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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. What suspicious item is located in Colonel Arbuthnot's luggage?

2. What is the real identity of the Countess?

3. With what object does Poirot confront Colonel Arbuthnot?

4. Hildegarde takes pride in what skill?

5. Hildegarde Schmidt hesitated when discussing what object?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What is the true identity of the Countess Adrenyi?

3. What point does MacQueen reiterate when Poirot approaches him to conduct a search?

4. How does Dr. Constantine describe Miss Debenham?

5. What item convinces Bouc and Constantine that Poirot is on the right track?

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

7. What is the true identity of Miss Debenham?

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

9. Which of Poirot's questions trips up Miss Debenham?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At one point in the story, M. Bouc minimalizes the fact that there has been a murder. Instead, Bouc becomes more concerned with the fact that the murder happened on his company's train. Explain Bouc's thoughts and if the thoughts were realistic? How could the murder affect the Orient Express? Would it affect the reputation of the train or simply deter people for a short time? How might the murder affect Bouc's career?

Essay Topic 2

Two puzzling clues were the unknown conductor and the woman in the scarlet kimono. What was the purpose of these ruses? Would the use of these non-existent people have fooled the police? Who do you think posed as these people? Was it one or more persons? How did Poirot know where to find the discarded items of clothing?

Essay Topic 3

Cassetti posed as Ratchett, a successful businessman, since he fled from America. Explain how it was possible for Ratchett to keep his true identity a secret for so long? Do you think MacQueen knew Ratchett's real identity when he accepted the job as secretary?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 482 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample