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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 the name of the female character's husband?

2. Which character had a duplicate key all along but pretended to be sick?

3. What supposedly killed the man?

4. The story of the Western Star most likely originated in which country?

5. How much was paid for the item in comparison to its true worth?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the purpose of Mary Marvell's visit to Poirot? What does the woman bring to show Poirot?

2. How did the goods originally come into Ridgeway's possession? Who turned the goods over to Ridgeway?

3. What event causes an uproar during the dinner at Marsdon Manor? Who informs the diners of the disturbance?

4. At Marsdon Manor Poirot meets Captain Black, a friend of Mr. and Mrs. Maltraverse. What does Poirot learn from Captain Black in regards to Maltraverse's death?

5. What was the point of the empty package? Who perpetrated the hoax?

6. Even though special precautions were taken, the bonds were stolen. What happened to the bonds?

7. What happens when the police attempt to find the housekeeper? What is Poirot's conclusion?

8. Who finds out about the cheap flat? Who supplies the information? Who is it rented to? Where is it located?

9. What item is in the possession of Lady Yardly and how does it relate to Miss Marvell's item?

10. Why is Poirot sent to investigate the rental of an unusually cheap flat?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Poirot likes the idea of traveling but dislikes the actual traveling due to a delicate constitution. What does it mean to have a delicate constitution? What happens to Poirot when he travels? To what locations does Poirot often travel? Are the trips for business, pleasure or both? Who often travels with Poirot? What kinds of things might happen to Poirot while away from home? Is the problem psychosomatic or is it real? What are the symptoms? How could the symptoms be treated? Can this problem be prevented or cured? How might this problem be solved using modern medicine or methods?

Essay Topic 2

In "The Adventure of the Cheap Flat" Poirot must solve the case of the stolen naval papers from the United States government. Discuss the theft and how it might have been executed. Answer the following questions: What are naval papers and what might they contain? From which agency and location were the naval bonds stolen? How might a person get into a high security facility to steal important documents? How would they be smuggled out of the country? For what purpose were the bonds stolen? Who might have wanted the naval papers? What became of the papers in the end?

Essay Topic 3

In several instances throughout the book, criminals have taken great pains to attempt to distract Poirot. Why would the criminals attempt to throw Poirot off the trail? Does it work? Write a 100 word essay or short story from the point of view of a criminal that is trying to distract and mislead Poirot. Develop an entire crime and the attempts to mislead. Also include the outcome and how Poirot always prevails.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 895 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample