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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 do Ellie and Marcus see Ellie's mother doing in Chapter 25?

2. Why does Marcus become angry at Ellie in Chapter 29?

3. What does Will give Marcus for Christmas?

4. What does Will tell Marcus about what Ellie told him in Chapter 20?

5. Who is Ali?

Short Essay Questions

1. What shocks Marcus' classmates in Chapter 21?

2. What disappoints Marcus in Chapter 29?

3. How does Fiona react when she finds out about Marcus' visits to Will's house?

4. What does Will confess to Rachel in Chapter 28?

5. What do Ellie and Marcus talk about at the party in Chapter 25?

6. Why does Will feel hesitant about helping Fiona in Chapter 30?

7. Who is Ellie? What do Ellie and Marcus talk about in Chapter 19?

8. Who argues in Chapter 23?

9. Describe the Christmas dinner in Chapter 22.

10. What does Will tell Marcus in Chapter 20 when Marcus tells Will about his run-in with Ellie?

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 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

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?

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