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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who is the author of "After Twenty Years"?

2. According to Bob, why did Jimmy stay in New York?

3. What aspect of his success does Bob take particular pride in?

4. How did the police discover that Bob was in New York?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

8. 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?

9. 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?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay that uses psychological research to defend a thesis about environment and morality. Be sure to cite your sources in MLA format.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay that explores the significance of Jimmy's note at the end of "After Twenty Years." How does it advance the plot? How does it add entertainment value to the story? Is it congruous with the earlier characterization of Jimmy? How does it impact theme? Support your ideas with evidence from the text, including quoted evidence from the letter itself.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay that makes and defends a claim about diction in "After Twenty Years." Be sure that your essay goes beyond labeling types of diction and noting the effect of particular word choices; you should establish a claim in the beginning of your essay about the significance of patterns of diction choices to the meaning or impact of the text as a whole. Use quoted textual evidence to support your arguments.

(see the answer keys)

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