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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. What languages do the magenpies learn to speak?

2. When Gerry reaches the nest at the top of the olive tree, what do his dogs below look like?

3. What is the name given to Gerry's boat?

4. In the summer, what makes the island vibrate with their cries?

5. Under the loose plaster of the crumbing wall, what does Gerry find?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the introduction of Dodo say about Mother's character?

2. Why did Gerry's trips to the archipelago in the Sea Cow become less frequent?

3. Why are the Durrells having a party in Part 3?

4. Mr. Kralefsky's mother believes flowers can talk and have personality. How does Gerry respond to this idea?

5. What two ways did Peter teach Gerry English?

6. Why was Gerry initially suspicious when his family told him his new tutor, Mr. Kralefsky, was interested in birds?

7. What is the final event, revisited oppositely, that Spiro helps the family with?

8. What intriguing creature did Gerry find in the crumbling wall, and why did this upset Larry?

9. How are Dodo and Margo alike?

10. Kosti warns Gerry about Alecko too late, as Gerry is already stroking his feathers. Alecko does not fuss. What does this say about Gerry's character?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Gerry is very descriptive of seasons, people, events, and places on Corfu. Why do you think he chose such elaborate detail for his book? Do you think this helps the reader get a better picture of what is going on? Do you think the description is distracting to the reader?

Essay Topic 2

In what ways was Spiro the Durrell family's guardian throughout the book? Cite examples throughout the book. Why did Spiro choose to take on the family to look after?

Essay Topic 3

Dr. Theodore Stephanides is socially awkward, especially with greeting people and then parting ways. Discuss your theory as to why he has this social awkwardness.

(see the answer keys)

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