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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. Where does Kylie run when two men are chasing her?

2. What does a toad spit out in the kitchen?

3. What causes Gillian to sleep more peacefully?

4. Who is Gillian dating?

5. What does Gary think about Gillian's answers to his questions?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Ben tell Gillian about her abilities and what does she do as the result of his opinion?

2. What is the first thing Sally does when Gary comes and sits in her car?

3. What do Gillian and Sally want to do with the thorns in the backyard and what does Kylie say about their plan?

4. What happens that causes Ben to talk about fate to Gillian?

5. Why does Sally become enraged at Gillian for something Gillian says about Sally's daughters?

6. What does Gideon do after his mother tells him what is going to happen and how does he know if Kylie and him are still friends?

7. What does Sally do to find Gary and what does she do when she finds where he is staying?

8. What does Gary realize about Gillian and what does he think is Sally and Gillian's connection to Jimmy?

9. How does Gary figure out that Sally and Gillian know more about Jimmy than they are saying?

10. How does Gary figure out how to track down Jimmy and who is Gary interested in meeting?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Gillian and Sally are ostracized in school because it is believed their family consist of witches. The children will not play with the girls and the parents are prejudiced also. Ironically, the mothers still come to the aunts for love portions.

1. What is irony? (This may need research). How is the situation with the aunts and the mothers of the children an example of irony?

2. Discuss one other example in this book that is ironic and tell why you believe the situation is ironic. Include examples from the book and your own life to illustrate your answer.

3. Do you think it is wrong for the mothers to use the aunts? Why or why not? Include examples from Practical Magic and your own life to illustrate your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Alice Hoffman.

2. What in Hoffman's background may have helped Hoffman in writing "Practical Magic"? What may have influenced the way she depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

Essay Topic 3

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think Practical Magic is? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

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