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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What causes the officer to suddenly slow down?
(a) He sees a wanted criminal.
(b) One of the businesses has an unlocked door.
(c) He sees Bob.
(d) The streetlight has gone out.

2. What does Jimmy notice about the pin of Bob's scarf?
(a) It has been reported as stolen property.
(b) It contains a large diamond.
(c) It is made from mother-of-pearl.
(d) It is the one that he gave Bob 20 years ago.

3. What does the narrator say causes Bob to tell officer about his career in the West?
(a) The officer asks him about it.
(b) He is trying to fill an awkward silence.
(c) His ego.
(d) His suspicions about the officer's identity.

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

5. On page 621, how does the reader learn that the first police officer was actually Jimmy?
(a) The plainclothes officer refers to him as "Patrolman Wells."
(b) The narrator describes "the patrolman" waiting around the corner as his "oldest friend" is arrested.
(c) The plainclothes officer reveals his true identity to Bob.
(d) Jimmy himself explains his identity.

6. Where does the plainclothes officer pretending to be Jimmy tell Bob that he works?
(a) He owns a nearby restaurant.
(b) He is a police officer.
(c) He works for the city of New York.
(d) He is in business downtown.

7. 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) Completely.
(d) Come very close to.

8. On page 621, Bob uses the slang word "bully." What does this word mean in the context of the story?
(a) Someone who uses force to get their way.
(b) A great person, usually a male friend.
(c) Excellent, wonderful.
(d) Someone cruel and threatening.

9. At what time of night are Bob and Jimmy supposed to meet?
(a) 11 p.m.
(b) 10 p.m.
(c) Midnight.
(d) 9 p.m.

10. How does the plainclothes officer get Bob to walk with him?
(a) He arrests him.
(b) He says that he lives nearby and they can go have a drink at his apartment.
(c) He tells him they will go somewhere close by and talk about old times.
(d) He shows him the note from Jimmy.

11. What does Bob do while he waits for Jimmy?
(a) Counts his money.
(b) Polishes his scarfpin.
(c) Smokes his cigar.
(d) Hums a song.

12. What kind of street is a "pacific thoroughfare" (619)?
(a) Ominous.
(b) Peaceful.
(c) Crowded.
(d) Wet.

13. How long does Bob wait for Jimmy after he speaks with the police officer?
(a) 15 minutes.
(b) 10 minutes.
(c) 20 minutes.
(d) 5 minutes.

14. According to Bob, why did Jimmy stay in New York?
(a) He did not want to leave his family behind.
(b) He loved New York too much to leave it.
(c) He was scared to move somewhere unknown.
(d) He had a very limited imagination.

15. What does the plainclothes officer hand to Bob?
(a) A note from Jimmy.
(b) An arrest warrant.
(c) A card with his Miranda rights printed on it.
(d) The "Wanted" poster with his face on it.

Short Answer Questions

1. When Bob describes Jimmy as the "staunchest" man in the world, what does this show that Bob believes about Jimmy?

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

3. What effect does the officer tell Bob that time can have?

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

5. Why have the two men set this particular meeting time?

(see the answer keys)

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