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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 think of her mother's behavior in Chapter 25?

2. Who does Will see when he is driving around in Chapter 20?

3. What does Fiona file a complaint about at Marcus' school in Chapter 19?

4. Why does Marcus walk out of school in Chapter 19?

5. Where does Ellie and Zoe take Marcus in Chapter 21?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Marcus run out of the house in Chapter 26?

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

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

4. Who argues in Chapter 23?

5. What shocks Marcus' classmates in Chapter 21?

6. What do Will and Fiona discuss over a drink in Chapter 18?

7. What lie does Will tell Rachel?

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

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

10. Describe the Christmas dinner in Chapter 22.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss conflict in the novel "About a Boy". Who is in conflict with whom and why? How do these conflicts affect the plot and the characters?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Who is the author of the novel? What are some other works he has written? Describe his writing style.

(see the answer keys)

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