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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 the English teacher sometimes call Marcus crazy?

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

3. Where has Fiona arranged for Marcus to go on Saturday in Chapter 7?

4. What do the bullies do to Marcus in Chapter 7?

5. What do Suzie and Marcus discover when they walk inside Marcus' home in Chapter 9?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Will think of marriage and children?

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

3. What frightens Marcus is Chapter 5?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Discuss the motif of love and romance in the novel "About a Boy", particularly between Will and Rachel and Marcus and Ellie.

Essay Topic 3

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?

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