View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Marcus begin to imagine during lunch in Chapter 13?

2. What happens to the item(s) that Will buys for Marcus in Chapter 16?

3. What does Marcus not have a solution for in Chapter 5?

4. What does Will ask Suzie in Chapter 12?

5. Where did Marcus live before his most recent move?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Marcus bullied and how does he handle the bullying?

2. How does Will become involved again with Marcus in Chapter 12?

3. How does Will come to the realization that single mothers are the perfect companions for men with commitment issues?

4. What do Marcus, Suzie and Will discover at the end of Chapter 9?

5. Why does Marcus blame his mother and teachers for the bullying he faces at school?

6. Describe Will's night at Fiona's and Marcus' home in Chapter 14.

7. What does Marcus conclude about his family in Chapter 11?

8. What happens to a duck at the SPAT picnic? How does Will cover up for Marcus because of the duck?

9. How does Will feel about the drama at the hospital and being there for it?

10. From whose perspective is the novel "About a Boy" told from?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze the fear felt by the main characters of the novel, particularly with the protagonists. What is Marcus afraid of? What is Will afraid of?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the conclusion of the novel "About a Boy". Are you satisfied with the ending? Why or why not? Is the conclusion a happy one? Are there any unanswered questions? Would you change anything?

Essay Topic 3

Marcus struggles with bullying throughout the novel. Why might he be an easy target for bullies? What does Marcus do to try and avoid the bullies? Who does he blame for the bullying? What do the authority figures in his life do to help him?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 915 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample