About a Boy

Multiple Choice and Long Answer questions create ideal opportunities for whole-text review, unit exam, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. Which of the following is one of the prime similarities between Will and Marcus?

A) They are both superficial.

B) They are both social “outcasts.”

C) They are both bullied.

D) They both despise London’s culture.

2. How does Will earn a living?

A) He lives off royalties from his father’s Christmas song.

B) He lives off royalties from his mother’s novel.

C) He is a child psychiatrist.

D) He is the founder of “SPAT.”

3. Which musician does Ellie most admire?

A) Eddie Vedder

B) Freddie Mercury

C) Kurt Cobain

D) Noel Gallagher

4. Identify the correct series of events:

A) Will dates Suzie; Will dates Rachel; Will befriends Marcus

B) Will dates Rachel; Will dates Suzie; Will befriends Marcus

C) Will dates Suzie; Will befriends Marcus; Will dates Rachel

D) Will befriends Marcus; Will dates Suzie; Will dates Rachel

5. Which of the following adjectives best describes Fiona?

A) Traditional

B) Modern

C) Capitalist

D) Bohemian

6. What is the primary reason that Marcus keeps visiting Will despite his mother’s concerns?

A) He enjoys the television shows that Will watches.

B) He wants to avoid being around his mother.

C) He thinks that Will can stop him from being bullied.

D) He hopes that Will can provide him with dating advice.

7. Why does Will lie to Rachel about his life?

A) Will sees Rachel as untrustworthy.

B) Will worries that Rachel will dislike Marcus.

C) Will sees Rachel as judgmental.

D) Will believes that his real life is too uninteresting.

8. What is the symbolic significance of the dead duck?

A) It symbolizes the end of Marcus’s youth.

B) It symbolizes Fiona’s attempted suicide.

C) It symbolizes the end of Will’s relationship with Suzie.

D) It symbolizes Will’s decision to help Marcus.

9. What is the novel’s greatest irony?

A) As Will softens himself to the world, Marcus hardens himself to it.

B) As Marcus softens himself to the world, Will hardens himself to it.

C) Will chooses to help Marcus despite his desire to be alone.

D) Marcus chooses to allow Will into his life despite disliking Will.

10. Which event could be considered the novel’s climax?

A) Fiona’s attempted suicide

B) Will’s private conversation with Fiona

C) Marcus’s breakup with Ellie

D) The gathering at the police station

11. Which character most closely embodies the juxtaposition between Caring and Indifference?

A) Fiona

B) Marcus

C) Will

D) Ellie

12. How does Marcus’s view of London change throughout the novel?

A) He initially hates London and grows to love it.

B) He initially loves London and grows to hate it.

C) He initially finds London intimidating but eventually finds it comfortable.

D) He initially finds London dangerous but eventually finds it safe.

13. Which of the following can be inferred from Marcus’s attraction to Ellie despite their stark differences?

A) He is willing to put himself through heartache.

B) He is lonely and willing to accept anyone into his life.

C) He only likes her for her appearance.

D) He is just following Will’s advice.

14. How many times does Will change his mind about “single mothers”?

A) 2

B) 1

C) 4

D) 3

15. At what point does Marcus begin to show a more mature side of himself?

A) When he starts hanging out with Will

B) When he meets Rachel’s son, Ali

C) When he begins dating Ellie

D) When Fiona attempts suicide

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. How do Fiona’s problems force Marcus to grow and branch out as a person?

2. How does Will’s relationship with Rachel demonstrate what he has learned from his friendship with Marcus?