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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 recalls the prolonged process he endured in order to receive what?

2. How does the book store owner surprise Mayle?

3. As soon as the young man, Benson, steps off the train, he claims to be deathly ill with what?

4. In ______________, Peter decides to travel to the small town of Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the wine country.

5. Mayle instantly became pen pals with whom?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9. Describe the picnic area. How might this compare to Peter's experience in London?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Peter's wife has an interest in dogs.

Part 1) How is this interest revealed? How does this interest affect and influence events in the story? What is the purpose of including these details? What do these details reveal about the author, his wife, and others in the story?

Part 2) In what is Peter interested? How do you know this? How do his interests compare to those of his wife? How do these interests affect his behavior throughout the book?

Part 3) What are your own interests? How do they compare to those of the Mayles? How can you use your own interests to relate to the interests of the Mayles and events in this book?

Essay Topic 2

Mayle dislikes picnics.

Part 1) Why is this important to the story? Why does this fact not sway Mayle's wife when she plans a picnic? What does this reveal about her and her relationship with her husband?

Part 2) How is Peter's opinion regarding picnics changed? What other strong opinions does Peter have early on in the book that change over the course of his time in Provence? What leads to these changes? For the most part, are these good changes? Why or why not?

Part 3) How have your own opinions changed over time? What led to these changes? Do you believe your opinions will continue to change? Why or why not?

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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