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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 is Kralefsky's special interest?

2. What event occurs at the end of Part II: Chapter 12, the Woodcock Winter that causes the family great distress?

3. How many baby magpies does Gerry take from the nest?

4. Where is the Durrell family planning to move in Part II: Conversation?

5. Why do Gerry and Kralefsky go to the top of his house?

Short Essay Questions

1. At the end of Part III: Chapter 13, The Snow-White Villa, why does Theodore ponder the idea of having the toads swallow swords?

2. What is the final event, revisited oppositely, that Spiro helps the family with?

3. Why does Larry go snipe hunting?

4. What two ways did Peter teach Gerry English?

5. In Part II: Conversation, how does Gerry describe the arrival of spring?

6. What is Margo's reaction to Peter having to leave the island because they are getting too close?

7. The Belgian consul exterminated emaciated cats as a humane act of kindness. What does Gerry think about this?

8. What does the introduction of Dodo say about Mother's character?

9. What battle between a gecko and mantis takes place in Gerry's room? What is the outcome?

10. How does Gerry describe the Chessboard Fields?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Rose-Beetle Man was a very interesting character to Gerry. What was the tone in the beginning of Part I: Chapter 3, The Rose-Beetle Man with the introduction of his character? What was the tone set by the Gerry the last time he saw the Rose-Beetle Man? How does the tone differ, and how is this difference conveyed?

Essay Topic 2

The Durrell family children, although siblings, are all very unique in their own ways. Select two of the Durrell children and compare and contrast their characteristics. For example, what affect has Mother's parenting played in their attitudes?

Essay Topic 3

In Part II: Chapter 7, The Daffodil-Yellow Villa, Gerry watches two couples of swallows building nests and feeding their young. Compare and contrast the swallow's fathering behaviors to that of a human father.

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