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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. The ruins of what chateau do they see on their bicycle ride?

2. Lengthy discussions were held between which two people during the planting?

3. How lond a trip was it to go buy a loaf of bread?

4. Why did Christian turn down the job offer?

5. The Mayles' home is situated between which two villages?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does donating blood in Provence differ from donating blood in England?

2. What is Lucerne?

3. Explain why Peter was cheered up by the story he hears about Christian , his architect

4. What were the reasons Faustin gave to Peter Mayle for no longer growing melons?

5. Describe in a sentence or two the bicycle trip the Mayles took on the first of May.

6. What does the Mayles' temporary kitchen consist of?

7. Retell briefly the story Massot told about a peasant who coveted his neighbor's house.

8. What does Menicucci's assistant wear in April?

9. What were some of the characteristics of the stone in Provence?

10. Why were the journalists happy about the lead story "Provence Under Blanket of Snow?"

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Mayles hire a number of different workmen to renovate their house and property in the book. Write an essay describing two or more of the workmen. What were their names? Specialty? What are some of the characteristics peculiar to workmen of Provence? Are they dependable? Do they work hard? What did each workman do to renovate the Mayles' home? How did Madame Mayle influence the workmen so that they finished the renovation of the house before Christmas?

Essay Topic 2

As has been mentioned before, there are many colorful characters among the people of Provence whom the Mayles come in contact with.

Part 1) Describe the neighbor, Massot. Is he a sympathetic character? An interesting character? What are some of the strange things he thinks and does?

Part 2) Menicucci is a character whom Peter turns to when he has a problem. Write an essay with a description of Menicucci which explains why Peter trusts him so. Mention some of the things Menicucci does for Peter in the book.

Part 3) Faustin and his wife Henriette are also important characters in the book. Describe them and their relationship to the Mayles. How do the couples interact?

Essay Topic 3

There are many colorful and interesting characters in the book. Three of them are Faustin, Menicucci and Massot. Write an essay on one of these three characters. Describe the character. What is characteristic of this character? Describe the character's physical appearance if it was important in the book. Describe his personality or character traits. Why do you find this character interesting? Why is this character important to Peter Mayle?

(see the answer keys)

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