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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. Mayle instantly became pen pals with whom?

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. Mayle is rather surprised by the level of ____________ provided for the festival.

4. How does Mayle's wife feel when Mayle suggests that they should search for the owner?

5. Mayle reminds his wife that he __________ picnics, based on his experiences in London.

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Peter ask about tasting the wine? Why does he ask this? How does Michel respond? Why might Michel respond this way?

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

4. How does Peter feel about his toad findings? Why does he feel this way?

5. How does Peter end up in the small town of Chateauneuf-du-Pape? How might Peter feel about this trip?

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

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

8. How does Peter get involved in this world of truffles?

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

10. What does Peter learn about toads at a cafe? What does Peter think of this? Why might he feel this way?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Peter's return to London is enlightening.

Part 1) Describe Peter's return to London. How is it enlightening? What does it reveal about Peter? What does it also reveal about London, Provence, and the people of these regions of the world?

Part 2) How does Peter continue to change after this visit to London? How are these changes revealed? Do Peter's English friends see these as positive changes? Why or why not? Do you see these as positive changes? Why or why not?

Part 3) Describe an experience in your own life that was enlightening. How was it enlightening? How did this experience affect you? Was this a permanent effect? Why or why not? How does your own experience compare to Peter's?

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

The Mayles have many unique experiences while living in Provence.

Part 1) Describe four of these unique experiences. Compare these experiences. How is one experience tied to the next? What is the purpose of telling the reader about these experiences? How does each experience support the author's purpose for writing this book?

Part 2) How do these experiences affect the reader? Do these stories make the book more engaging? Why or why not? Are all of these stories necessary? Why or why not?

Part 3) Describe a unique experience in your own life. How did it affect you? Are you still affected by it? Why or why not? How does your own unique experience compare to those of the Mayles?

(see the answer keys)

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