View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. What does Gerry liken Spiro to as he looks over and takes care of the family?
(a) An ugly angel.
(b) A guardian angel.
(c) A watchdog.
(d) Saint Assisi.

3. What does Theodore send Gerry to assist him in his field work?
(a) A magnifying glass.
(b) A notebook and pen.
(c) A compass.
(d) A pocket microscope.

4. Why do the Durrell's want to leave the hotel as soon as possible?
(a) The food is awful.
(b) They want to settle down soon.
(c) The state of the lavatory.
(d) It is a dusty hotel.

5. What kind of people does Mother not like?
(a) Stagnate ones.
(b) Turks.
(c) Lowbrow ones.
(d) Highbrow ones.

Short Answer Questions

1. What insects does Gerry find that can change colors, like chameleons?

2. What special day is it when Spiro drives Gerry, Mother, and Margo to town to buy furniture?

3. Who is the most weird and fascinating character Gerry meets on his explorations?

4. What does Gerry take, for his collection, from one of the tortoises?

5. What size of tortoise are on the hill?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Gerry describe the Strawberry-Pink Villa?

2. How did Spiro act as the Durrell family's caretaker?

3. How are the trapdoor spiders and Dr. Theodore Stephanides two significant finds for Gerry?

4. How did Larry attempt to help his family regain their pose, after it was shattered by Roger and the pack of dogs?

5. In the garden, Gerry finds an earwig's nest, and posts a sign for passers by to beware and keep quiet. What words were spelled correctly on the sign, and why is that significant to his character?

6. Why does Gerry have difficulties with mathematical problems?

7. How did Gerry compress five years into one book?

8. Why was Thursday tea with Theodore an appointment Gerry would not have missed for anything?

9. What does it say about Larry's character that he has invited friends to stay at the villa when there is not enough room, and he does not tell Mother until they are almost there?

10. What bonding event do Gerry and Leslie share? Why do you think this is appealing to Gerry?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 760 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample