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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. Why aren't the bullies successful in getting Marcus in trouble in Chapter 7?

2. What is Fiona doing when Marcus returns home in Chapter 7?

3. What does Will make up a story about in Chapter 8?

4. How does Marcus try to avoid bullies in Chapter 3?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to Marcus at the news agent's store in Chapter 7?

2. What lie does Will tell at the SPAT meeting?

3. Who is Will introduced to in Chapter 8? What is Will's first impression of this person?

4. What does Will find himself looking forward to?

5. Why does Marcus try to turn off the film in Chapter 11?

6. What does Will almost wish at the SPAT meeting? Why does he almost wish this?

7. What happens to Marcus' mother in Chapter 1? How does this affect Marcus and how does he try to make his mother feel better?

8. What frightens Marcus is Chapter 5?

9. Describe Will's lunch with Marcus and Fiona in Chapter 13.

10. What does Marcus find at home in Chapter 11?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe Marcus' relationships with his parents. Does he have good relationships with them? Why or why not? How do his relationships with his parents evolve as the novel progresses?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss conflict in the novel "About a Boy". Who is in conflict with whom and why? How do these conflicts affect the plot and the characters?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the motif of love and romance in the novel "About a Boy", particularly between Will and Rachel and Marcus and Ellie.

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