View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. For what does Monsieur X use a pig?

2. He was invited by his friend, Michel, ________________, to visit the famous wine caves of the region.

3. After arriving home, why does Benson ask Mayle to contact his brother?

4. A local couple, the ______________, are invited over to see the dog.

5. The man takes Peter to a shed in his backyard that has a back wall made of soil and is equipped with what?

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 the language barrier lead to humor in this chapter?

4. Describe the truffle business.

5. What does Peter do about the toads story? What does this reveal about Peter's personality?

6. What happens to Faustin? How does he feel about this?

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

The book opens with the author of the book going to a pharmacy.

Part 1) Why might the book open this way? What does it reveal about the author? What does it reveal about France? How does this aspect of France compare to America?

Part 2) How does the book proceed? How does one story lead to the next? Why does the book progress in this way? Do you find this to be an effective and engaging way of organizing a book? Why or why not?

Part 3) What do you believe are the most important parts of the book? Why? How do these parts of the book affect your opinion of the book, the author, and Provence?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,260 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample