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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. How is the card signed?

2. Peter contacts _____________, identified only as Monsieur X, for help for his friend Frank.

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

4. The man explains that the toads are dormant and hidden where?

5. At lunch time, Michel tells Peter and six other visitors to follow him where?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does Benson react to the French doctor? Why might he react this way?

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

4. How does Mayle feel about fan mail at first? 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. What does Peter ask about tasting the wine? Why does he ask this? How does Michel respond? Why might Michel respond this way?

7. 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?

8. Describe the truffle business.

9. Why does Mayle's wife bring the dog home? Should she have done this? Why or why not?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Mayles go to a dog show.

Part 1) Why do they attend a dog show? What does the author observe while at this dog show? How is this connected to other parts of the story? What does this reinforce about the characters and their experiences in Provence?

Part 2) What does the author notice about the dogs and their owners? Do you agree with him? Why or why not? Why might the owners do this? Do you find this odd? Why or why not?

Part 3) How are the details of this dog show important to the author? How are the details of life, as a whole, in Provence important to the author? Why? How do these details affect the reader?

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 describes a trip to Les Halles.

Part 1) What is Les Halles? What takes place at Les Halles? Why does the author include this trip in this book?

Part 2) Do you find this trip and these details about Les Halles to be important to the story? Why or why not? How does this story progress the plot or support the author's purpose for writing this book?

Part 3) Does the U.S. have anything like Les Halles? If so, what? If not, why not? What does Les Halles reveal about French culture? Is this something Americans have in common with the French? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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