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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 have to have special permission to search the Count and Countess' luggage?

2. Which clue was most likely planted to mislead Poirot?

3. Who is Masterman's alibi?

4. Who claims to own the handkerchief?

5. Why does Poirot suspect more than one murderer?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was Miss Debenham's reaction when Poirot asked if she was upset about Ratchett's death?

2. Why did Miss Debenham lie about her former position?

3. What other thing did the Princess lie about to Poirot?

4. What caused the murderers' original plan to go awry?

5. Why does Bouc have suspicions about Foscarelli?

6. Why does Poirot believe some of the clues have been faked?

7. How does Poirot think the outcome would have changed if the police had been involved?

8. What discovery caused Poirot to link the handkerchief to the Countess?

9. How does Hildegard Schmidt determine the time of the murder?

10. How does the Countess act when Poirot is searching through her luggage?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Miss Debenham made a foolish mistake when choosing her false identities. What was her previous identity? How did Poirot known that the names were false? To what did Poirot link Miss Debenham's identities?

Essay Topic 2

How did Poirot happen to be on the same train as the victim? Was it by accident or was it planned? How did Poirot react when he realized that Colonel Arbuthnot and Miss Debenham were also on the train? How might the case have been different if Poirot had been able to decipher the relationship between the Colonel and Miss Debenham?

Essay Topic 3

MacQueen presented an odd manner when discussing Ratchett/Cassetti. At first MacQueen seemed pleased to have the job but eventually admits that he did not like Ratchett/Cassetti. MacQueen also states that he believes that Ratchett was an alias and that the man was on the run. Finally, MacQueen kept repeating the fact that Ratchett did not speak French but MacQueen did. Explain these behaviors and how they were detrimental to the murderers' plan.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 506 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample