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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 Marcus wait outside the news agent's in Chapter 27?

2. Who is Ali?

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

4. When does Will fall in love?

5. What makes Ellie cry in Chapter 29?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What do Will and Fiona discuss in Chapter 32?

3. What shocks Marcus' classmates in Chapter 21?

4. What lie does Will tell Rachel?

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

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

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

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

9. Describe the Christmas dinner in Chapter 22.

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

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

Analyze and interpret the secondary characters of the novel. Who are they and what are their defining character traits? How are they related to the protagonists? What are their roles in the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze symbolism in the novel "About a Boy". What are some examples of symbolism??

(see the answer keys)

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