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

2. What hope does Bob express about Jimmy?
(a) That he has not been as successful as Bob himself has been.
(b) That he has married and started a family.
(c) That he has also had success.
(d) That he has found a job that makes him both proud and happy.

3. How many years separate Bob and Jimmy?
(a) 2.
(b) 4.
(c) 6.
(d) 0.

4. How long does Bob wait for Jimmy after he speaks with the police officer?
(a) 15 minutes.
(b) 10 minutes.
(c) 5 minutes.
(d) 20 minutes.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the narrator mean by the description of the police officer's impressiveness as "habitual and not for show"?

2. At what time of night are Bob and Jimmy supposed to meet?

3. What is the purpose of mentioning that everyone who passes Bob has their coat collar turned up?

4. How does the plainclothes officer get Bob to walk with him?

5. What finally reveals the plainclothes officer's face?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

5. How is Bob characterized by the accessories that he carries?

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

7. Describe the story's opening moments, including its setting.

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

9. What is ironic about the way that Bob describes his old friend to the "policeman" he encounters?

10. 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?

(see the answer keys)

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