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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. About what book did the Darrell family begin speaking during their meeting?

2. What did Leslie send the judge upon Spiro's suggestion?

3. The day before his birthday, what did Gerald notice about his family?

4. From whom did Mother get the donkey she gave to Gerald?

5. What did Larry reveal about Sven after Sven had left the house?

Short Essay Questions

1. What kinds of spiders did Gerald find on the island? What did he witness one day while observing one of the spiders he had caught?

2. What was the "Bootle-bumtrinket?" How did Gerald get it and what did he do with it?

3. Who was Kokino? What does Kokino mean in Greek? What did Kokino and Gerald do together?

4. Who did Margo and Gerald discover lived on Mouse Island? How did they first discover this person? How did they eventually appease this inhabitant's ire?

5. What did Gerald do with the crab he and Roger discovered on one of their walks? What did Gerald find fascinating about the crab that led him to further exploration?

6. What did Gerald and Theo discover on their excursion to the lake? Why was this discovery exciting for Gerald?

7. What did the family do on Sven's last day at their villa? Who came to visit that day? What did Sven do upon meeting this guest? How does Mother describe Sven as gets into the cab to leave? Why did Larry think her comment was ironic?

8. What is a China-mark moth? What makes this moth unique?

9. Who was Sven? How did he come upon the Durrell family? What was Sven's unusual talent that drove the family crazy? What did Gerald learn Sven had in common with him?

10. Who was Sally? Where did Sally come from? How did the name Sally come to be? Why was Gerald excited to have Sally as a member of the household?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Based on all of the information provided in both narrative and dialogue, what are some of the characteristics of the author when he was a child? For example, how did he adjust to the move to Corfu, and what does that tell us about him as a child? What were the major influences on the author during his years in Corfu?

Essay Topic 2

Before Chapter Four, Durrell has placed a quote from Professor Anstead, "Hospitality is, indeed, now no less than in classical times, a sacred duty in these islands, and it is a duty more conscientiously performed." How does this quote apply to the Durrell family? What are some examples of the hospitality they have offered to guests? What kinds of hospitality have been offered to them?

Essay Topic 3

When Leslie is brought to trial by a neighbor accusing Roger of eating three turkeys, Spiro tells him how to handle the problem. What does Spiro help Leslie do, and how does his idea work out for Leslie? What comment is Durrell making about the legal affairs in their small village?

(see the answer keys)

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