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. In chapter 20, who does Mrs. Allerton suggest would accuse a friend of the family, Mrs. Portarlington, to have replaced the diamonds in an expensive necklace with fakes?

2. In chapter 28, who has helped explain kleptomania to Cornelia?

3. In chapter 20, to whom does Poirot whisper before he leaves the dining room?

4. In chapter 17, what basic instinct does Mrs. Otterbourne attribute to most murders?

5. In chapter 22, in whose cabin do Race and Poirot find a gun?

Short Essay Questions

1. In chapter 18, Race and Poirot make a list of suspects and motives. What does Poirot say will eventually point them toward the murderer?

2. In chapter 27, with what does Poirot confront Tim Allerton?

3. In chapter 29, who does Poirot finally accuse of being Linnet, the maid, and Mrs. Otterbourne's killers?

4. In chapter 28, who does Race realize is the agitator he has been searching for? How does he learn this?

5. In chapter 30, how does Jackie claim that Simon Doyle felt about Linnet from the moment they met?

6. In chapter 24, Poirot and Race confront Mr. Pennington about his illegal dealings with Linnet Doyle's business interests. What does Mr. Pennington say in his own defense?

7. Who is missing in chapter 22? Where is she found?

8. In chapter 21, what does Poirot discover about the pearls?

9. In chapter 17, what is the attitude of Mr. Ferguson when Poirot and Race interview him? What might this indicate?

10. In chapter 19, what does Miss Otterbourne finally admit to Poirot? Why does Poirot think that Miss Otterbourne is continuing to lie to him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following themes in detail, using quotes from the novel to support your conclusions:

1) Wealth

2) Friendship

3) Betrayal.

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

How was Linnet killed? What is found written on the wall over her bed? Who does this indicate as Linnet's killer? What other items of interest does Poirot find in Linnet's room? Who do Poirot and Race immediately look to as a suspect in Linnet's death? How is this first suspect ruled out? Who becomes the next suspect? Based on what information? How many people are interviewed in the death of Linnet? How many have a clear alibi for the murder?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,114 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample