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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 Ellie do to the bully who steals from Marcus?

2. What does Will tell Rachel in Chapter 28?

3. Why is Will unhappy in Chapter 18?

4. What happens between Will and Rachel that he doesn't expect in Chapter 30?

5. Why does Will feel guilty in Chapter 30?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Marcus try to keep Ellie from reading the papers in Chapter 31?

2. What happens outside a news agent in Chapter 27?

3. How does Marcus defend his visits to Will's house in Chapter 17?

4. How do Ellie and Zoe react in Chapter 21 when Marcus tells them that he knows Ellie was lying to him before?

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

6. Who is Rachel?

7. What shocks Marcus' classmates in Chapter 21?

8. What does the reader learn about Ellie's mother in Chapter 25?

9. Why does Fiona suggest that Marcus visit his father? What makes Marcus agree to go?

10. What makes Will unhappy enough to skip Christmas in Chapter 18?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze Hornby's use of irony. What are some examples of irony in the novel? How do these examples affect the reader's experience when reading the novel?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

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?

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