SparkNotes: The Catcher in the Rye: Quiz

1. When the novel begins, Holden is

(A) Watching a football game

(B) Taking a train to New York

(C) Recuperating in some sort of psychiatric institution

(D) Riding a carousel in Central Park

2. What is the name of the school Holden is attending at the beginning of his story?

(A) The Whooton School

(B) Pencey Prep

(C) Don Bosco High

(D) Elkton Hills

3. Holden was forced to return early to school from New York because

(A) His parents caught him in their apartment

(B) He lost the fencing team’s equipment

(C) He desperately wanted to see the final football game

(D) He needed to see Mr. Spencer

4. What item of clothing did Holden buy during the team’s trip to New York?

(A) A hound’s-tooth jacket

(B) A red hunting hat

(C) A brown derby

(D) A pink leisure suit

5. Contrasting him with the annoying and sloppy Ackley, Holden describes Stradlater as a(n)

(A) “Anal-retentive neat-freak”

(B) “Guy whose mess you don’t mind”

(C) “Clean and nice roommate”

(D) “Secret slob”

6. Holden tries to punch Stradlater immediately after

(A) Stradlater refuses to answer Holden’s questions about his date

(B) Stradlater suddenly attacks him

(C) Stradlater brags about his sexual conquests

(D) Stradlater rips his hound’s-tooth jacket

7. Holden nostalgically remembers the way Jane Gallagher used to

(A) Talk about the Museum of Natural History

(B) Play checkers

(C) Write stories

(D) Ride her bike

8. Once back in New York, the first person Holden tries to invite for a drink is

(A) A cab driver

(B) Faith Cavendish

(C) Carl Luce

(D) Sally Hayes

9. Holden wonders about the fate of which animals in Central Park?

(A) The squirrels in the Sheep Meadow

(B) The goats in the Children’s Zoo

(C) The feral dogs roaming the Nature Preserve

(D) The ducks in the lagoon

10. After Holden checks into his room at the Edmont Hotel, what does he see out of his window?

(A) A parade

(B) A flock of ducks flying away from the Central Park lagoon

(C) A variety of bizarre sex acts going on in other rooms of the hotel

(D) Jane Gallagher fooling around with Stradlater

11. According to Holden, he knew he was happy when he was

(A) Holding hands with Jane

(B) Writing essays for Mr. Spencer

(C) Fooling “phonies” with elaborate lies

(D) Listening to Ernie play piano

12. The elevator operator at the Edmont offers to get Holden

(A) Drugs

(B) Complimentary breakfast

(C) A prostitute

(D) Movie tickets

13. Holden claims he can’t sleep with Sunny because

(A) He’s a virgin

(B) He loves her too much

(C) He’s mourning the death of his mother

(D) He’s just had an operation on his “clavichord”

14. After Maurice hits Holden in the crotch, what does Holden do?

(A) He repeatedly insults Maurice, resulting in further physical punishment

(B) He punches Maurice in the face

(C) He collapses to the floor, cursing at Sunny

(D) He hops around the room, spewing profanities while smoke comes out of his ears

15. After his encounter with Maurice, Holden

(A) Calls the police

(B) Calls Jane Gallagher

(C) Pretends he’s a movie character who has been shot

(D) Realizes he’s in love with Sunny

16. At breakfast, Holden is surprised that the nun

(A) Eats fatty foods

(B) Likes Romeo and Juliet

(C) Shows no remorse over stealing the collection money

(D) Spits water on her partner’s face

17. What does Holden buy for Phoebe?

(A) A book titled Out of Africa

(B) An autographed photograph of Robert Donat

(C) A record titled “Little Shirley Beans”

(D) A pair of yellow shoes

18. According to Holden, what is “the best thing” about the Museum of Natural History?

(A) “That everything always stayed right where it was”

(B) “That no goddam phonies ever went there”

(C) “That this one crazy Indian always reminds [him] of Allie”

(D) “That the birds look exactly like the ducks in the lagoon”

19. As Holden predicted, Sally is excited to

(A) Talk about their futures

(B) Openly discuss their problems and emotions

(C) See the Lunts

(D) Listen to “Little Shirley Beans”

20. Although Phoebe’s real middle name is “Josephine,” she signs her name as

(A) Phoebe Weatherfield Caulfield

(B) Phoebe Allie Caulfield

(C) Phoebe Benedict Arnold Caulfield

(D) Phoebe “Mad Dog” Caulfield

21. Phoebe chastises Holden because, in her mind, he

(A) Smokes too many cigarettes

(B) Dates terrible women

(C) Is too nice

(D) Doesn’t like anything

22. What or who is the “Catcher in the Rye”?

(A) Holden’s dream job

(B) Phoebe’s favorite stuffed animal

(C) An old college buddy of Holden’s father

(D) A symbolically important drinking glass

23. Just before he leaves her room, Phoebe gives Holden

(A) A stern scolding

(B) A record she had bought for him

(C) Her Christmas money

(D) His red hunting hat

24. Holden leaves Mr. Antolini’s apartment because

(A) Mr. Antolini passes out drunk

(B) He feels sick

(C) He thinks Mr. Antolini made a pass at him

(D) Mr. Antolini throws him out

25. As he prepares to leave New York City, Holden repeatedly encounters

(A) Mr. Antolini

(B) Vulgarity scrawled on walls

(C) His brother’s ghost

(D) Ackley and Stradlater