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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 major project is the Parks Department working on?

2. What does Mr. Lisbon use paint cans for in Chapter 4?

3. What happens to Mr. Lisbon over Christmas vacation?

4. What does Mr. Lisbon attempt to flush down the toilet?

5. Where do the Lisbon girls spend the Day of Grieving?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. Describe the state of the Lisbons' basement on June 15th.

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

6. What was the media's first reaction to Cecilia's suicide, and why?

7. What do the boys make of Therese's ham radio conversations?

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

9. What is Mrs. Lisbon's reaction to Lux's disobedience?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of the major themes of The Virgin Suicides is grief. How do different characters in the novel deal with their grief? Are some ways more effective than others? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

We have talked a lot about setting in the context of this novel. Please discuss in an essay what the setting of The Virgin Suicides is, how it affects the story, how it affects the characters, and how the characters affect the setting.

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