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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. How does Sally feel when she opens the door to Gary?

2. What does Sally say is the important thing about Jimmy?

3. What will change in Gideon's life with his mother's marriage?

4. What is the first thing Sally tells Gary?

5. What is the woman at the front desk of Gary's motel doing?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why has Gary come to New York?

3. What do Kylie and Antonia see in the backyard, what does Gillian tell them to do and what does Kylie tell Gillian about Jimmy's ring?

4. What does Kylie receive from her aunts for her birthday and what happens after it is in the house?

5. What were the rumors about Maria and why did they start?

6. What does Sally think about and how does she feel while waiting for Gary?

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

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

9. What are the aunts thinking when they arrive at Sally's house?

10. How does Sally meet Gary?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are a number of interesting questions raised by "Practical Magic". Questions that Hoffman most likely want readers to consider and think through carefully. Discuss the following:

1. What does the term "author agenda" mean?

2. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the Hoffman's agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Hoffman's probable agenda concerning that idea.

2. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

3. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

4. Research the life of Hoffman and if/where his life may have influenced his writing.

Essay Topic 2

"Practical Magic" belongs to the fantasy genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the historical novel genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a science fiction novel and a fantasy novel?

Essay Topic 3

Sally and Gillian are in fact very different but they do love each other. This relationship that they have is very stressful for them because they cannot stand the way that each other lives. It will be shown later on that Gillian firmly believes that Sally is wasting her life and Sally believes that Gillian is ruining hers. Despite the way that they view each other's choices they will eventually realize that they need each other.

1. Discuss some ways that Sally and Gillian could learn to accept each other for who each of them are. Use examples from Practical Magic and your own life to support your answer.

2. Why do you think Sally believes Gillian is ruining her life? Use examples from Practical Magic and your own life to support your answer.

3. Why do you think Gillian thinks Sally is wasting her life? Use examples from Practical Magic and your own life to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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