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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the elevator operator offer Holden?

2. Who is Robert Ackley?

3. How does Holden entertain himself in the bathroom?

4. On what floor is Holden's family apartment?

5. Who caused the disturbance in the chapel when Ossenburger was speaking?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Holden think Jane cried when her stepfather asked about his cigarettes?

2. Why does Holden keep watching the “perverts” he sees out his hotel window?

3. Why does Holden feel sad when he shakes Mr. Spencer's hand to say goodbye?

4. What does Holden think of his siblings?

5. What two reasons does Holden give for not talking about his early childhood?

6. Why does Mrs. Morrow think her son is not a good mixer with other boys?

7. Why does Stradlater criticize Holden's composition about Allie's baseball mitt?

8. Why is Holden so upset when he discusses Stradlater's date?

9. How does Holden wish he had handled his missing gloves as opposed to how he would likely have handled it?

10. Why does Holden refer to D.B.'s writing in Hollywood as prostitution?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the importance of perception in literature. How does the author use perception to affect the reader's interpretation of events in the novel? Give one example from The Catcher in the Rye that shows the importance of perception. Is this an effective use of perception? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Identify the point of view of The Catcher in the Rye. How is the point of view identified? How does the point of view affect the novel? Why does the author use this point of view to tell the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Examine Holden's relationship with Phoebe. Why does he have such a close relationship with his sister? How are the two alike? How are they different? What does this relationship reveal about Holden's character? How does it affect his actions in the novel?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 602 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample