The Great Gatsby

1. Which best describes Nick’s family background?

A) affluent and from the Midwest

B) working class and from the West Coast

C) bankrupt and from the South

D) affluent and from New York

2. Tom Buchanan can best be described as:

A) gentle and quiet

B) arrogant and bigoted

C) Intellectual and honest

D) mysterious and secretive

3. What does Jordan reveal to Nick about Tom and Daisy’s relationship?

A) Daisy had a child with another man.

B) Daisy has hired a divorce lawyer.

C) Tom is planning to leave Daisy.

D) Tom is likely having an affair.

4. What does the “valley of ashes” between East Egg and West Egg most likely represent?

A) toxicity that cannot be hidden

B) the anger of the working class

C) the carefree lives of the rich

D) inability to imagine a better future

5. What is pictured on the billboard above the valley of ashes?

A) a beautiful beach scene

B) a stretch of skyscrapers

C) a new car

D) a pair of eyes

6. In Chapter 2, Nick’s narration is most affected by:

A) his feelings for Daisy.

B) his concern for Myrtle.

C) his drunkenness.

D) his exhaustion.

7. During the party, what strikes an unnamed visitor most about Gatsby’s books?

A) They are all first editions.

B) They are real books.

C) They are all about money.

D) They are clearly unread.

8. Which best describes Gatsby’s guests’ attitudes about his wealth, and how is it significant to his characterization? (short answer)

9. What does Nick reveal about Jordan?

A) She is secretly in love with Gatsby.

B) She plans on retiring from her athletic career.

C) She may have cheated once in a golf game.

D) She wants to use Gatsby to climb socially.

10. A clue that Gatsby is not being honest with Nick about his origins is when he:

A) says he is from the Midwestern city of San Francisco.

B) is evasive about the source of his parents’ wealth.

C) is clearly lying about having fought in World War I.

D) gets upset with Nick for asking him personal questions.

11. What does Gatsby’s interaction with the police officer who pulls him over for speeding reveal? (short answer)

12. What do the human molars on Wolfsheim’s cuffs most likely symbolize?

A) Health

B) Prosperity

C) History

D) Violence

13. Who is Klipspringer?

A) Gatsby’s boarder

B) Gatsby’s chef

C) Gatsby’s groundskeeper

D) Gatsby’s lawyer

14. What do the shirts that Gatsby shows Nick and Daisy most likely represent?

A) a haunting secret from the past

B) a carefree lifestyle afforded by wealth

C) the feeling of oppression created by work

D) the pride in working for what you want

15. What did the original owner of Gatsby’s home request?

A) that the house always be used for parties

B) that the house be donated to the public

C) that the house remain in his family’s name

D) that smaller surrounding houses thatch their roofs

16. After the reporter arrives at Gatsby’s, what does Nick further explain about Gatsby?

A) his self-made origin

B) his family’s source of wealth

C) his feelings of resentment

D) his jealous personality

17. What do Tom’s accusations that Gatsby is a bootlegger reveal about his personal biases?

A) his racist attitudes to people of color

B) his sexist attitudes against women

C) his condescending attitudes to the newly rich*

D) his homophobic attitudes toward gay people

18. What does Tom learn from George at the gas station?

A) George and Myrtle are leaving New York

B) George has helped Gatsby bootleg alcohol.

C) Myrtle and Gatsby are having an affair.

D) Nick has been hiding Gatsby and Daisy’s affair.

19. Who is driving the car that strikes Myrtle?

A) Nick

B) Gatsby

C) Tom

D) Daisy

20. What is most striking about the scene in the hotel?

A) Gatsby and Daisy know that Myrtle has been killed.

B) Jordan and Nick discover Gatsby and Daisy’s affair.

C) Tom discovers Gatsby and Daisy’s affair.

D) Nick and Gatsby know that Myrtle has been killed.

21. After the night of the accident, what does Nick advise Gatsby to do?

A) Leave town

B) Kill George

C) Confess to the police

D) Give Nick the car

22. What does Gatsby’s description of the origin of his relationship with Daisy reveal? (short answer)

23. What does Gatsby’s refusal to drain the pool most likely represent?

A) An unwillingness to let go of the past.

B) A sense of guilt over Myrtle’s death.

C) A desire to entice Nick visit more.

D) A sense of remorse over his bootlegging.

24. Who is Henry Gatz?

A) Dan Cody

B) Gatsby’s father

C) Nick’s father

D) Gatsby’s brother

25. What does the green light on the Buchanan’s pier most likely represent?

A) the elusiveness of a dream

B) the value of hard work

C) the rewards of money

D) the satisfaction of love

26. What does Jordan accuse Nick of?

A) betraying Daisy

B) not loving her enough

C) lacking honor

D) lacking Gatsby’s work ethic