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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 does Sally decide to do about Gary's visit?

2. What kind of animal do the aunts tell Gillian she could have killed?

3. What does Sally do when she notices her girls are growing up?

4. Why does Sally not want to tell one more lie?

5. What do the aunts tell Sally about her house?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What do the aunts do when their concoction is ready and what do their actions help?

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

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

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

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

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

9. What happens to Kylie on the way to Gideon's house?

10. What do Gillian and Sally do when Gary leaves and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

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

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully explain why you think "Practical Magic" is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? Can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

2. How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book? Explain your answer.

3. Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content? Explain your answer.

4. Have you ever read a book that when you finished, you do not understand the relevance of the title? Does it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

(see the answer keys)

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