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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 does the narrator mean by the description of the police officer's impressiveness as "habitual and not for show"?
(a) The police officer knows that people are watching him.
(b) The police officer is not trying to show off.
(c) The police officer is a humble and modest person.
(d) The police officer is stuck in a rut and always does things the same way.

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

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

4. 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) Slowly.
(b) Tried and failed to.
(c) Come very close to.
(d) Completely.

5. What is the clearest purpose of describing the plainclothes officer as "submerged in his overcoat" (621)?
(a) Establishing atmosphere.
(b) Amplifying conflict.
(c) Developing characterization.
(d) Providing foreshadowing.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. What is it reasonable to infer is the officer's motive in listening to Bob "with interest" (621)?

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

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

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

6. 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?

7. 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?

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

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

10. 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?

(see the answer keys)

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