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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 does Will get by if he doesn't work?

2. Where does Will meet the woman he dates in Chapter 4?

3. What does Will buy for Marcus in Chapter 16?

4. Who does Will date in Chapter 4?

5. What does Will prefer not to do when it comes to women?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

7. What lie does Will tell in Chapter 8?

8. What does Marcus conclude about his family in Chapter 11?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the motif of family in the novel "About a Boy". Describe both Marcus' and Will's family. Is family important to Marcus? What does Marcus realize about family by the end of the novel? Why is this realization important for his character?

Essay Topic 2

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 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?

(see the answer keys)

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