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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 stuck in a rut and always does things the same way.
(c) The police officer is not trying to show off.
(d) The police officer is a humble and modest person.

2. What is the most likely reason that Bob does not recognize Jimmy when they are talking?
(a) It is too dark.
(b) He is too busy trying to hide his own identity from the police officer.
(c) He expects Jimmy to be a rich, successful man like himself.
(d) He does not really remember what Jimmy looks like.

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

4. At the end of the story, what motive for his deception does Jimmy reveal?
(a) He needed time to check the picture on the "Wanted" poster.
(b) He was embarrassed for Bob to know that he is now a police officer.
(c) He wanted time to think about what the right thing to do was.
(d) He could not face being the one to actually arrest Bob.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What distinguishing feature does Bob have on his face?

2. How long does Bob wait for Jimmy after he speaks with the police officer?

3. What is the clearest purpose of describing the plainclothes officer as "submerged in his overcoat" (621)?

4. What can logically be inferred about Jimmy's question about whether Bob and Jimmy kept in touch?

5. Why are there so few people on the streets?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the story's opening moments, including its setting.

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

3. 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?

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

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

6. What is the significance of the similarities and differences in the ways that Bob's and the plainclothes officer's faces are revealed?

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

(see the answer keys)

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