Worksheet
Answer Key
Book Boy Antoinette Moses
Summary
Seventeen-year-old David lives alone with his cat,
Socrates, in a large house in Hampstead, North London.
His parents are dead and only his aunt in Canada, who
sends him enough money to live on, knows that he is
there. The picture on page 7 shows us that his parents
died in a car crash. The house is full of books and David
wants to write a book too but can’t start: he needs a
story. Then he meets Ella, who lives on the street.
They talk and eat pizza together. She tells him about her
life. She comes from Leeds, her mother drinks and her
father is in prison. David asks her back to his house, gives
her some of his mother’s clothes to wear and invites her
to stay. Ella tells David that she is ‘not a good person’.
She also tells him more about her life on the street: the
cold, the violence, the drugs. David says she can live
with him, as long as she doesn’t bring drugs into the
house. Ella feels safe and happy in David’s house and
David at last has a story to write: he writes about Ella’s
life. But after two weeks he notices a change in Ella: she
doesn’t seem to be so happy. It’s a hot day and David
goes swimming at the Lido. Ella decides to stay at
home. She doesn’t want to go out. When David comes
back, both Ella and his laptop computer are missing.
David misses Ella – as well as his laptop – and goes
out to search for her. He asks all the local shopkeepers,
but no-one knows her. Then he speaks to an old man
who thinks she might be in a house in Pond Street.
David finds her there and brings her home. She is
happy to go with him.
After two days Ella wants to leave again. She tells
David about a man called Steve. He came to the house
and took David’s laptop. She tells David that Steve has
a gun and will come to the house again. Ella works
for him, selling drugs and takes drugs herself. She has
tried to stop, but can’t. Steve arrives and tries to take
Ella away. David wants to stop him and says he will
call the police, but Steve just laughs at him. David is
afraid and doesn’t know how to stop him.
Cambridge English Readers © Cambridge University Press 2010
Starter Level
However, when Steve stands on Socrates’ tail, the cat
jumps up and scratches his face. Ella then hits Steve
on the head with a book and he falls to the floor.
Ella phones the police. Socrates becomes famous.
David’s aunt comes over from Canada. She helps Ella
and takes her to Centrepoint, a charity for homeless
young people. Ella now works for Centrepoint,
talking to young people about drugs. David
continues to write stories. He understands now that
books are not enough – you need people in your life.
Before reading
1. He is reading a book. The cat is looking straight
at the reader! David and Ella are mentioned on
the back cover; also Socrates, the cat. We learn
that David lives in a house with lots of books and
his cat. He meets Ella, but she warns him that
she is not a good person.
2. There are six chapters; ‘my’ and ‘I’ in Chapters 1,
3 and 4 refer to David, who narrates the story;
Chapter 2 is about Ella, Chapter 5 is about Steve;
the title of Chapter 6, ‘A new life’, suggests a
happy ending.
3. David is 17; Steve sells drugs; David’s cat is
called Socrates. Other questions might include:
Where does David live? How old is Ella? Where
does Ella live? Where is Hampstead?
4. a) North b) 200 c) near d) large e) 800
5. a) 17 b) 100 c) 160 d) 318 e) 3,000
f) 1,000,000 g) 7,560,000
Check your reading
Chapter 1
1. In David’s room we see a lot of books on the
table and on the floor. There are also two
laptops, a lamp, a clock, a fireplace, an ironing
board. David is sitting at the table trying to write
a book.
2. He is not finding it easy to start on his book. It’s
about his life.
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 Worksheet
Answer Key
Starter Level

Book Boy Antoinette Moses

3. He goes out to buy food for himself and 2. Steve has got David’s laptop under his arm. He is
Socrates. Outside the cafe he sees a girl sleeping trying to take Ella away.
on the street. 3. a gun; David’s laptop.
4. 2f, 3a, 4e, 5c, 6d 4. She sells drugs for him.
5. The picture on page 7 shows that David’s parents 5. They are both frightened of Steve. He is violent
were killed in a car crash. and has a gun.

Chapter 2 Chapter 6
1. a F, b T, c F, d T, e T, f F 1. a) Steve steps on Socrates’ tail.
2. David: a) He doesn’t like anchovies. b) He thinks b) Socrates says Miaow!
about his parents every day. c) Steve kicks Socrates.
Ella: c) She comes from Leeds. d) Her mother d) Socrates jumps onto Steve’s face.
drinks. e) Ella hits Steve with a book.
f ) Steve falls on the floor.
Chapter 3 g) David takes the gun.
1. Because it’s cold, and she can’t sleep. People h) Ella phones the police.
passing by ignore her or sometimes kick her. 2. By taking her to Centrepoint, an organisation
2. After two weeks Ella changes. She doesn’t which helps young homeless people.
want to cook or sing. She talks to people on the 3. Steve goes to prison.
telephone. She doesn’t seem happy any more. 4. Because he helped the police to catch Steve.
3. It’s a hot day. David wants to go swimming at the 5. Ella helps young people by talking about drugs.
Lido. David writes stories about Ella and himself. They
4. Ella is not there. The room in the picture is are both happy now.
untidy. Some of David’s books are on the floor.
Other things are out of place. The table drawer is
After reading
open. The laptop with his stories is missing (also
the second laptop and the clock). 1.–4. Students’ own answers.
5. b). 100 miles (= 160 km) (page 5)
Chapter 4
c) 160 km (= 100 miles) (page 5)
1. a) misses, b) doesn’t like, c) don’t know, d) 318 yards (= 200 m) (page 5)
d) house, e) dirty and dark, f) isn’t e) 3,000 – number of books David thinks he has
2. Student’s own answers but possible answers (page 7).
include: Because she is young and homeless. She f ) 1,000,000 – number of books Ella thinks he
needs a home and a friend. He thinks she might must have (page 12).
be hungry and afraid. g) 7,560,000 – number of people in London
(page 20).
Chapter 5

1. We know from the People in the story (page 4) that

Steve sells drugs.

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