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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 is not trying to show off.
(b) The police officer knows that people are watching him.
(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. Which element of the physical description of the plainclothes officer functions as foreshadowing?
(a) The color of his overcoat.
(b) His voice.
(c) His height.
(d) His hat.

3. What is the name of the restaurant that used to be in the spot where the man is waiting?
(a) Bill Diamond's.
(b) "Diamond Jim" Brady's.
(c) Bill Broozy's.
(d) "Big Joe" Brady's.

4. Bob's eyes are described as "keen" (620). What does this description of his eyes communicate about his character?
(a) He is cold and analytical.
(b) He is mentally alert.
(c) He is unethical.
(d) He is carefree.

5. What regret does the plainclothes officer express while he is pretending to be Jimmy?
(a) That he and Bob lost track of one another.
(b) That he does not have a long time to talk.
(c) That the restaurant is closed.
(d) That he did not accompany Bob out West.

Short Answer Questions

1. What duty is the police officer performing in the opening of the story?

2. What can logically be inferred about Bob and Jimmy's friendship?

3. What reason does the waiting man give the police officer for his presence?

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

5. What is the significance of Jimmy knowing how long ago the restaurant closed?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. 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?

3. 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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(see the answer keys)

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