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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. Peter intends to eat __________________.

2. Why does Peter agree with Frank regarding his feelings of worry?

3. The large shaggy animal is a stray and appears to be a French breed officially known as ______________.

4. Over the next several weeks, Mayle's wife stalks the dog, who she learns spends time ______________ where it can feed off scraps.

5. When does Peter wake?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to Faustin? How does he feel about this?

2. How does Mayle feel about fan mail at first? Why does he feel this way?

3. How is Peter Mayle confused by the American visitor? How does this lead to a jab at Americans?

4. What does Mayle say about the life of a writer?

5. Why is Peter's friend, Frank, worried and on edge? Should he feel this way?

6. Why might the Mayles have invited the Gregoires to see the dog?

7. What does Monsieur X ask Peter to do next spring? What does this reveal about their relationship?

8. How do Mayle's feelings about fan mail change over time? Why?

9. How does the language barrier lead to humor in this chapter?

10. What takes place prior to Boy and the Gregoires' dog breeding? Why does the breeding not go as planned?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The book opens with the author of the book going to a pharmacy.

Part 1) Why might the book open this way? What does it reveal about the author? What does it reveal about France? How does this aspect of France compare to America?

Part 2) How does the book proceed? How does one story lead to the next? Why does the book progress in this way? Do you find this to be an effective and engaging way of organizing a book? Why or why not?

Part 3) What do you believe are the most important parts of the book? Why? How do these parts of the book affect your opinion of the book, the author, and Provence?

Essay Topic 2

The author finds old coins on his property.

Part 1) Describe the finding of these coins. Why does he involve his neighbors in this? What does this reveal about his relationship with them?

Part 2) What does this treasure-hunting adventure reveal and/or reinforce about the author and others? How does this story compare to others in this book? What similarities exist? How is this book, as a whole, a treasure hunt?

Part 3) What does all this hunting reveal about the author and about Provence? How can you relate to this specific treasure hunt and other stories involving finding something or gaining information about something?

Essay Topic 3

A large focus is put on truffles.

Part 1) What are truffles? What does the author have to say about truffles? Why are truffles important to the author and this story?

Part 2) What is learned about French culture, as well as other European cultures, from the truffle stories in this book?

Part 3) How can you relate to these truffle stories? How do these make sense in your own life? To what can these be compare in the U.S.?

(see the answer keys)

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