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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. What operation does Holden tell the woman he has to have?

2. Who is D.B.?

3. Who does Maurice send up to Holden's room?

4. Whose car did Stradlater use for his date?

5. What happens to the woman as she gets out of a cab?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Holden refer to D.B.'s writing in Hollywood as prostitution?

2. Compare and contrast Ackley and Stradlater, according to Holden's descriptions.

3. Why does Holden stay at Ernie's even though “jerks and phonies” surround him?

4. What does Holden think of his siblings?

5. Why does Holden feel bad about not telling Mrs. Morrow his real name?

6. Why does Ackley grunt a response when Stradlater says hello to him?

7. What two reasons does Holden give for not talking about his early childhood?

8. How is Allie's baseball mitt described?

9. Why does Holden shout to the boys in his dorm as he leaves?

10. Why does Holden keep watching the “perverts” he sees out his hotel window?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the significance of the phrase “catcher in the rye.” What does this phrase mean to Holden? What does it mean to the reader? What does this phrase mean to the overall novel?

Essay Topic 2

Explain the importance of perception in literature. How does the author use perception to affect the reader's interpretation of events in the novel? Give one example from The Catcher in the Rye that shows the importance of perception. Is this an effective use of perception? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Explain Holden's concern for the ducks in the lagoon. What is his concern? Why is he concerned? How does Holden address his concern? What does this concern reveal about his character?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 606 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample