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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why does Yani never sleep in the hills?
(a) Because the cypress trees will steal his brains.
(b) Because his goats would get away.
(c) Because Aphrodite told him not to.
(d) Because a scorpion stung a fellow shepherd in the ear and killed him.

2. In the beginning of Part I: Chapter 4, what does Gerry's Mother decide for him?
(a) It is time for him to take dancing lessons.
(b) It is time for him to have some sort of education.
(c) It is time for him to study literature.
(d) It is time for him to join the Merchant Navy.

3. Who lives at the cottage?
(a) A elderly gardener and his wife.
(b) No one, it is for Larry's guests.
(c) Lots of insect life for Gerry to explore.
(d) Leslie moves into the cottage.

4. What is the villa called that Spiro shows the family in Part I: Chapter 1, The Unsuspected Isle?
(a) Strawberry-pink Villa.
(b) Tortoise-green Villa.
(c) Daffodil-yellow Villa.
(d) Rose-beetle Villa.

5. What illness does Margo suffer from in the English weather?
(a) Flu.
(b) Acne.
(c) Catarrh.
(d) None.

6. Who does Gerald dedicate this book to?
(a) Larry.
(b) His mother.
(c) Dr. Theodore Stephanides.
(d) The Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.

7. Why do the Durrell children not know the age of their mother?
(a) Her mother did not tell her the date she was born.
(b) She can never remember the date of her birth.
(c) Her birth certificate is damaged in a move.
(d) She will not tell them her age.

8. What is Gerry's most exciting discovery?
(a) Mantis.
(b) Crab spiders.
(c) An earwig's nest.
(d) Rose beetles.

9. What is Larry's suggestion when Mother tells him they cannot fit the number of guests he has invited in their house?
(a) Build a cottage on their property.
(b) Send Margo, Leslie, and Gerry away for the summer.
(c) Move to a bigger villa.
(d) Add on a guest room to the villa.

10. Larry becomes overweight in the spring. Which of the following is one of Margo's suggested diets?
(a) Atkins.
(b) Brown bread and olives.
(c) Orange juice and salad.
(d) Milk and cooked vegetables.

11. Who is the most weird and fascinating character Gerry meets on his explorations?
(a) Yani.
(b) Theodore.
(c) The Rose-Beetle Man.
(d) George.

12. What does Theodore tell Gerry made the trapdoors?
(a) The trapdoor spider.
(b) The trapdoor earwig.
(c) The earwig spider.
(d) The common earwig.

13. What makes Gerald's wife laugh when reading his manuscript?
(a) The magenpies.
(b) His spelling.
(c) The "dreadful puns."
(d) His family.

14. What wakes Yani up from his siesta in Chapter 5?
(a) Gerry throwing stones.
(b) Roger chasing a cat.
(c) Gerry shaking him.
(d) Gerry willing him awake.

15. What do the olive groves echo with?
(a) Goldfinches.
(b) Cicadas.
(c) Lizards.
(d) Flutes.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where does the Durrell family stay their first night on Corfu?

2. Why does Gerry's mother insist he explain she is a widow?

3. How does Gerry describe his mother at the beginning of Part I: Chapter 1, The Unsuspected Isle?

4. Who names Gerry's pigeon?

5. What hobby does Margo take up after settling into the villa?

(see the answer keys)

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