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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 is a logical inference based on the way the officer is twirling his baton?
(a) He is expecting trouble.
(b) He is trying to impress people.
(c) He is in a good mood.
(d) He is bored.

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

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

4. Which element of the physical description of the plainclothes officer functions as foreshadowing?
(a) His voice.
(b) The color of his overcoat.
(c) His hat.
(d) His height.

5. What is the only reason that Bob can imagine Jimmy not showing up?
(a) He cannot get away from work.
(b) He has forgotten Bob.
(c) He is dead.
(d) He no longer lives in New York.

Short Answer Questions

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

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

3. On page 621, how does the reader learn that the first police officer was actually Jimmy?

4. What regret does the plainclothes officer express while he is pretending to be Jimmy?

5. How does the plainclothes officer get Bob to walk with him?

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

3. What causes Bob to finally realize that the plainclothes officer is not Jimmy Wells?

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

5. 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?

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

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

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

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

(see the answer keys)

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