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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 annual household chore does Mr. Lisbon ignore this year?

2. Which of his daughters does Mr. Lisbon see eating M&Ms and feel as if she is a stranger?

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

4. What is Old Mrs. Karafilis' weekly ritual?

5. In what condition is the Lisbons' basement?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. How does Mr. Lisbon's behavior at school change after Cecilia's suicide?

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

6. How did Lux's date end?

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

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

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

10. What signs did the Lisbon girls show of rejoining the community?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Communication--and the lack of it--plays a crucial role in the telling of this story. Please discuss ways in which the Lisbon girls communicate with the outside and with one another, as well as how a lack of communication affects the story.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

The character of Old Mrs. Karafilis is introduced in Chapter 4 and is only active for a short portion of the book. She, however, represents several important factors otherwise missing from the characters surrounding the Lisbon girls' tragedy. Describe Old Mrs. Karafilis, her connection to the girls, and the importance her character has on the telling of the story.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 990 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample