The Darling Buds of May MCQs

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Author: Nasir Iqbal | Assistant Professor of English Literature


Updated on: November 12, 2025
Estimated Reading Time: 16 min

The Darling Buds of May MCQs

1. What kind of treats did Pop distribute in the truck?

A. Super-bumpers
B. Vanilla cones
C. Ice lollies
D. Chocolate bars

A. Super-bumpers.
Pop distributed eight large vanilla, chocolate, and raspberry super-bumpers to the children.

2. What was the colour of Pop’s home-painted truck?

A. Red-orange
B. Gentian blue
C. Faded green
D. Shining black

B. Gentian blue.
Pop’s thirty-hundredweight truck was painted gentian blue and gleamed in the sunlight.

3. What colour was Ma Larkin’s heavy jumper?

A. Pale yellow
B. Dark green
C. Hot pink
D. Salmon jumper

D. Salmon jumper.
Ma Larkin was almost two yards wide and was wearing a salmon-coloured jumper.

4. How many children’s names did Pop unroll in total?

A. Just three
B. Seven handsome
C. Six names
D. Four little

C. Six names.
Pop unrolled the handsome ribbon of six names: Zinnia, Petunia, Primrose, Victoria, Montgomery, and Mariette.
5. What unexpected news did Ma reveal about Mariette?

A. Getting married
B. Going overseas
C. Going to have a baby
D. Leaving the farm

C. Going to have a baby.
When Pop asked why Mariette was quiet, Ma stated that Mariette was going to have a baby.

6. Who were the two possible fathers Mariette considered?

A. Harry or Charles
B. Pop or Harry
C. Montgomery or Charles
D. Arthur or Stan

A. Harry or Charles.
Ma mentioned the father was either the Charles boy from the farm or Harry, who works on the railway.

7. What Queen did Ma want to name Mariette after?

A. Queen Victoria
B. Marie Antoinette
C. Queen Elizabeth
D. Queen Mary

B. Marie Antoinette.
Ma had wanted to name her after the French Queen, Marie Antoinette, but Pop thought it was too long.

8. Why was Pop’s only son, Montgomery, given his name?

A. Born in August
B. After the general
C. Named by Mariette
D. For a famous soldier

B. After the general.
Montgomery, the only boy, was named after the famous general, Pop recalled with pride.

9. What was the condition of the yard when they returned home?

A. Manicured lawn
B. Dusty nettles, iron
C. Bluebell patch
D. Flower gardens

B. Dusty nettles, iron.
The yard was filled with nettles, old oil drums, corrugated pigsties, and piles of rusty iron.
10. What time of day did the Larkins finally arrive home for dinner?

A. Three fifteen
B. Early noon
C. Past six
D. Almost four o’clock

D. Almost four o’clock.
Pop announced, “Just in time for dinner!” despite the time being almost four o’clock.

11. What type of trousers was Mariette wearing upon arrival?

A. New jeans
B. Corduroy pants
C. Jodhpurs and shirt
D. Velvet slacks

C. Jodhpurs and shirt.
Mariette was standing erect in jodhpurs and a pale lemon shirt in the back of the truck.

12. Where did Mariette first spot Mr. Charlton?

A. In the pigsty
B. By the fence
C. Near the house
D. By the horsebox

D. By the horsebox.
Mariette spotted the man over by the horsebox watching the family unload from the truck.

13. What item was Mr. Charlton carrying under his arm?

A. A thin umbrella
B. Black briefcase
C. A ledger book
D. A small parcel

B. Black briefcase.
The spectacled, pale-faced young man carried a black briefcase under his arm.

14. Which official office did the young man represent?

A. The Ministry
B. Inspector of Taxes
C. Town Council
D. Revenue Office

B. Inspector of Taxes.
The young man, Mr. Charlton, introduced himself as being from the office of the Inspector of Taxes.
15. What reason did Pop give for not having filed a return?

A. Had lost the form
B. Didn’t know how
C. Nobody asked Pop
D. Filed it already

C. Nobody asked Pop.
Pop stood staggered by the question, claiming that nobody had ever asked him to make a return.

16. What food item did Ma bring in that the twins loved?

A. Three pineapples
B. Chocolate cake
C. Cold pork pie
D. Fresh cherries

A. Three pineapples.
Ma crossed the yard with a paper bag showing the cactus-like heads of three ripe pineapples.

17. What livestock did Pop offer Mr. Charlton for Christmas?

A. A baby goat
B. A nice hen-bird
C. Two fat pigs
D. Six young ducks

B. A nice hen-bird.
Pop made a casual offer to Mr. Charlton of a “nice hen-bird for Christmas”.

18. What specific observation did Mr. Charlton make about Mariette?

A. Her pale skin
B. Saw riding at Barfield
C. Her good manners
D. Her soft voice

B. Saw riding at Barfield.
Mr. Charlton startled Pop by saying he had seen Mariette riding and coming second at Barfield at Easter.

19. What did Pop finally suggest to get Mr. Charlton to drop the forms?

A. A fight
B. Come in and dine
C. A quick game
D. Trade a horse

B. Come in and dine.
Pop invited Mr. Charlton inside to have a bite of dinner, not allowing him to discuss the form.
20. What electronic device was operating in the living room during dinner?

A. Loud radio
B. Blaring stereo
C. The television set was on
D. Portable record player

C. The television set was on.
A television set was on in the living room next door, giving faces a flickering glow.

21. What food item did Pop suggest Mr. Charlton might like with his tea?

A. A boiled potato
B. Thick cheese slices
C. A couple of sardines
D. Roast turkey

C. Couple o’ sardines.
Pop asked Montgomery to fetch the sardines, suggesting them for Mr. Charlton’s tea.

22. What did Ma declare Pop’s occupation was?

A. Pig dealer
B. He owns land
C. Tax dodger
D. Scrap merchant

B. He owns land.
When Mr. Charlton wrote ‘Dealer,’ Ma insisted that Pop’s actual occupation was ‘Farmer,’ saying, “He owns land”.

23. What soft things unexpectedly brushed Mr. Charlton’s leg under the table?

A. A white kitten
B. Geese were under the table
C. A stray dog
D. Mariette’s stockings

B. Geese were under table.
Mr. Charlton was unnerved when he realized that geese were making shovelling noises under the table.

24. What food item did Mr. Charlton state he had to manage on?

A. Fresh fruit
B. Tinned fish
C. Cooked meats
D. Mostly on eggs

D. Mostly on eggs.
Mr. Charlton explained that he had to go carefully and manage mostly on eggs and similar foods.
25. How long did Mr. Charlton request his eggs be boiled for?

A. Three minutes
B. Just one
C. Five minutes
D. Four and a half

A. Three minutes.
Mr. Charlton requested that the eggs be cooked “Very light,” specifying a time of three minutes.

26. What income amount did Pop estimate they cleared weekly?

A. Two pounds
B. Fifty pounds
C. Clear a fiver a week
D. One hundred pounds

C. Clear a fiver a week.
Pop asked Ma if they were lucky to clear a fiver a week, expressing doubt over having any “Income”.

27. What did Pop claim nightingales did in the woods?

A. Sang loudly
B. Made a sweet sound
C. Sing all day, all night
D. Only sang at dusk

C. Sing all day, all night.
Pop claimed that nightingales, during the mating season, sing “All day, all night”.

28. What clothing did Mariette change into before walking with Mr. Charlton?

A. Lime green dress
B. Tight jodhpurs
C. Black suit
D. Velvet coat

A. Lime green dress.
Mariette returned wearing a lime green dress with a flouncing skirt and scalloped sleeves.

29. What was Pop doing when Mr. Charlton returned from the wood walk?

A. Sleeping
B. Washing pig-buckets
C. Eating supper
D. Talking on the phone

B. Washing pig-buckets.
Pop was in the yard washing pig buckets under the tap when Mr. Charlton and Mariette returned.
30. What was the scheduled time for the last bus Mr. Charlton could catch?

A. Half past seven
B. Nine thirty
C. Midnight
D. Goes at eight o’clock

D. Goes at eight o’clock.
Mr. Charlton insisted he had to catch his bus, stating that the last one went at eight o’clock.

31. What did Pop put into Ma’s cup of tea?

A. Orange bitters
B. A drop of cider
C. Poured whisky into the tea
D. Fresh cream

C. Poured whisky into the tea.
Pop fetched a bottle of whisky and poured it into Ma’s tea, and then into his own.

32. What was Mr. Charlton’s actual first name?

A. Charley
B. Sidney
C. Cedric
D. George

C. Cedric.
Pop was surprised when Mr. Charlton revealed his full name, which was Cedric.

33. Why did Mr. Charlton not play the card game, crib?

A. Bad luck
B. Had never heard of it
C. He hated cards
D. Too confusing

B. Had never heard of it.
Mr. Charlton confessed to Pop that he had never heard of the card game called crib.

34. Where did Ma suggest making up a bed for Mr. Charlton?

A. In the stables
B. Garden shed
C. In the house
D. On a billiard table

D. On billiard table.
Ma settled the matter by saying she would make up a bed for him on the billiard table.
35. What material were Ma’s unusual nightgowns made from?

A. Warm wool
B. Silk and lace
C. Wore nylon nightgowns
D. Cotton flannel

C. Wore nylon nightgowns.
Pop mentioned that Ma slept in nylon nightgowns, including one pale petunia-pink one.

36. What garment did Mariette offer to lend Mr. Charlton for sleeping?

A. A large shirt
B. Her skirt
C. Pop’s vest
D. Lend a pair of hers

D. Lend a pair of hers.
Mr. Charlton became speechless when Mariette offered to lend him a pair of her pyjamas.

37. What colour were Mariette’s silk pyjamas?

A. Pale blue silk
B. Dark green
C. Scarlet red
D. Shell pink

A. Pale blue silk.
When Mr. Charlton woke up, he found he was wearing silk pyjamas of a pale blue colour.

38. What dish was Ma frying for breakfast the following morning?

A. Just toast
B. Fried sausages
C. Eggs and bacon
D. Cold kippers

C. Eggs and bacon.
Ma, in her parma-violet jumper, was busy making toast and frying eggs and bacon.

39. What familiar name did Pop insist on calling Mr. Charlton?

A. Call him Charley
B. Charles boy
C. Little man
D. Inspector

A. Call him Charley.
Pop decided that “Charley boy” was more human and less like a parson’s name than Cedric.
40. What beverage did Pop concoct to revive Mr. Charlton?

A. Dragon’s Blood
B. The Chauffeur
C. Ma Chérie
D. The Larkin Special

A. Dragon’s Blood.
Pop rushed to the cocktail cabinet and returned with the powerful remedy, the Larkin Special.

41. What did Ma do with Mr. Charlton’s tax form?

A. Hid it away
B. Kept it safe
C. Ma put it on fire
D. Gave it to Pop

C. Ma put it on fire.
Ma was raking the kitchen fire and burning “Mr Charlton’s buff-yellow paper”.

42. Where did the Larkins decide to hold their Sunday dinner?

A. In the kitchen
B. At the pub
C. The dining room
D. Under the walnut tree

D. Under the walnut tree.
Ma suggested that they should have their dinner outside under the walnut tree.

43. How did Pop acquire the black and straw-coloured Rolls-Royce?

A. Bought it cheap
B. Driving in a Rolls-Royce
C. Won in a raffle
D. Traded scrap metal

B. Driving in a Rolls-Royce.
Pop startled everyone by arriving in a pre-war landaulette Rolls-Royce.

44. What unusual feature did Ma spot inside the Rolls-Royce?

A. Gold handles
B. A speaking tube
C. Furry seats
D. Silver cushions

B. A speekin’ tube.
Pop pointed out the speaking tube, which Ma was initially hesitant to use.
45. What condition was the Brigadier’s clothing in?

A. Newly pressed
B. Perfectly clean
C. Elbows had patches
D. Brightly coloured

C. Elbows had patches.
The Brigadier’s tropical alpaca suit had patches on the elbows and trimmed cuffs.

46. What did Pop suggest doing with Sir George Bluff-Gore’s large house?

A. Live in it
B. Pull the flippin’ thing down
C. Rent it out
D. Turn it into flats

B. Pull the flippin’ thing down.
Pop told Bluff-Gore he would pull down the house for the scrap metal.

47. What was Mariette’s immediate reaction after Pop offered the meadow for the Gymkhana?

A. She kissed Ma
B. She cried happy tears
C. She thanked the Brigadier
D. She kissed Pop

D. She kissed Pop.
An excited Mariette ran around the table and began kissing Pop with great fervour.

48. During the fight in the strawberry field, what substance did the girls rub on each other?

A. Dirt and mud
B. Fresh cream
C. Smashed strawberry juice
D. Cow manure

C. Smashed strawberry juice.
Mr. Charlton watched the girls viciously rubbing the scarlet juice of smashed strawberries into each other.

49. Whom did Mr. Charlton first approach to ask for Mariette’s hand in marriage?

A. He asked Pop
B. His own father
C. Ma Larkin
D. The Brigadier

A. He asked Pop.
Mr. Charlton, strained and tense, begged Pop for permission to marry Mariette.
50. What military term did Mr. Charlton shout after Pop’s surprise engagement announcement?

A. At ease
B. One for his nob
C. Fire at will
D. Attention

B. One for his nob.
After a firework knocked back Pop, Mr. Charlton shouted, “One for his nob!”.

Brief Overview

The Darling Buds of May is a comic novel by H. E. Bates, first published in 1958. It is the first in the “Pop Larkin Chronicles,” which presents an idyllic view of an unconventional family’s chaotic, yet wealthy, life in 1950s rural England.

The novel centers on the cheerful Larkin family, led by the patriarch Pop and the large, laughing Ma. They live a rich, chaotic life on their farm, earning considerable amounts of money selling fruit.

Mr. Charlton, a polite, nervous tax inspector, arrives to make Pop file an income tax form. The Larkin family distracts Mr. Charlton with huge meals, countryside chaos, and constant pleasure. Ma eventually burns the tax form, entirely forgetting the issue.

Mr. Charlton stays on the farm, quits his old job, and is entirely captivated by Mariette, the eldest daughter. At a large party, he asks Pop for Mariette’s hand in marriage. Pop instantly agrees, calling the idea “Perfick.”

They discover Mariette’s pregnancy was a false alarm, but Ma is now expecting another baby. Mr. Charlton decides not to return to his job. Pop offers to build them a bungalow.

The novel concludes with the family deciding not to marry right away, as staying single saves them money on taxes. The family is happy, feeling their life is absolutely “Perfick.”

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