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The Catcher in the Rye Study Guide

Total questions: 75

Worksheet time: 1hrs 1mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
What is written on Allie's glove?
a)
poetry
b)
short story ideas
c)
baseball scores
d)
jokes
2.
What fact about Stradlater caused Holden to worry about his date with Jane?
a)
He is sexually experienced.
b)
He is violent.
c)
He steals.
d)
He is unfaithful.
3.
Phoebe asks Holden
a)
to take her to a museum.
b)
to name one thing he likes.
c)
why he flunked Pencey.
d)
Why he came home early.
4.
After their conversation, Holden and Phoebe
a)
told jokes.
b)
played checkers.
c)
drew pictures.
d)
danced.
5.
Before he left, Holden gave Phoebe his
a)
red hunting hat.
b)
favorite book.
c)
Christmas money.
d)
favorite movie.
6.
What woke Holden up?
a)
A nightmare about Allie.
b)
A fit of coughing.
c)
Mr. Antolini petting his head.
d)
An alarm clock.
7.
Phoebe is the only girl who wants to run away with Holden.
a)
True.
b)
False.
8.
Despite everything, Holden is glad to be able to get his story off his chest.
a)
True.
b)
False.
9.
What did Holden like best about the museum?
a)
Everything always stayed where it was.
b)
It was free on Sundays.
c)
It reminded him of fun times with his parents and brothers when he was young.
d)
It was warm and cheerful, and no one bothered him.
10.
Why did Holden call Carl Luce even though he didn't like him much?
a)
Holden knew Luce was an A student. He wanted Luce to tutor him over the holidays.
b)
He wanted to borrow money. He knew Luce was rich, and was a sucker for a sob story.
c)
Luce has his own apartment. Holden wants Luce to let him stay with him until Wednesday, when he can go home.
d)
Holden was desperate for companionship, and also thought Luce was intellectual and could help him.
11.
What advice did Mr. Antolini give Holden?
a)
"Only educated and scholarly men are able to contribute something valuable to this world."
b)
"I simply find Eastern philosophy more interesting than Western."
c)
"You're a real prince; a gentleman and a scholar."
d)
"The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die only for a cause, while the mark of a mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one."
12.
How did Holden explain his catcher in the rye daydream?
a)
He would stand in a field of rye, where his job would be to catch any children who started to go over the cliff.
b)
He would play baseball wearing his brother's glove, and stand in the outfield, ready to catch anything that came his way.
c)
He would stand guard over all of the rye whiskey in the world and make sure no one got drunk.
d)
He would be running through a field of rye and farmers with pitchforks would be chasing him
13.
Describe Holden's relationship with Jane Gallagher.
a)
They have been romantically involved for over a year, although they are currently having a disagreement because Jane wants to date others and Holden doesn't.
b)
They used to be romantically involved but now they can't stand each other.
c)
They seem to be good friends, playing checkers, going to movies, and talking. There was no advanced romantic involvement between them.
d)
They have only spoken a few times, but Holden would like to get to know her better.
14.
What do we learn about Holden from his diversion about his gloves being stolen at Pencey?
a)
Possessions don't mean a lot to him
b)
He is very selfish and materialistic
c)
He will jump at any chance to fight
d)
He calls himself a coward, but he is really too humane to hurt anyone
15.
What record did Holden get for Phoebe? Why?
a)
He got "The Skaters' Waltz" by Strauss because it was her favorite skating song
b)
He got "Little Shirley Beans." He liked it and though Phoebe would, too
c)
He got Shirley Temple singing, "On the Good Ship Lollipop." Phoebe liked to pretend she was Shirley Temple.
d)

He got "The Twelve Days of Christmas," because he knew she had to learn it for the school play.

16.

Why does Holden call his brother D.B. a prostitute?

a)

Because he lives in Hollywood writing for the movie industry

b)

Because he writes best sellers

c)

Because he became an actor and lives in Hollywood

d)

Because he works an a male escort

17.

What happened to the fencing equipment in New York?

a)

Holden sold it at a pawn shop in New York.

b)

It was stolen.

c)

The team left it in a taxi.

d)

Holden left it all on the subway.

18.

Why has Holden been kicked out of Pencey Prep?

a)

For flunking too many classes

b)

For destroying school property

c)

For selling the fencing equipment at a pawn shop in New York

d)

For torturing a boy named James Castle with a bunch of other bullies

19.

What does Mr. Spencer tell Holden?

a)

He tells him not to worry so much and that everything will be fine.

b)

He counsels him in trusting his instincts.

c)

He lectures him about failing in school and life by not applying himself.

d)

He tells him stories of when he was a kid and went to Pencey.

20.

Holden tells the reader that he's "the only really __ one" in their family (Salinger 67).

a)

dumb

b)

smart

c)

rebellious

d)

depressed

21.

Holden uses the following words and phrases to describe whom in chapter ten?

Pretty ugly, witches, morons, dopes, stupid, and ignorant

a)

his parents

b)

boys at Pencey

c)

three girls he meets

d)

the band playing the music

22.

Where did Holden sleep the night Allie died?

a)

Central Park

b)

The Natural History Museum

c)

The garage

d)

The car

23.

What game did Holden play with Jane?

a)

chess

b)

checkers

c)

dominoes

d)

connect 4

24.

What does D.B do for a living?

a)

Therapist

b)

Lawyer

c)

Actor

d)

Screenwriter

25.

What animal is Holden most curious about?

a)

Fish

b)

Deer

c)

Ducks

d)

Goldfish

26.
When he got to New York, why didn't Holden call his little sister Pheobe first.
a)
His parents would have answered the phone.
b)
She didn't want to talk with him.
c)
He didn't know her number.
d)
Phoebe would have told on him to their parents.
27.
What does Holden tell Mrs. Morrow about her son?
a)
He'll stay a rat his whole life.
b)
"I hate that bastard."
c)
He's one of the most popular boys at Pencey.
d)
He stole Ed Banky's car and drove it.
28.
What does Holden yell at everyone right before leaving the school?
a)
"I hate you!"
b)
"Sleep tight, ya morons!"
c)
"You're gentlemen and scholars!"
d)
"See ya in the funny papers!"
29.
Whose car did Stradlater use for his date with Jane?
a)
Holden's 
b)
Ackley's
c)
Ed Banky's
d)
Mr. Spencer's
30.
What did Holden buy in NYC for $1?
a)
A coffee
b)
A keychain
c)
A baseball mitt
d)
A hat
31.
Who of the following is NOT a sibling of our hero?
a)
Jane
b)
Allie
c)
DB
d)
Phoebe
32.
Why does Holden assume people will think he looks older than he is?
a)
Because he is still bloody from the fight.
b)
He has quite a bit of gray hair.
c)
He's pretty loaded.
d)
He looks and acts older than he looks.
33.
What does Holden ask the cab driver about?
a)
Where do the ducks go.
b)
A club where he can go drinking.
c)
How to build a bomb.
d)
Where is Central Park.
34.
Jane is the first person Holden showed ___ to.
a)
His mom's Doberman pinscher
b)
His dad's trophy
c)
Allie's baseball mitt
d)
Phoebe's record collection
35.
Why does Holden like his little sister Phoebe?
a)
She has the best CDs.
b)
She has a lot of sense.
c)
She does Holden's laundry.
d)
She pays for his movie tickets.
36.

What name does Holden provide the lady on the train when she asks for his name?

a)

The school janitor's name

b)

His roommate's name

c)

His father's name

d)

The principal's name

37.

Where are Holden's parents in chapter twenty-one?

a)

They are asleep in bed

b)

They are at a party in Connecticut

c)

They are in Europe

d)

They are visiting Family

38.

What does Holden notice about the content of Phoebe's notebook?

a)

It is about Holden

b)

Phoebe is using a different middle name

c)

It has song lyrics

d)

It has drawings

39.

How does Holden describe his mother's hearing ability?

a)

She couldn't hear through one hear

b)

She can hear like a fox

c)

She can't hear to save her life

d)

She can hear like a bloodhound

40.

Why does Phoebe not like her own room?

a)

It used to be Allie's room

b)

Her mom won't let her personalize it

c)

The window scares her

d)

It's too small

41.

What does Phoebe do when Holden gives her the broken record in pieces?

a)

She starts crying

b)

She doesn't want it

c)

She saves the pieces

d)

She tells Holden to buy another one

42.

Based upon his interactions with others we can determine that Holden is (MULTI ANSWER):

a)

hypocritical

b)

a liar

c)

insecure

d)

talented

43.

Which doesn’t belong…

Holden goes to NYC because:

a)

He got kicked out of school

b)

He doesn’t want to tell his parents he got expelled

c)

He needs to go find a job

d)

He lives in NYC so it’s close to home

44.

Allie is:

a)

Holden’s doctor in LA

b)

Holden’s brother who visits him in LA

c)

A cause of Holden’s childhood trauma

d)

Jane Gallagher’s boyfriend

45.

Mr. Antolini knows Holden brother D.B.

a)

True

b)

False

46.

Mr. Antolini is concerned that Holden is heading towards "some kind of a terrible, terrible fall."

a)

True

b)

False

47.

Holden dreams of working out in Hollywood with D.B.

a)

true

b)

false

48.

As Holden is walking up Fifth Avenue, he feels that

a)

he won't be around to celebrate Christmas with his family.

b)

he's disappearing every time he comes to the end of a block

c)

the carrousel in Central Park will be closed for the winter

d)

he'll bump into Maurice

49.

When Phoebe asks Holden why he "got the ax again," what does he say? Choose all that apply.

a)

It was full of phonies.

b)

The guys were mean.

c)

The teachers were phonies.

d)

He wasn't smart enough.

50.

Holden tells a story about a boy named James Castle. What happened to him?

a)

He jumped out of a window and died.

b)

He flunked out of Elkton Hills like Holden.

c)

He was in a car accident at Pencey.

d)

Holden beat him up when James picked on him.

51.

Who/What is one thing Holden tells Phoebe he likes?

a)

his parents

b)

New York City

c)

Pencey Prep

d)

Allie

52.

When Phoebe asks Holden what he wants to be in life, how does he respond?

a)

He wants to be a lawyer like his father.

b)

He wants to save children from the edge of the cliff.

c)

He wants to be a scientist.

d)

He has no answer for her.

53.

True or false: Phoebe doesn't like it when Holden swears.

a)

True

b)

False

54.

At the end of the chapter twenty-two, Holden decides to call ___________.

a)

a former teacher

b)

an old friend from Elkton Hills

c)

Jane Gallager

d)

his mom

55.
Where is Holden as he narrates the story?
a)
He is at his parents' house in New York
b)
He is on a plane flying to Europe.
c)
He is in the school library.
d)
He is at a rest home in California.
56.
How did Phoebe surprise Holden?
a)
She brought her mother along.
b)
She packed her bag to go with him.
c)
She packed a lunch for him and gave her the rest of her savings.
d)
She didn't show up at lunch time.
57.
Why did Holden leave Mr. Antolini's home before morning?
a)
Mr. Antolini was having a wild party.
b)
Mr. and Mrs. Antolini were having a fight, and Holden didn't want to be caught in the middle.
c)
He thought he could see Phoebe on her way to school.
d)
He woke up and found Mr. Antolini patting his head. He thought Mr. Antolini might be making advances toward him.
58.
Describe Holden's feelings for Sally at the beginning of the date and at the end.
a)
He started out by saying he loved her and they talked of marriage. By the end of the date, he hated her.
b)
He didn't like her much at the beginning, but by the end he was in love and proposed to her.
c)
He liked her somewhat at the beginning, by the time the date was over he was in love.
d)
He didn't like her at first, and really hated her by the end.
59.
Identify Sally Hayes.
a)
She was the girl his roommate often dated.
b)
She was the receptionist at the hotel.
c)
She was another girl who worked with Maurice.
d)
She was a girl Holden sometimes dated.
60.
Holden said he felt like committing suicide. Why didn't he do it?
a)
He wanted to write a letter to Phoebe first.
b)
He was afraid he might not succeed, and he'd have to face his parents.
c)
He didn't want a bunch of "stupid rubbernecks" looking at him all gory.
d)
He was going to jump out of the window, but he couldn't get it open.
61.
What was the "big mess" Holden got into when he got back to the hotel after being at Ernie's?
a)
He was drunk and lost his temper. He destroyed furniture and punched walls.
b)
He was being chased by a group of young boys who wanted his money.
c)
He didn't have enough money to pay his cab fare. The cab driver followed Holden into the hotel.
d)
The elevator operator set him up with a prostitute, and lied about the fee. Holden refused to pay the extra money.
62.
Why did Holden have to leave Ernie's?
a)
They evicted him because he was underage.
b)
He ran out of money.
c)
He was drunk and felt like he was going to be sick.
d)
He didn't want to sit with his brother's friend and her date.
63.

What do Holden and the nuns talk about?

a)

Romeo and Juliet

b)

The movies

c)

The Great Gatsby

d)

Sin and redemption

64.

What does Holden give the nuns?

a)

Ten dollars

b)

His blessing

c)

His copy of Romeo and Juliet

d)

A pack of cigarettes

65.

What does the little boy sing as he walks in the street?

a)

If a body catch a body coming through the rye

b)

Somewhere over the rainbow

c)

Little Shirley Beans

d)

Tomorrow

66.

What do Holden and Sally think of the show they see starring the Lunts?

a)

Holden finds the show pretentious: Sally loves it.

b)

Holden finds it interesting: Sally is bored to tears.

c)

Holden thinks it’s the first smart thing he’s seen in years: Sally agrees.

d)

Holden hates the show: Sally does too.

67.

Why does Holden think Sally wants to go ice-skating?

a)

So she can wear a short skating skirt

b)

Because Sally’s a gifted skater

c)

So she can show off that she’s out with him

d)

Because she knows how good a skater Holden is

68.

What do Holden and Sally fight about?

a)

Holden insists that they run off to live in a cabin in the woods.

b)

Sally doesn’t like what Holden is wearing.

c)

Holden says Sally’s mother is an alcoholic.

d)

Sally is in love with Holden, but Holden is indifferent.

69.

What is a major theme of Catcher in the Rye?

a)

Talk is cheap; Actions last a lifetime

b)

Hypocritical “Phoniness” of the Adult World

c)

Culture is an Illusion

d)

The only way to survive is to be selfish

70.

What was Salinger's most successful book?

a)

Catcher in the Rye

b)

Nine Stories

c)

Franny & Zooey

d)

A Perfect Day for Bananafish

71.

What setting does the book take place in?

a)

New Jersey 1950s

b)

New York 1950s

c)

New Jersey 1960s

d)

New York 1960s

72.

What does "the can" mean in Catcher in the Rye?

a)

Cafeteria

b)

Locker Room

c)

Bathroom

d)

Club

73.

Stream of Consciousness is defined as...

a)

any character who tells the reader a story that CANNOT be taken at face value

b)

narrator refers to/takes the audience back to events that have already occurred

c)

narrator address audience in a truthful and unguarded manner

d)

when the narrator narrates whatever comes to his/her mind

74.

In what state does Holden find Mr. Antolini?

a)

It’s apparent he’s been drinking.

b)

He’s woken him up.

c)

Dressed for the theater

d)

Sitting in an armchair wrapped in a blanket with the flu

75.

What’s the problem with talking to people about your life, according to Holden?

a)

You start to miss people.

b)

They don’t get what you’re saying.

c)

They give bad advice.

d)

You scare them off.

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