The Great Gatsby Chapter 1
Read the excerpts from the book (from the opening four paragraphs of the novel), then
choose the correct interpretation for each of the following quotations.
1. “Remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve
had.”
a. Nick is luckier than others
b.All the people in the world have had advantages
2. “I’m inclined to reserve all judgments, a habit that has opened up many curious natures
to me …”
a. Nick has a curious nature
b. Nick waits a while before forming an opinion
3.
“The abnormal mind is quick to detect and attach itself to this quality …”
a. Normal people don’t like Nick
b. Abnormal people are drawn to Nick
4. “I was unjustly accused of being a politician, because I was privy to the secret griefs of
wild, unknown men.”
a. Upset people shared sorrows with Nick
b. Nick was unjustly accused of a crime
5.
“Conduct may be founded on the hard rock or the wet marshes”
a. A person’s behavior is either good or bad
b. A person behaves the way he does because of solid principles or lax ones
6. “I wanted no more riotous excursions with privileged glimpses into the human heart.”
a. Nick doesn’t want to be involved with a person like Gatsby again
b. Nick doesn’t want to share any person’s secret confidences again
7. “Only Gatsby … was exempt from my reaction.”
a.
Nick could share Gatsby’ secret confidences
b.
Nick would not wish to share Gatsby’s secret confidences
8. “Gatsby, who represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn.”
a.
Gatsby stood for everything Nick admired
b.
Gatsby stood for everything Nick disliked
9. “If personality is an unbroken series of successful gestures, then there was something
gorgeous about him, some heightened sensitivity to the promises of life.”
a. Gatsby’s personality reflected his confidence in life’s prospects
b. Gatsby’s personality was beautiful because of his success
Open Response On a separate sheet of paper, answer the following questions. Be specific.
Each question should generate a brief paragraph in response, use evidence from the novel
to justify your responses.
1. What kind of person is the narrator?
2. Evaluate Nick’s attitude toward Gatsby- How does he feel about Gatsby and why
may Nick feel this way?
3. Describe characteristic(s) that Nick admires about Gatsby and the reason for this
admiration.