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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 a logical inference based on the way the officer is twirling his baton?
(a) He is trying to impress people.
(b) He is in a good mood.
(c) He is expecting trouble.
(d) He is bored.

2. In his explanation of what has happened, what is the first thing that Jimmy wants to be sure Bob knows?
(a) He has no sympathy for criminals.
(b) He truly struggled with the decision to turn Bob in.
(c) He still considers Bob his best friend.
(d) He showed up for their meeting on time.

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

4. What duty is the police officer performing in the opening of the story?
(a) Enforcing the city's noise ordinance.
(b) Searching for a wanted criminal.
(c) Checking doors to make sure they are locked.
(d) Enforcing the city's curfew.

5. Why have the two men set this particular meeting time?
(a) It was the time that the restaurant's band used to begin to play.
(b) It was the time they met for dinner 20 years ago.
(c) It was the time that they said goodbye 20 years ago.
(d) It was the time that they both used to get off of work 20 years ago.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the first thing that Bob notices about the plainclothes officer he thinks is Jimmy?

2. What does Bob's nickname turn out to be?

3. What reason does the waiting man give the police officer for his presence?

4. On page 621, how does the plainclothes officer refer to his meeting with Bob?

5. What does Jimmy notice about Bob's pocket watch?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

7. Why does Jimmy, in his role as the police officer, ask Bob if he is going to keep waiting for his friend to show up?

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

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

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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