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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. Where does Mary go by herself?

3. What does Trip do when faced with the headmaster one afternoon after returning from his car?

4. Who fetches the Lisbons' mail?

5. What is different about Trip Fontaine's home life?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. How did the Lisbons deal with their friends' and neighbors' offers of sympathy?

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

5. What happens on Trip Fontaine's vacation in Acapulco that changes his life significantly?

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

7. How do the Lisbon girls save, at least temporarily, their elm tree?

8. Describe the physical changes happening to the Lisbon home.

9. How did the three older girls end their evening at the dance?

10. Describe the state of the Lisbon house in Chapter 4.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does the state of the Lisbon house connect to the rest of the story? What connections can be drawn between the conditions of the house and the condition of the people inside it? How do the people viewing it from the outside respond? The people inside?

Essay Topic 2

Explain the title The Virgin Suicides: is it appropriate? What does it mean, exactly? Do the characters contribute to its authenticity? Are there actually virgin suicides? Can you think of a better title? If so, what is it, and why would you choose it?

Essay Topic 3

Lux Lisbon becomes the one that we as readers know the most intimately. In a well-developed essay, describe her character, how it differs from her sisters', and how she fits into her family.

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