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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. At the Lisbons' house, who sits next to Trip?

2. What appears in the window of Cecilia's old bedroom?

3. Which of these is not an observation made about Lux in the weeks following her removal from school?

4. What happens to Mr. Lisbon over Christmas vacation?

5. What do the girls attempt to save from certain death?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do the boys see when they first look into the Lisbons' home on June 15th?

2. Why is Lux taken by ambulance to the hospital?

3. What was "The Day of Grieving" and how was it observed?

4. How did Trip Fontaine "make his move" regarding Lux?

5. What do the boys make of Therese's ham radio conversations?

6. Why is Trip so flummoxed by his attraction to Lux?

7. Describe Mary Lisbon's favorite way to pass time during the imprisonment.

8. Describe three ways in which the Lisbon girls tried to contact the boys.

9. What is Dr. Hornicker's opinion of Lux after meeting with her in the hospital?

10. Describe Mr. Lisbon's vision of a ghost.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Jeffrey Eugenides opens the book with the last Lisbon girl's suicide. How does that set the tone for the novel? Is it helpful to the reader or does it take away from the story?

Essay Topic 2

We have talked a lot about setting in the context of this novel. Please discuss in an essay what the setting of The Virgin Suicides is, how it affects the story, how it affects the characters, and how the characters affect the setting.

Essay Topic 3

At the dance, Therese says to her date, "We just want to live. If anyone would let us." What does she mean? Are the Lisbon girls not living? Is she referring to Cecilia, or to her own future suicide? Is there someone or something refusing to let them live?

(see the answer keys)

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