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

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

3. What is logical to infer about the officer asking about Bob's identity "doubtfully" (621)?
(a) He does not fully trust Jimmy Wells.
(b) He is an insecure and hesitant person.
(c) He wants to seem like he is not already sure of Bob's identity.
(d) He is not sure that he and Jimmy are doing the right thing.

4. Why are there so few people on the streets?
(a) There are no open businesses nearby.
(b) It is very late.
(c) The weather is unpleasant.
(d) There is a curfew.

5. How many years separate Bob and Jimmy?
(a) 2.
(b) 4.
(c) 6.
(d) 0.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. What hope does Bob express about Jimmy?

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

4. At what time of night are Bob and Jimmy supposed to meet?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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. 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?

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

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

(see the answer keys)

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