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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 Holden's cab smell like?

2. Why does Holden say he left Elkton Hills?

3. Who is the first person Holden thinks to call at Penn Station?

4. What game did Holden used to play with Stradlater's date?

5. What does the elevator operator offer Holden?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. Why does Holden like that Jane puts her hand on the back of his neck?

5. Why does Ackley grunt a response when Stradlater says hello to him?

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

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

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

9. Why does Ackley get on Holden's nerves?

10. Why does Mr. Spencer read Holden's essay on the Egyptians to him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Explain Holden's use of fantasy throughout the novel. What scenes and situations does he imagine? Why does he create these fantasies for himself? How do these fantasies affect the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Describe Holden Caulfield. What conflicts are there between what Holden says about himself, and his words and actions? Why do these conflicts exist? What do these conflicts reveal about Holden?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 594 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample