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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. Which of these things was not part of the curious crime scene?

2. What does Poirot uncover about Ratchett?

3. How is Linda Arden related to Mrs. Armstrong?

4. How long had Masterman worked for Ratchett?

5. Who was Colonel Armstrong?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did MacQueen go to see Ratchett that evening?

2. What is mysterious about the berth in which Ratchett is murdered?

3. Why is M. Bouc concerned about Poirot's line of questioning with accounting Countess?

4. What causes the delay on the train?

5. What was the important information Mrs. Hubbard had to share with a person in authority?

6. What is Miss Debenham's initial reaction to Poirot?

7. How does Colonel Arbuthnot react when Poirot questions him about Miss Debenham?

8. What prompts the military officer to stay in Poirot's company at the train station?

9. For what reason is Poirot's berth changed?

10. Why was Ratchett's response considered to be strange?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Countess Adrenyi was the second person to unveil her true identity. How did Poirot discover that the Countess' passport was a fake? What tipped Poirot off that the handkerchief belonged to the Countess? Did Poirot believe the Countess' claim that she had few memories of the Armstrong's household staff?

Essay Topic 2

The murderers were counting on the case running smoothly because of the involvement of the regular police. The murderers became alarmed when they recognized Poirot. What was the difference between the police solving the crime and the case being solved by Poirot? Would the mysterious conductor have been more effective? What about the red kimono and false clues?

Essay Topic 3

Miss Debenham had more than reason to lie about her identity? What were the reasons? Do you think the reasons were practical or foolish? What could Miss Debenham have done that would have been more convincing?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 467 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample