"After Twenty Years" by O. Henry

"After Twenty Years"

by O. Henry

Multiple Choice

In “After Twenty Years,” what has happened to the restaurant where the two friends had agreed to meet?

• It has closed for the evening.

• It has changed management.

• It has forbidden the man to enter.

• It has been closed for five years.

Multiple Choice

In “After Twenty Years,” why does the policeman make a point of asking the

man in the doorway whether he plans to wait for Jimmy Wells to show up?

• He is testing him to find out whether he is a trusted friend.

• He wants to see whether he has time to call another officer to arrest him.

• He needs time to change out of his uniform and come back to surprise his

  friend.

• He needs time to find out whether there is an outstanding warrant for his

  arrest.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements best summarizes the meaning of this quotation from “After Twenty Years”?

“It [twenty years] sometimes changes a good man into a bad one.”

• A life of crime can change a good man into a bad man.

• The West is likely to change a good man into a bad man.

• Over the course of twenty years, a good man may turn to crime.

• You are lucky that life in the West did not change you into a bad man.

Multiple Choice

What is ironic about Jimmy and “Silky” Bob in “After Twenty Years”?

• One has become a police officer, and one has become a criminal.

• One has grown taller, while the other has grown shorter with age.

• Both of them have become criminals.

• Neither of them ever liked the other.

Multiple Choice

When “Silky” Bob says that “each of us ought to have our destiny worked out,”

what does he mean?

• Their futures will have been decided.

• They will have solved their puzzles.

• They will have paid off their debts.

• Their unhappiness will have eased.

Multiple Choice

What is the meaning of the word intricate as used in paragraph 2?

• plain

• complicated

• forceful

• private

Multiple Choice

Part A

What is the impact of the words and phrases used to describe the policeman in paragraphs 1 and 2?​

• The words and phrases reveal his arrogance.

• The words and phrases create a respectful tone.

• The words and phrases describe his movements.

• The words and phrases highlight the character’s flaws.

Multiple Choice

Part B:

Select a line from the passage to support the correct answer to Part A. 

• “The policeman on the beat moved up the avenue...” (paragraph 1) 

• “Trying doors as he went, twirling his club...” (paragraph 2)

• “…the officer, with his stalwart form and slight swagger, made a fine picture of a guardian of the peace…” (paragraph 2)

• “The light showed a pale, square-jawed face with keen eyes…” (paragraph 6)

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements should be included in an objective summary of the passage?

• Bob is a very flashy man who enjoys expensive items. Jimmy realizes what type of man Bob is and arrests him.

• Twenty years ago, two friends were exactly the same type of people. Now they are nothing alike. They meet up together and discover their differences.

• Two old friends made an appointment twenty years ago to meet at the exact time and place they departed. One friend has lived a life of crime while the other has lived a life of law enforcement.

• A policeman discovers that his long-time friend who he is supposed to meet up with after a twenty-year absence is a criminal. The criminal does not know his friend is a policeman.

Multiple Choice

Where is the story set?

• In sunny California.

• Neither

• On a New York City street.

Multiple Choice

Why is the scene where Bob lights a match important?

• Is is when the police officer recognizes Bob as a criminal.

• It lets readers know that he smokes.

• It shows that the story takes place at night.

• It increases the suspense and adds mysters.

Multiple Choice

What makes Bob stand out?

• He has a limp.

• He has a small white scar.

• He has a large Roman nose.

• He is very tall.

Multiple Choice

Bob's detailed explanation to the first police officer about his presence in the door way suggests-

• he feels guilty about not staying in touch with his old friend

• The police officer immediately recognizes him as a wanted criminal

• he is afraid of getting in trouble with the police

• he likes to talk about his past

Multiple Choice

Bob feels that his old friend Jimmy Wells is a -

• real genius

• true friend

• go-getter, always making clever deals

• razor-sharp wit

Multiple Choice

Jimmy Wells is a-

• police officer in uniform

• criminal

• plainclothes police officer

• restaurant owner

Multiple Choice

What does Bob notice about his old friend that is different?

• He has grown taller.

• He is bald.

• He has a beard.

• He now wears glasses.

Multiple Choice

What piece of evidence supports what Bob noticed about his old friend that is different?

• "The man from the West unfolded the little piece of paper."

• It sometimes changes a good man into a bad one."

• "I never thought you were so tall by two or three inches."

• "Doing well in New York, Jimmy?"

Multiple Choice

How can you predict that Jimmy will do the right thing?

• Jimmy questions Bob for a long time.

• Bob describes Jimmy as true, dependable, and good.

• Jimmy is suspicious of Bob.

• Jimmy envies Bob's diamond jewlery.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements best descibes what Jimmy and Bob have in common?

• Both wish the oldrestaurant had not been torn down.

• Both love New York City.

• Both keep their promise to meet.

• Both have made large fortunes.

Multiple Choice

Why won't Jimmy arrest Bob?

• Jimmy knows that Bob isn't really guilty of anything.

• Jimmy isn't a real police officer.

• Jimmy is going off duty.

• Jimmy can't bring himself to turn in a friend.

Multiple Choice

being ridiculous or senseless

• vicinity

• absurd

• intricate

• staunchest

Multiple Choice

talking too much about yourself, conceited, selfish

• egotism

• embezzlement

• vicinity

• intricate

Multiple Choice

Done by continual use, normal

• corresponded

• intricate

• habitual

• simultaneously

Multiple Choice

something complex or detailed; complicated

• egotism

• embezzlement

• intricate

• absurd

Multiple Choice

happening at the same time

• simultaneously

• habitual

• corresponded

• staunchest

Multiple Choice

neighborhood or area around a place

• absurd

• habitual

• intricate

• vicinity

Multiple Choice

to take someone's money or funds that do not belong to you

• corresponded

• staunchest

• embezzlement

• habitual

Multiple Choice

to communicate, possibly by exchange of letters

• absurd

• vicinity

• corresponded

• egotism

Multiple Choice

firmness or loyalty

• staunchest

• corresponded

• intricate

• embezzlement

Multiple Choice

I thought that asking the class to do 50 math problems over the weekend was ________________.

• staunch

• habitual

• intricate

• absurd

Multiple Choice

In the __________ of the police station, the crime rate is very low.

• egotism

• vicinity

• staunchest

• simultaneously

Multiple Choice

Ralph's loud _________________ keeps people from being friends with him.

• habitual

• intricate

• egotism

• corresponded

Multiple Choice

How does the incident in paragraph 6 determine Jimmy’s actions?

• It allowed Jimmy to recognize Bob as the wanted man, so Jimmy had him arrested.

• It helped Jimmy realize that the waiting man was not Bob, which made him leave the scene.

• It made Jimmy upset that Bob did not recognize him, so Jimmy decided to end the friendship.

• It showed Jimmy that Bob was going to steal money from him, which made Jimmy decide to arrest him.

Multiple Choice

What is the atmosphere, or mood of this story?

• Neither.

• It is bright on the street corner.

• It is suspenseful and gloomy, because the streets are deserted and a chilly wind is blowing.

Multiple Choice

The author develops a theme that the values and choices of people determine their fate. How does the author develop this theme over the course of the passage?

• by making New York the setting of the story

• by highlighting the differences between Bob and Jimmy

• by emphasizing how both characters made a decision to leave their home

• by describing the differences in Jimmy’s appearance from when he was younger

Multiple Choice

How did Bob spend his time away from his hometown after he left?

• He became a policeman.

• He worked at a bank.

• Committing crimes.

Multiple Choice

Part A:

Based on the dialogue and incidents throughout the passage, what inference can be made about Jimmy?

• Jimmy has a different set of values than Bob. 

• Jimmy was always in a hurry wherever he went.

• Jimmy did not struggle with doing what he felt was right.

Multiple Choice

What evidence shows that both Bob and Jimmy are proud of their accomplishments?

• Bob was bragging and Jimmy wasn't proud of his accomplishments.

• They weren't proud of their accomplishments.

• Jimmy's loyalty to his job shows his pride. Bob's bragging shows his pride.

Multiple Choice

Who has been more successful?

• Bob because he had more money and flashy jewelry.

• Jimmy because he was on the right side of the law.

• Neither.

Multiple Choice

Do you think Bob's expectations of Jimmy were fulfilled?

• No, because your friend would not arrest you.

• Neither.

• Yes, because Jimmy did show up for the appointment and did not arrest his friend himself. He shows the respect for their old friendship that Bob expected.

Multiple Choice

Was there a "winner" in this story?

• No, because both men lost a friend.

• Yes, Jimmy made a huge arrest.

• Neither.

Multiple Choice

Why does Bob's hand begin to shake as he reads the note from Patrolman Wells?

• He is frightened at the thought of going to jail.

• He is trying desperately to think of a way to escape.

• He is upset that his old friend knows the truth about him.

Multiple Choice

How does Bob realize that the man he is talking to at the end of the story is not Jimmy Wells?

• He is shorter than he remembers.
• His nose is different.
• He has a different voice.

Multiple Choice

Bob calls Jimmy his best chum.
What does chum mean?

• supervisor
• friend or pal
• older person