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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. Who helps Mayle get out of a parking ticket?

2. There is often comment about dogs resembling who?

3. Scores of ____________ are on sale everywhere one looks--laying on blankets, under trees and stacked in boxes.

4. After removing the clutter, Mayle finds what buried in the now exposed soil?

5. Oddly, there is a table displaying pump-action riot guns and _____________ for sale.

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the venue in which Pavarotti performs. Why does Mayle include this information?

2. How is a stranger able to prevent Mayle from getting a parking ticket? Why is he able to do something Mayle is not able to do?

3. What is another consequence of the drought. How might this affect the revenue of the region?

4. What is Provence eventually declared? To what does this lead? Will this help the region? Why or why not?

5. How does this market show cultural differences between the French and other cultures?

6. What fashion icon promotes this region of France? Why?

7. How does the drought and fire risk affect Mayle? How does this chapter end? Why does it end this way?

8. What does Mayle learn from a woman during the concert? Do you believe her? Why or why not?

9. How does the town of Orange feel about Pavarotti's arrival? Why do they feel this way?

10. Why do the Mayles skip the morning dog show trials? Do you find this part of the dog show unusual or odd? 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

Peter tells a tale of singing toads.

Part 1) Describe the story of the singing toads. Why does Peter include this story in this book? How does this story compare to others in the book? How does this story support the purpose of this book?

Part 2) What does this story reveal or reinforce about Peter? What does it also reveal or reinforce about Provencal culture? What other odd stories are told in this book? Are you able to relate to these stories? If so, how? If not, why not?

Part 3) What odd tales could you tell of your own life? How have these strange events affected you and your life?

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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