1
© 2026 Juffrou Ansie Study Notes. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced or distributed without written permission.
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About This Booklet
This Contextual Questions Booklet was created to provide learners with focused
practice in answering contextual questions on My Family and Other Animals by Gerald
Durrell.
The questions were developed with reference to the prescribed novel, past examination
and assessment questions, memoranda and the completed Summary and Analysis
Booklet.
Past assessments were used to identify commonly tested:
• extracts and events
• characters and relationships
• themes
• literary devices
• question styles
Repeated or similar questions have been combined where appropriate. The questions
and answers are organised according to important events and extracts from the novel.
The contextual questions appear in the first part of the booklet and the model answers
are provided in a separate answer section. This booklet works best when used together
with the Summary and Analysis Booklet and the PowerPoint Presentation.
For enquiries, contact:
Juffrou Ansie
How This Booklet Is Organised
The booklet is organised according to important events and extracts from the novel.
The numbered headings are study sections and not the official chapter numbers or
chapter titles.
Each section begins with a short summary and explanation of the relevant event. This
provides the background needed to understand the extract and answer the contextual
questions.
Learners should:
1. Read the summary and important facts.
2. Read the extract carefully.
3. Answer the questions without looking at the answers.
4. Use the model answers to check and correct their work.
© 2026 Juffrou Ansie Study Notes. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced or distributed without written permission.
, 3
The questions focus on event sequence, extract context, characters, relationships,
themes, tone and literary techniques.
Answers should respond directly to the question and include evidence where required.
Contents
1. The Migration from England................................................................................................. 4
2. The Durrell Family Arrives in Corfu....................................................................................... 7
3. Gerry’s Early Exploration of Corfu ...................................................................................... 10
4. Gerry and the Rose-Beetle Man ......................................................................................... 12
5. Yani and the Scorpion Story .............................................................................................. 15
6. The Family Discusses Gerry’s Education ........................................................................... 17
7. George as Gerry’s Tutor..................................................................................................... 20
8. The Trapdoor Spiders and Theodore Stephanides............................................................... 21
9. Larry’s Guests and the Move to the Larger Villa .................................................................. 24
10. Margo and Saint Spiridion ............................................................................................... 26
11. The World in a Wall: The Scorpions at the Dinner Table ..................................................... 29
12. The Belgian Consul ......................................................................................................... 31
13. Mother’s Swimming Costume and Roger’s Attack ............................................................ 34
14. The Magpies ................................................................................................................... 36
15. Gerry and Mr Kralefsky .................................................................................................... 39
16. The Return to England ..................................................................................................... 41
Contextual Answers ............................................................................................................. 43
1. The Migration from England............................................................................................... 43
Contextual Answers ......................................................................................................... 43
2. The Durrell Family Arrives in Corfu..................................................................................... 44
Contextual Answers ......................................................................................................... 44
3. Gerry’s Early Exploration of Corfu ...................................................................................... 45
Contextual Answers ......................................................................................................... 45
4. Gerry and the Rose-Beetle Man ......................................................................................... 45
Contextual Answers ......................................................................................................... 45
5. Yani and the Scorpion Story .............................................................................................. 46
Contextual Answers ......................................................................................................... 46
6. The Family Discusses Gerry’s Education ........................................................................... 47
Contextual Answers ......................................................................................................... 47
7. George as Gerry’s Tutor..................................................................................................... 48
Contextual Answers ......................................................................................................... 48
© 2026 Juffrou Ansie Study Notes. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced or distributed without written permission.
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8. The Trapdoor Spiders and Theodore Stephanides............................................................... 49
Contextual Answers ......................................................................................................... 49
9. Larry’s Guests and the Move to the Larger Villa .................................................................. 50
Contextual Answers ......................................................................................................... 50
10. Margo and Saint Spiridion ............................................................................................... 51
Contextual Answers ......................................................................................................... 51
11. The World in a Wall: The Scorpions at the Dinner Table ..................................................... 51
Contextual Answers ......................................................................................................... 51
12. The Belgian Consul ......................................................................................................... 52
Contextual Answers ......................................................................................................... 52
13. Mother’s Swimming Costume and Roger’s Attack ............................................................ 53
Contextual Answers ......................................................................................................... 53
14. The Magpies ................................................................................................................... 54
Contextual Answers ......................................................................................................... 54
15. Gerry and Mr Kralefsky .................................................................................................... 55
Contextual Answers ......................................................................................................... 55
16. The Return to England ..................................................................................................... 56
Contextual Answers ......................................................................................................... 56
1. The Migration from England
Summary and Extract Context
At the beginning of the novel, the Durrell family lives in Bournemouth, England. The
unpleasant weather contributes to
several health problems:
• Gerry has catarrh
• Leslie has an ear infection
• Margo has acne problems
The atmosphere in the household is
lethargic because the family members
are ill, inactive and irritable.
© 2026 Juffrou Ansie Study Notes. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced or distributed without written permission.
© 2026 Juffrou Ansie Study Notes. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced or distributed without written permission.
, 2
About This Booklet
This Contextual Questions Booklet was created to provide learners with focused
practice in answering contextual questions on My Family and Other Animals by Gerald
Durrell.
The questions were developed with reference to the prescribed novel, past examination
and assessment questions, memoranda and the completed Summary and Analysis
Booklet.
Past assessments were used to identify commonly tested:
• extracts and events
• characters and relationships
• themes
• literary devices
• question styles
Repeated or similar questions have been combined where appropriate. The questions
and answers are organised according to important events and extracts from the novel.
The contextual questions appear in the first part of the booklet and the model answers
are provided in a separate answer section. This booklet works best when used together
with the Summary and Analysis Booklet and the PowerPoint Presentation.
For enquiries, contact:
Juffrou Ansie
How This Booklet Is Organised
The booklet is organised according to important events and extracts from the novel.
The numbered headings are study sections and not the official chapter numbers or
chapter titles.
Each section begins with a short summary and explanation of the relevant event. This
provides the background needed to understand the extract and answer the contextual
questions.
Learners should:
1. Read the summary and important facts.
2. Read the extract carefully.
3. Answer the questions without looking at the answers.
4. Use the model answers to check and correct their work.
© 2026 Juffrou Ansie Study Notes. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced or distributed without written permission.
, 3
The questions focus on event sequence, extract context, characters, relationships,
themes, tone and literary techniques.
Answers should respond directly to the question and include evidence where required.
Contents
1. The Migration from England................................................................................................. 4
2. The Durrell Family Arrives in Corfu....................................................................................... 7
3. Gerry’s Early Exploration of Corfu ...................................................................................... 10
4. Gerry and the Rose-Beetle Man ......................................................................................... 12
5. Yani and the Scorpion Story .............................................................................................. 15
6. The Family Discusses Gerry’s Education ........................................................................... 17
7. George as Gerry’s Tutor..................................................................................................... 20
8. The Trapdoor Spiders and Theodore Stephanides............................................................... 21
9. Larry’s Guests and the Move to the Larger Villa .................................................................. 24
10. Margo and Saint Spiridion ............................................................................................... 26
11. The World in a Wall: The Scorpions at the Dinner Table ..................................................... 29
12. The Belgian Consul ......................................................................................................... 31
13. Mother’s Swimming Costume and Roger’s Attack ............................................................ 34
14. The Magpies ................................................................................................................... 36
15. Gerry and Mr Kralefsky .................................................................................................... 39
16. The Return to England ..................................................................................................... 41
Contextual Answers ............................................................................................................. 43
1. The Migration from England............................................................................................... 43
Contextual Answers ......................................................................................................... 43
2. The Durrell Family Arrives in Corfu..................................................................................... 44
Contextual Answers ......................................................................................................... 44
3. Gerry’s Early Exploration of Corfu ...................................................................................... 45
Contextual Answers ......................................................................................................... 45
4. Gerry and the Rose-Beetle Man ......................................................................................... 45
Contextual Answers ......................................................................................................... 45
5. Yani and the Scorpion Story .............................................................................................. 46
Contextual Answers ......................................................................................................... 46
6. The Family Discusses Gerry’s Education ........................................................................... 47
Contextual Answers ......................................................................................................... 47
7. George as Gerry’s Tutor..................................................................................................... 48
Contextual Answers ......................................................................................................... 48
© 2026 Juffrou Ansie Study Notes. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced or distributed without written permission.
, 4
8. The Trapdoor Spiders and Theodore Stephanides............................................................... 49
Contextual Answers ......................................................................................................... 49
9. Larry’s Guests and the Move to the Larger Villa .................................................................. 50
Contextual Answers ......................................................................................................... 50
10. Margo and Saint Spiridion ............................................................................................... 51
Contextual Answers ......................................................................................................... 51
11. The World in a Wall: The Scorpions at the Dinner Table ..................................................... 51
Contextual Answers ......................................................................................................... 51
12. The Belgian Consul ......................................................................................................... 52
Contextual Answers ......................................................................................................... 52
13. Mother’s Swimming Costume and Roger’s Attack ............................................................ 53
Contextual Answers ......................................................................................................... 53
14. The Magpies ................................................................................................................... 54
Contextual Answers ......................................................................................................... 54
15. Gerry and Mr Kralefsky .................................................................................................... 55
Contextual Answers ......................................................................................................... 55
16. The Return to England ..................................................................................................... 56
Contextual Answers ......................................................................................................... 56
1. The Migration from England
Summary and Extract Context
At the beginning of the novel, the Durrell family lives in Bournemouth, England. The
unpleasant weather contributes to
several health problems:
• Gerry has catarrh
• Leslie has an ear infection
• Margo has acne problems
The atmosphere in the household is
lethargic because the family members
are ill, inactive and irritable.
© 2026 Juffrou Ansie Study Notes. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced or distributed without written permission.
