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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. Why does Poirot tell Jackie at the end of chapter 7 that he feels sorry for her?

2. What do many of the vacationers notice about Rosalie Otterbourne's behavior early in the novel?

3. Why does Simon Doyle ask to speak with Poirot in chapter 6?

4. For what reason does Mr. Fanthrop suggest in chapter 13 that no one heard the shot in the salon that Jackie fired at Simon Doyle?

5. What is wrapped around the gun when the ship's personnel find it in the river?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is significant about the relationship between Tim and Joanna? Why does Tim make a point of telling Linnet about this relationship?

2. In chapter 11, an old acquaintance of Poirot's boards the ship. Who is this person and why is he there?

3. How does Poirot react in chapter 8 when he sees Jackie on board the cruise ship?

4. In chapter 4, why does Linnet Doyle approach Poirot? What does she ask of him?

5. What does Jackie show Poirot in chapter 5? What is significant about this item?

6. In chapter 11, what does Linnet accidentally read? How does the injured party react to Linnet's actions?

7. In chapter 9, Mr. Pennington attempts to have Linnet sign some legal papers for him? What does Linnet do that annoys Mr. Pennington? How does Simon say he would do things differently?

8. In chapter 16, what does the manager of the cruise ship show to Poirot? Where was it found?

9. In chapter 6, who does Simon Doyle tell Poirot Mr. Pennington is? What is significant about Pennington's running into Linnet and Simon on their honeymoon?

10. What does Linnet ask Poirot to do in regards to Jackie in chapter 4? What does Poirot tell Linnet he will do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why is Jackie following Linnet on her honeymoon? To what purpose does Jackie find it necessary to harass Linnet in the way that she is? What does Poirot ask Jackie to stop doing? What advice does Poirot give to Jackie concerning evil? What does Jackie show to Poirot while they discuss Linnet? What is the significance of this item? Why does Jackie think that her conversation with Poirot was overheard? Who could have been listening? To what purpose?

Essay Topic 2

Why does Poirot focus on Linnet's missing pearls in the investigation? Where are the pearls initially discovered? What does this reveal about Miss Van Schuyler? What does Poirot notice about the recovered pearls? What does he feel is significant about this? Who does it turn out stole the real pearls? For what reason? Who put this person up to the theft? For what reason? Why does Poirot agree to allow this thief to go free? How does this impact the future of the thief? How does this impact a relationship between the thief and a potential new lover?

Essay Topic 3

Who is Pennington? How does he explain running into Simon and Linnet on their honeymoon? What does Pennington tell Poirot about his relationship to Linnet and her family? What does Pennington attempt to have Linnet do while on the cruise ship? Who interferes with this process? For what reason? What kind of business woman is Linnet? What impact might this have on her future? How is Linnet almost injured while visiting some temples? Who does Simon blame for this attack on his wife? Who is really responsible?

(see the answer keys)

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