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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 the officer take the murder weapon to the billiard room?

2. Poirot tells whom that the quill from the summer house might have been used for taking heroin?

3. What is Fernly Park?

4. Who does James live with?

5. Who tells James that Ralph is in town?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did Mr. Ackroyd say to James, in Chapter Two, that James knew to be untrue and why did James know that?

2. What does Caroline tell Poirot, in Chapter Eleven, that upsets James and why?

3. Explain why James does not want to go with Flora to see Poirot, in Chapter Seven.

4. Explain the relationship, in Chapter One, between Dr. James Sheppard and his sister, Caroline.

5. In Chapter One, what is Caroline's theory about Mrs. Ferrars' death and the death of Mr. Ferrars a year ago?

6. In Chapter Eight, why is James told that an inquiry at the train station may be unsuccessful?

7. What is the Intelligence Corps and what role does it play, in Chapter One?

8. All evidence is beginning to point to Ralph as the possible blackmailer, including what?

9. Describe examples of some of the interesting information that Mr. Poirot supplies to James about Mr. Ackroyd and Ralph.

10. Whose fingerprints does Poirot tell the inspector that he forgot to check against the prints on the murder weapon?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the meeting at Poirot's house, at which he suddenly produced Ralph. Why had Ralph been hiding out and how did he manage to elude the police. What else was revealed at the meeting?

Essay Topic 2

Explain what you learned throughout the book about James as a man. When, if ever, did you notice a change in him or realize that he was the true killer before Poirot confronted him? Do you feel that James ultimately made the right decision by deciding to commit suicide? Explain why you think he made the decision and why you agree or disagree with it.

Essay Topic 3

Choose two of the following characters and describe how they influenced the story:

1. Blunt

2. Raymond

3. Mrs. Cecil Ackroyd

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 598 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample