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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. How old is Ned?

2. What does Fiona insist on at the end of Chapter 11?

3. Where does Will accompany Suzie and Marcus in Chapter 10?

4. What has Marcus hit a duck with at the SPAT picnic?

5. How does Will get by if he doesn't work?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Will find himself looking forward to?

2. How do Marcus and Will become closer in Chapter 15?

3. What does Will think of marriage and children?

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

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

6. Why does Will buy Marcus shoes?

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

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

9. How is Will feeling about his life in Chapter 12?

10. Describe Will as depicted in Chapter 2.

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

Analyze Hornby's use of irony. What are some examples of irony in the novel? How do these examples affect the reader's experience when reading the novel?

(see the answer keys)

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