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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following was a probable incentive for the impostor to impersonate Martin?
(a) He wanted Martin's clothes.
(b) He wanted to steal from Pierre.
(c) He wanted to hurt Bertrande.
(d) A bigger inheritance.

2. What example does the author give of other people who have taken a false identity?
(a) Actors in a play.
(b) Kids in Halloween costumes.
(c) House burgulars.
(d) Carnival participants.

3. How did the impostor learn initially learn about the details of Martin's life?
(a) By listening to what Martin's friends said about Martin.
(b) By reading about it in the newspaper.
(c) By listening to two strangers talk about Martin.
(d) By listening to Martin tell his story.

4. Why couldn't Martin and his wife conceive a baby?
(a) Martin had fertility problems.
(b) Bertrande was too young.
(c) Martin was impotent.
(d) Bertrande had fertility problems.

5. How was Bertrande's life affected by Martin's disappearance and the scandal?
(a) She was blamed for running Martin off.
(b) She faced constant teasing from villagers.
(c) Her status in society was elevated.
(d) Her status in society was reduced.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why did Bertrande and the impostor stay at the inn instead of going home right away?

2. What was the outcome of Martin's wound?

3. What was the impostor's nickname?

4. How old was Martin's wife believed to be at the time of marriage?

5. Bertrande, like most women of her time, took on traditional female work, such as house work, crafting, spinning thread, and baking bread. What other work did women do at the time?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Martin's name possibly contribute to his decision to disappear?

2. The author speculates in Chapter 4 that the impostor and Martin could have met during the war, but notes that in his confession, the impostor denied having met Martin. What do you think? Could they have met or was the impostor telling the truth? Explain your answers.

3. List some of the ways the impostor prepared to pass himself off as Martin.

4. How did the impostor's business ventures benefit Bertrande?

5. The impostor was methodical in his deception. He took about 3 years to research his role and then began planting information that Martin was back before he contacted Martin's family. Why do you think the impostor was so slow to implement his con?

6. The impostor went to great lengths to "become" Martin. Do you think this is evidence that his goal was to do more than collect an inheritance? Explain your answer.

7. If passing soldiers in Hendaye were somehow ruining the land, why would that affect the Guerres?

8. In Chapter 3, the author wrote Bertrande was independent. List three examples that support this claim.

9. What is meant by the following statement: "The realities of this peasant world encourage not only the skills of a good farm wife, but the woman's ability to get her way with the men and to calculate her advantages, say, in remaining a widow."

10. Why do you think Bertrande refused to get out of her marriage when she had the chance?

(see the answer keys)

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