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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 tell Sally in the cab?

2. How does Holden's date with Sally end?

3. Where does Holden pinch Phoebe?

4. Who sings while Holden is at the Wicker Bar?

5. Where does Holden initially look for Phoebe?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Holden react the way he does when he wakes up to Mr. Antolini patting his head?

2. Why does Holden feel better when he is looking around D.B.'s room?

3. Why does Holden want to move to the West and pretend to be a deaf-mute?

4. Why is Holden so emotional when he sees Phoebe on the carousel?

5. Why is Holden so upset when Phoebe tells him to shut up?

6. Why does Holden feel bad about blowing smoke in the nuns' faces?

7. Why does Holden imagine he was shot by Maurice?

8. Why is Mr. Antolini worried about Holden?

9. Why is Holden confused when Sally tells him to stop yelling?

10. Why does Holden say he would volunteer to sit on an atomic bomb if there is another war?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the final chapter of The Catcher in the Rye. Is this a satisfying ending? Why or why not? What, if any, unanswered questions does the author leave the reader with? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Explain the significance of the phrase “catcher in the rye.” What does this phrase mean to Holden? What does it mean to the reader? What does this phrase mean to the overall novel?

Essay Topic 3

Explain Holden's relationships with adults in The Catcher of the Rye. What adults does he respect? Why does he respect them? What adults does he not respect? Why does he not respect them?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 647 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample