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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. What has happened to Maggie?

2. Who sings with Maggie at the funeral?

3. What is the name of Ira and Maggie's daughter?

4. What does Maggie do for Ira?

5. Why does Maggie beg Ira to go back to the swerving car?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does this remind her of Serena?

2. What did Maggie do to try to see Leroy?

3. Why was Maggie so fond of Fiona?

4. What does Maggie want Ira to allow?

5. How was Jesse different from Ira?

6. What about those who do not choose to sing?

7. What does Maggie always wear?

8. What is Breathing Lessons the story of?

9. Why is Serena mad?

10. What does Ira spend most of his time doing?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

1. Much of the book is based on reliving memories between the characters. How do memories affect our actions?

2. Where do you record your memories?

3. How do you keep them alive?

4. How do we keep memories alive in our greater culture?

Essay Topic 2

1. What kind of friendship do Serena and Maggie have?

2. Describe times where Maggie acts as a good friend to Serena.

3. Is it the kind of friendship that you would hope you and your closest friend would have?

Essay Topic 3

1. Describe the settings of the novel.

2. Where do the most important moments take place?

3. Why do they happen where they happen?

4. Is that setting impertinent to telling the story?.

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