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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the purpose of mentioning that everyone who passes Bob has their coat collar turned up?
(a) It implies that most people have something to hide.
(b) It makes the plainclothes' officer's choice to do the same thing seem less suspicious.
(c) It explains why Bob does not see Jimmy clearly.
(d) It underscores that New York is an unfriendly place.

2. What is logical to infer about the officer asking about Bob's identity "doubtfully" (621)?
(a) He is not sure that he and Jimmy are doing the right thing.
(b) He is an insecure and hesitant person.
(c) He does not fully trust Jimmy Wells.
(d) He wants to seem like he is not already sure of Bob's identity.

3. What can logically be inferred about Jimmy's question about whether Bob and Jimmy kept in touch?
(a) He wonders why Bob stopped writing to him.
(b) He does not remember when the last time he heard from Bob was.
(c) He wants to know if Bob realizes that he deliberately stopped writing to him.
(d) He is unsure if the man he is talking to really is his old friend.

4. What causes the officer to suddenly slow down?
(a) The streetlight has gone out.
(b) One of the businesses has an unlocked door.
(c) He sees Bob.
(d) He sees a wanted criminal.

5. What finally reveals the plainclothes officer's face?
(a) A streetlight.
(b) The headlights of an approaching police car.
(c) The flame from a match.
(d) The light from an open business.

Short Answer Questions

1. The narrator says, on page 619, that something has "well nigh depeopled the streets." In this context, what does the phrase "well nigh" mean?

2. What causes the few pedestrians around to hurry "dismally" past Bob (621)?

3. On page 621, how does the reader learn that the first police officer was actually Jimmy?

4. What is the most likely reason that Bob does not recognize Jimmy when they are talking?

5. At the end of the story, what motive for his deception does Jimmy reveal?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Bob and Jimmy know one another, 20 years ago?

2. What is amusing about the plainclothes officer's answer to Bob's question about whether he is doing well in New York?

3. What does the note from Jimmy explain to Bob?

4. What is appropriate about the plainclothes officer greeting Bob with the line "It's Bob, sure as fate" (621)?

5. What is the effect of the passage depicting Bob continuing to wait in the doorway as it begins to rain?

6. When the plainclothes officer tells Bob "We'll go around to a place I know of, and have a good long talk about old times," (621), what does he mean, and what does Bob likely think he means?

7. How does the introduction of Bob's character contrast with the introduction of Jimmy's character?

8. What surprises Bob about the appearance of the man that he thinks is his old friend, and how does the man explain away Bob's doubts?

9. What is the significance of the similarities and differences in the ways that Bob's and the plainclothes officer's faces are revealed?

10. What causes Bob to finally realize that the plainclothes officer is not Jimmy Wells?

(see the answer keys)

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