Gatsby Multiple Choice
Practice
Correct Answers--Passage 1
Passage 1
1. B
2. C
3. A
4. D
5. D
6. B
7. A
Passage 2
8. C
9. A
10.D
11.B
12.D
13.E
14.C
Exam Corrections
 Score and chart yourself
 With a partner, do exam corrections
for all questions you missed
 At the end, we’ll discuss why each
answer is correct
Please take out a different colored pen
from the color you did your exam
corrections with
 As we go through the correct answers
and the rationale behind them, add
notes to your exam correction paper
 Your grade on this MC practice will be
a combination of your independent
work and how much you take from
this discussion
Passage 1
#1 (B) Generalize
 The phrase “one of those men” makes
clear that Tom is not unique in having
reached his “peak” at an early age.
He is only one of a general class of
such men.
#2 (C) paradox
 Nick describes the Buchanans as “two
old friends” he “scarcely knew at all.”
These two seemingly contradictory
phrases present a paradox.
#3 (A) adjectives
 Nick uses the adjectives “hard,”
“supercilious, arrogant, enormous
and cruel” to convey his attitude that
Tom is a somewhat threatening
figure.
#4 (D) conversations responses
of other characters
 Other characters do not respond to
Tom in conversation. There is direct
narrative comment (“There was a
touch of paternal contempt in it”).
Tom’s actions are described (“Turning
me around by one arm…”). His own
words (“I’ve got a nice place here”)
reveal his character, as does the
physical description of Tom in the fifth
paragraph.
#5 (D) hyperbole
 There is no hyperbole evident. The
house is described using color
imagery, “wine-colored rug,”
metaphor “frosted wedding cake of
the ceiling,” simile, “like pale flags,”
and onomatopoeia, “whip and snap.”
#6 (B) metonymy
 In a metonymy, the name of a thing
is replaced by the name of something
closely associated with it. In this
case, it is the dresses which
“ballooned slowly to the floor,” but the
narrator says the women “ballooned
slowly…”
#7 (A) sympathy and censure
 The narrator seems sympathetic toward
Tom and Daisy, describing them as old
friends and recalling his college days with
Tom and Tom’s desire for Nick’s approval.
However, in his description of Tom’s childish
seeking of some “irrecoverable football
game” and certainly in his description of
Tom in the 5-7th paragraphs, there is an
element of censure.
Passage 2
#8 (C) understandable
 Catherine implies that “living over
that garage” has been difficult for
Myrtle and that it is surprising that in
eleven years, Myrtle has not had
other “sweeties.”
#9 (A) paradoxical
 Nick describes himself in seemingly
contradictory terms: “within and
without,” “enchanted and repelled.”
#10 (D) II and III only
 The only reason Myrtle gives for thinking
her husband is not “fit to lick my shoe” is
that he did not own his own suit, and she
began her affair with the brutish Tom when
she was drawn to his “dress suit and patent
leather shoes.” This focus on the superficial
reveals Myrtle’s lack of a sense of
proportion and values. Likewise, her
random listing of the trivial “cute little
ashtrays” with the serious “black solid bow
for mother’s grave” reveals this lack.
Pointing at Nick during her story about her
husband does not serves the same
purpose.
#11 (B) Nick wiping the lather
from Mr. McKee’s cheek
 Nick’s gesture serves as one small
way of cleaning up a mess and
restoring order in the midst of this
chaotic evening. All of the other
choices--a sleeping guest, a groaning
dog, random coming and going, the
argument between Tom and Myrtle-fit in with and contribute to the
chaotic atmosphere.
#12 (D) class consciousness
 Tom breaks Myrtle’s nose because he does
not believe she has “any right to mention
Daisy’s name.” Myrtle, the wife of a garage
owner, is not fit to speak of Daisy, who is
Tom’s social equal. The fact that Tom
flaunts his affair with Myrtle in public and
receives phone calls from her at home
make clear that he is not tenderly
concerned for Daisy’s honor. The issue is
Myrtle’s rights, not Daisy’s honor.
#13 (E) dispassionate
 Nick simply reports the details of the
violence and its aftermath in a
straightforward manner. There is not
hint of his personal reaction.
#14 (C) I and II only
 The final paragraphs, which jump
from scene to scene erratically, are as
chaotic as the party and reflect the
drunken state of the narrator, which
was made explicit earlier in the
chapter. However, the actions (the
ride in the elevator, tucking Mr. McKee
into bed, and Nick’s awakening in the
train station) are presented in
sequence.
Let’s score and chart our paper
1. # answered
- the # correct
2. Multiply # wrong x .25
3. # correct - # wrong
4. Take answer from #3 and divide by
the total # of questions (14)
 Please staple your exam correction
sheet to the FRONT of the MC
practice and place in the turn-in tray