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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. 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.

2. How is the card signed?

3. How does Peter feel about his discoveries?

4. After returning home from the pharmacy with several mundane purchases--toothpaste and suntan lotion--Peter finds a brochure in his bag which discusses the problem of ___________________, which apparently is quite a prevalent condition among the French.

5. What do the guests do when they reach Maurice's restaurant?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. 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?

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

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

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

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

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

10. Describe the truffle business.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Peter makes observations about summers in Luberon.

Part 1) Describe Peter's observations. How does he share these observations with the reader? How does this style of writing compare to the rest of the book? What are your thoughts on the way Peter presents this information?

Part 2) Why are the summers in Luberon important to the author? How are the summers compared to other seasons? How are the details of these summers tied to Provencal and French culture?

Part 3) What are summers like in your own community? How do they compare to summers in Luberon? What are the reasons for these similarities and differences? Would you prefer to be in Luberon or your own community for the summer? Why?

Essay Topic 3

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?

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