The Great Gatsby
Reading Comprehension Questions Chapters 1 – 3
Chapter 1
1.
Who is the narrator and what advice does his father give him?
Nick Carraway – not to judge others
2.
Explain what East Egg and West Egg are.
West Egg East Egg
Less fashionable More fashionable
Nick/Gatsby live here Tom/Daisy live here
3.
Who lives next to the narrator? Describe his house.
Gatsby – Hotel de Ville imitation, huge mansion, 40 acres lawn/garden
4.
Who are the Tom Buchanan’s and where do they live?
Daisy – cousin to Nick Tom – college acquaintance of Nick
Live in East Egg
5.
Describe Tom Buchanan.
Strong, arrogant, wealthy, racist, sexist, cruel
6.
Describe Jordan Baker, and why she is at the Buchanan’s.
Slender, athletic, stuck-up, nosy
Friends with Daisy; doesn’t have much family; in town for golf tournament
7.
How is Jordan Baker shown as possibly being immoral?
At this point – Nick remembers hearing a negative story about her, but can’t remember what it is.
8.
Describe Daisy and tell what her most alluring quality is.
Superficial (phony), snooty, unhappy, in her own world, aloof (distant)
Most alluring quality - voice
9.
What did Daisy say when her daughter was born?
10.
According to Jordan Baker, who phoned Tom during dinner?

11.
At the end of Chapter One, why does Gatsby reach out toward water?
Reaching out for green light across the water
Chapter 2
12.
Describe the Valley of Ashes? Who lives here?
Industrial area, dirty, poor George and Myrtle Wilson
13.
Describe Myrtle and George Wilson.
Myrtle – heavy set, unfaithful, dominant over husband, tries to be someone she’s not
George – weak, pale, faithful to wife, owner of garage
14.
Does Tom try to keep his affair with Myrtle a secret? How do you know?
15.
Where does Tom take Myrtle and what goes on at this location?
New York Apartment – party
According to Myrtle’s sister, Tom can’t get a divorce because
Daisy is Catholic (untrue)
16.
What gossip about Gatsby does Nick learn at the party?
Cousin/nephew to Kaiser Wilhelm (German leader during
WWI)
17.
What shows Myrtle’s lack of sophistication?
1. Buys dog off the street 3. Buys gossip magazines
2. Buys perfume at drugstore 4. Tries to act rich but doesn’t do a good job
18.
What happens to Myrtle at the party? Why does this happen to Myrtle?
Tom slaps her and breaks her nose. She continued to say
“Daisy” over and over
Chapter 3
19.
What does Nick mean when he says that he is one of the few who was invited to Gatsby’s party?
Everyone else just shows up
20.
What is one rumor about Gatsby heard at this party?
1. He has killed a man. 2. German Spy

21.
Who is “owl eyes?”
-- been drunk for a week
-- in Gatsby’s library
-- impressed that books are real
22.
What is the contrast between Gatsby and his parties?
Gatsby does not drink/anti-social
Everyone else drunk/very social
23.
What term of formality does Gatsby use when addressing Nick?
Old sport
24.
What does Nick discover about Jordan later that summer? What is significant about this?
Dishonest – moved golf ball and left convertible top down on borrowed car (it rained) and lied to owner