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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 Jimmy to comment that Bob seems to have become a success in the West?
(a) Bob's comment about the size of the West and all of its opportunities.
(b) Bob's description of his business in Chicago.
(c) Bob's fancy watch and scarfpin.
(d) Bob's expensive clothing and grooming.

2. What criticism does Bob have for New York itself?
(a) It dulls the mind.
(b) It is corrupt.
(c) It is crowded.
(d) It is full of snobs.

3. 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.

4. How far does Bob say he traveled in order to meet with Jimmy?
(a) 2,000 miles.
(b) 500 miles.
(c) 1,000 miles.
(d) 200 miles.

5. The narrator says, on page 619, that something has "well nigh depeopled the streets." In this context, what does the phrase "well nigh" mean?
(a) Tried and failed to.
(b) Completely.
(c) Come very close to.
(d) Slowly.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. The police officer's is described as "stalwart" (619). What kind of man does this mean he is?

3. Why are so few businesses open on the street where the officer is?

4. What does Jimmy notice about the pin of Bob's scarf?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. In the story's beginning, what evidence is there that Jimmy takes pride in his job?

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

3. Why does Bob guess that Jimmy might not be as much of a success as Bob himself has become?

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

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

6. 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?

7. 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?

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

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

10. What were the circumstances of the agreement Jimmy and Bob made 20 years ago?

(see the answer keys)

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