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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. After being sent to one bureaucracy after the other, the final stop was a health check. The doctor found Mayle to be healthy but took his blood for one last screening which was to make sure he didn't have what?

2. The party will be held in picturesque ______________ and the guests will arrive by horse and carriage provided by local chef and friend, Maurice, who will also be providing the gourmet food.

3. One man is certain that toads cannot sing while the other man claims that a man in ________________ is training some songs to sing for the bicentennial celebration to take place on July 14th.

4. What does their one friend suggest they plan on doing?

5. Where does the man allow the dog to sleep?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does the book begin? What does this lead him to say about the French?

3. How is the toad story explained? Is it as odd and sensational as Peter had hoped? Why or why not?

4. Why might Peter's wife still plan a picnic, although he does not like them?

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

6. Describe the truffle business.

7. What is Peter's opinion of picnics? Why?

8. What does Peter say about this tasting experience? Why does he give these details?

9. How does Mayle's wife first come across Boy? How does this first encounter lead her to act? How do you feel about her behavior?

10. Describe Peter's birthday card. Why might he have been given this?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Mayle's life is full of colorful people.

Part 1) Describe these colorful people. How are these colorful people tied to the unique experiences in the Mayles' lives? How do they support the author's opinion of Provence?

Part 2) How do these people, along with the author's unique experiences, enhance the book for the reader? How do these people affect your own opinion of Provence and France as a whole?

Part 3) What colorful and unique people exist in your own life? How do they affect your life? What would your life be like without them? Would it be better? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Lavender is an important crop in Provence.

Part 1) How does the author reveal its importance in this story? How is the author involved in the growing and/or harvesting of lavender? Why does he get involved? What might the author think of the production of lavender, based on his experiences with it?

Part 2) What other aspects of Provence are uniquely Provencal? How do these combine to make the Provencal culture? What are the author's thoughts on Provencal culture? Why? What are your own thoughts on the Provencal culture? Why?

Part 3) What crops are important in the U.S.? What is specifically grown in your region of the U.S.? How does this affect your community? How does this specifically affect your and your family? How does this, and other aspects of your culture, help you to relate to life in Provence?

Essay Topic 3

The author is opinionated.

Part 1) Describe the author's opinions that are given throughout this book. How does he come to have these opinions? Why is he so opinionated? Is this good or bad? Why?

Part 2) Do you agree with his opinions? Why or why not? Do his opinions change throughout the story? Why or why not? How do his opinions affect your opinions? Do they have any influence over you? If so, how? if not, why not?

Part 3) About what are you opinionated? Why? What does this reveal about you? Overall, do you believe you are an opinionated person? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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