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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. Instead of being able to cheer his mother up in Chapter 1, what is Marcus only able to do?

2. What is Will grateful for at the end of Chapter 10?

3. What does Will realize at the end of Chapter 4?

4. After many visits from Marcus, what does Will stop doing?

5. Who does Will become interested in in Chapter 6?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Marcus tries to hang out with some boys in Chapter 5?

2. What frightens Marcus is Chapter 5?

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

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

5. Describe Will as depicted in Chapter 2.

6. Why does Will buy Marcus shoes?

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

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

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

10. What does Will think of marriage and children?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

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?

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