Contents of a Dead Man's Pockets

At the beginning of the story, what seems to be the most important thing in Tom Benecke’s life?

• Opening the window that always sticks
• Going to the movies with his wife
• Getting paid at the end of the week
• Getting a promotion at work

Which event in “Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket” causes Tom to panic?

• His wife goes to the movies.
• He sees the street below him.
• He thinks about the contents of his pockets.
• He sees a man reading a newspaper across the street.

Which of the following is a moment of high suspense in the story?

• Clare leaves.
• Tom looks down and panics.
• Tom stares through the window into his living room.
• Tom sees the yellow paper fly out the window a second time.

Why doesn’t Tom simply wait for his wife to come home and help him?

• He thinks she probably would not notice him on the ledge.
• She will become very angry if she comes home and finds him on the ledge.
• She had left early to see the second feature and would not be home for hours.
• He wants to get off the ledge and join her at the movies.

Why does Tom change his attitude toward life?

• His wife goes to the movies alone.
• He almost falls off the ledge and dies.
• He smashes his fist through the window.
• The paper flies out the window again.

In “Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket,” Tom has an important realization during his terrible experience on the ledge. What is this realization?

• He will never get ahead at work.
• He hasn’t put enough effort into his work.
• He wants to spend more time with his wife.
• He is going to fall off the ledge and die.

What is “Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket” mostly about?

• A man and the contents of the pockets
• A man who does not think about his actions
• A man and woman who go to the movies
• A man whose desire for a promotion at work nearly kills him

Which of the following items was NOT in Tom's pockets?

• matches
• three letters
• coins
• his wallet

Tom didn't go to the movies with his wife because....

• they were going to get a divorce soon.
• he wanted to work on his work project.
• she was going to see a chick flick and he was not interested.
• she was going out with her friends and he was not invited to "Ladies night".

The setting of the story was....

• nighttime on a ledge overlooking Lexington Avenue outside an apartment.
• The movie theater where Clare was
• A balcony on a boat, in the Atlantic Ocean, 1602.
• Las Vegas, 2002