The Great Gatsby, Chapter 2 quiz

Questions and answers

1. 1

   Question 1. What is the valley of ashes located between?

   • Long Island Sound and the Hudson River
   • East Egg and West Egg
   • Correct answer: West Egg and New York City
   • New York City and East Egg

   Nick describes the valley of ashes as being "about half way between West Egg and New York" along the motor-road that runs beside the railroad.

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2. 2

   Question 2. What is George Wilson's occupation?

   • Railroad worker
   • Correct answer: Garage owner
   • Taxi driver
   • Factory foreman

   George Wilson owns a repair garage in the valley of ashes. His sign reads "Repairs. GEORGE B. WILSON. Cars Bought and Sold."

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3. 3

   Question 3. What does Myrtle purchase from the street vendor on the way to the apartment?

   • Correct answer: A puppy
   • A canary
   • A goldfish
   • A kitten

   Myrtle impulsively buys a puppy from a grey old man carrying a basket of puppies. The vendor claims the dog is an Airedale, though Tom contradicts his claims about its sex.

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4. 4

   Question 4. What false claim does Catherine make about why Tom cannot marry Myrtle?

   • George Wilson refuses to give Myrtle a divorce
   • Myrtle is still legally married in another state
   • Tom's wealthy family would disinherit him
   • Correct answer: Daisy is Catholic and does not believe in divorce

   Catherine tells Nick that "She's a Catholic and they don't believe in divorce." Nick notes that "Daisy was not a Catholic" and is "a little shocked at the elaborateness of the lie."

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5. 5

   Question 5. What triggers Tom to break Myrtle's nose?

   • She threatens to tell George about the affair
   • Correct answer: She repeatedly shouts Daisy's name
   • She tries to leave the apartment
   • She insults his family's wealth

   Tom and Myrtle argue about whether she has the right to say Daisy's name. When Myrtle defiantly shouts "Daisy! Daisy! Daisy!" Tom breaks her nose "with his open hand."

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6. 6

   Question 6. What does Catherine tell Nick about Gatsby's background?

   • He is a former army general
   • He inherited his money from a railroad fortune
   • Correct answer: He is a nephew or cousin of Kaiser Wilhelm
   • He made his fortune in the oil industry

   Catherine claims "he's a nephew or a cousin of Kaiser Wilhelm's. That's where all his money comes from," adding to the many unverified rumors about Gatsby.

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7. 7

   Question 7. What is Mr. McKee's profession?

   • Architect
   • Painter
   • Magazine editor
   • Correct answer: Photographer

   Mr. McKee is a photographer who is in the "artistic game." He made the enlarged photograph of Mrs. Wilson's mother that hangs on the apartment wall and talks about his photography studies of Long Island.

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8. 8

   Question 8. How does Myrtle's personality change when she puts on the cream-colored chiffon dress?

   • Correct answer: Her vitality converts into impressive hauteur
   • Her laughter becomes warm, natural and easy
   • She grows shy and nervous among the guests
   • Her vitality fades into weary, quiet boredom

   Fitzgerald writes that "The intense vitality that had been so remarkable in the garage was converted into impressive hauteur. Her laughter, her gestures, her assertions became more violently affected moment by moment."

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9. 9

   Question 9. Which of these events actually happened in this chapter?

   • True or False: Tom and Myrtle ride in the same train car from the valley of ashes to New York.

     Didn't happen

     Mrs. Wilson "sat discreetly in another car. Tom deferred that much to the sensibilities of those East Eggers who might be on the train."

   • True or False: Nick says he has been drunk just twice in his life, and the party at the apartment is the second time.

     Happened

     Nick states: "I have been drunk just twice in my life and the second time was that afternoon so everything that happened has a dim hazy cast over it."

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10. 10

    Question 10. In the sentence "The supercilious assumption was that on Sunday afternoon I had nothing better to do," what does "supercilious" mean?

    • Humble, polite and respectful of others
    • Correct answer: Arrogantly disdainful and superior
    • Casual, easygoing and relaxed
    • Suspicious, doubtful and wary

    Supercilious means behaving as though one is superior to others. Tom assumes Nick has nothing better to do, reflecting his entitled, condescending attitude toward others.

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11. 11

    Question 11. When Fitzgerald writes that Myrtle's vitality was "converted into impressive hauteur," what does "hauteur" mean?

    • Correct answer: Haughty arrogance and disdainful pride
    • Warm friendliness and gentle good humor
    • Great height or tall physical stature
    • Refined elegance and graceful style

    Hauteur refers to an arrogantly superior manner. Myrtle adopts an air of lofty disdain when she changes into her expensive dress, playing the role of a wealthy socialite.

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12. 12

    Question 12. What does "contiguous" mean in the phrase "contiguous to absolutely nothing"?

    • Continuing without a break; unending
    • Far apart; separated by a great distance
    • Spreading by contact; easily caught
    • Correct answer: Sharing a border; adjacent and touching

    Contiguous means sharing a common boundary or being next to something. The phrase emphasizes the isolation of Wilson's garage, which is adjacent to empty wasteland.

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