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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. What does Will have trouble doing in Chapter 6?

2. What does a group of older kids throw at Marcus in Chapter 16?

3. Where should Fiona have been instead of at home in Chapter 7?

4. What does Marcus manage to do in Chapter 15?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

5. Describe Will as depicted in Chapter 2.

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

7. What does Will think of marriage and children?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the setting of the novel. In what way is the setting an important aspect of this story? How might either Will's or Marcus' life have been different if they had not lived in London during this time?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze and interpret the character Marcus. What are his defining character traits? What is most important to him and why? What important events take place during his life in the novel? How does he grow as a character as the novel progresses?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the use of humor in the novel "About a Boy". What are some examples of humor used in the novel? What types of humor does Hornby use? Why might he use humor?

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