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. How does Poirot categorize Miss Debenham?

2. What is the profession of Hildegarde Schmidt?

3. Why was the luggage damp?

4. Who is Poirot most interested in at the beginning of this chapter?

5. What was Masterman's relationship with Colonel Armstrong?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Poirot manage to get the Count and Countess alone?

2. What is the true identity of the Countess Adrenyi?

3. How does the Princess try to explain the monogram on the handkerchief.

4. What point does MacQueen reiterate when Poirot approaches him to conduct a search?

5. What is the true identity of Miss Debenham?

6. Where does Poirot find the missing uniform?

7. What item does Poirot expect to find in Hildegard Schmidt's luggage?

8. Which of Poirot's questions trips up Miss Debenham?

9. How does Poirot think the outcome would have changed if the police had been involved?

10. What caused the murderers' original plan to go awry?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The relationship between Colonel Arbuthnot and Miss Debenham was never fully disclosed. What do you think they were talking about when spotted in Syria? Why did the mention of the relationship upset Miss Debenham? What do you think constituted the relationship between the Colonel and Miss Debenham? Why?

Essay Topic 2

One of the most telling clues in the case was that Ratchett was stabbed 12 times. Do you think the number was a metaphor for the number of people on a jury? Who do you think delivered the fatal blow(s)? Would the number of murderers been evident if all wounds were inflicted at the same height or using the same hand (right or left)?

Essay Topic 3

First impressions play a large part in the story. When Miss Debenham saw Poirot she referred to the detective as "peculiar but harmless." Explain how Poirot would have assessed his first impression of Miss Debenham, Colonel Arbuthnot, and Cassetti/Ratchett.

How did Poirot happen to be on the same train as the victim? Was it by accident or was it planned? How did Poirot react when he realized that Colonel Arbuthnot and Miss Debenham were also on the train?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 483 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample