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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 does Marcus turn off the film in Chapter 11?

2. Who does Suzie introduce Will to in Chapter 8?

3. What does Will suggest when Marcus tells him about his troubles at school?

4. Why do the students ask Marcus not to hang out with them in Chapter 5?

5. Who is Ned?

Short Essay Questions

1. What frightens Marcus is Chapter 5?

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

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

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

5. What happens after Will ignores Fiona's message in Chapter 14?

6. How does Marcus find his mother when he returns home in Chapter 7? What does she tell him?

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

8. What does Will find himself looking forward to?

9. Why does Will buy Marcus shoes?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze the character Will. Who is Will and what are his defining character traits? How does he influence the life of the other protagonist, Marcus? Is he a good friend? How does he grow as a character by the end of the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss depression and suicide as depicted in the novel "About a Boy". Why does Fiona attempt suicide? How does her depression and attempted suicide impact Marcus? How is Kurt Cobain's suicide and depression depicted in the novel?

(see the answer keys)

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