ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
In Chapter 1, the reader meets the narrator, Nick Carraway. These first four paragraphs serve as a
prologue that introduces the rest of the story. What information does Nick give about himself in
this prologue? - CORRECT ANSWER - What his father told him about criticizing other
people. He is not judgmental at all, and people feel they can come to him with their problems
because of it.
What does Nick say is "gorgeous" about Gatsby? - CORRECT ANSWER - He has some
heightened sensitivity to the promises of life, an extra ordinary gift for HOPE.
Nick also explains his disillusionment with mankind. What about Gatsby causes this
disillusionment? - CORRECT ANSWER - Gatsby doesn't cause this, the East Egg
Dwellers caused Nick's disillusionment with mankind.
What is Nick's socio-economic background? - CORRECT ANSWER - He is from a well-
to-do family in the midwest. They are in the wholesale hardware business. (Upper-middle)
When Nick returns from the war, why does he decide to go East? - CORRECT ANSWER -
He felt like the Middle-West seemed like the "ragged edge of the universe", and he wanted to get
into the bond business out East.
The action in this story takes place over the course of one summer. What occurs in this chapter
that makes Nick feel that his life is beginning over again? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Someone asks Nick how to get to West Egg, and he felt like an original settler.
How is West Egg different from East Egg? - CORRECT ANSWER - West Egg was the
less fashionable, and the people who lived there had new money and tended to flaunt their wealth
a little more. East Egg was old money, with houses that were more conservative but certainly not
less expensive.
,Before meeting him, what does Nick tell us about Tom Buchanan? - CORRECT
ANSWER - He was a very successful athlete. He appeared arrogant and aggressive and he
was extremely wealthy.
Find the words Nick uses to describe Daisy's voice, which is one of her most noticeable features.
- CORRECT ANSWER - "I've heard it said that Daisy's murmur was only to make people
lean towards her, an irrelevant criticism that made it no less charming." "It was the kind of voice
that the ear follows up and down, as if each speech is an argument of notes that will never be
played again."
Daisy says, "Tom's getting very profound." what do you think her tone might have been? -
CORRECT ANSWER - She is using a slightly sarcastic and mocking tone.
At this point, why does Nick observe, "There was something pathetic in his [Tom's]
concentration..."? - CORRECT ANSWER - Nick was rather disgusted at how he described
the need for white people or "the dominant race" to watch out for the other races trying to take
over.
When the telephone rings a second time, why does Nick say, "No one was able utterly to put this
fifth guest's shrill metallic urgency out of mind"? What literary device is employed in the phrase
"fifth guest's shrill metallic urgency"? - CORRECT ANSWER - There was a lot of tension
at the dinner table, because Tom's mistress was calling during dinner time. The literary device
is...
Why is Nick's instinct to telephone immediately for the police? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Nick is startled by these people and their values, like their willingness to talk about infidelity.
The tension around the table appears to stress Nick out.
We found out that Tom has a woman in New York. What unflattering feature of Jordan Baker's
personality revealed? - CORRECT ANSWER - Jordan Baker's unflattering trait is she's
dishonest and gossips.
, What three sentences indicate that Nick thinks Daisy's cynical outburst is fake? - CORRECT
ANSWER - The three sentences indicate that Nick thinks Daisy's cynical outburst is fake
is, "The instant her voice broke off ceasing to compel my attention, my belief, I felt the basic
insincerity of what she has said. It made me uneasy, as Go the whole evening had been a trick of
some sort to exact a contributory in motion from me. I waited, and sure enough, in a moment she
looked at me with an absolute smirk in her lovely face, as if she had asserted her membership in
a rather distinguished secret society to which she and Tom belonged."
What is the reader left to think about Daisy's emotional state and her relationship with Tom? -
CORRECT ANSWER - The reader is left to feel like daisy is emotionally unstable and has
a weak relationship with Tom. She acts nervous but pretends nothing is wrong.
Who is Jordan Baker, and what has Nick heard about her? - CORRECT ANSWER - He
has heard she is a pro golfer, and he heard some unpleasant story about her.
Daisy says, "I think the home influence will be good for [Jordan]" What do you think her tone
may be? Offer support for your answer. - CORRECT ANSWER - Daisy is probably being
sarcastic, as the influence of their home is not a good one. Tom & Daisy do not set a good
example of a healthy relationship.
As Nick drives away from their house, he experiences a number of conflicting emotions. Why
does he feel touched? Why does he feel confused and disgusted? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Their interest in Nick touched him, but he was disgusted by their modern values and the way
they live.
At the end of the chapter, Nick sees Gatsby on the lawn and is about to call and introduce
himself, but he does not. What stops him? What does Gatsby's trembling suggest? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Nick did not call out to him because he got a vibe that Gatsby wanted to be
alone. His trembling suggests that he was anxious, or maybe he was sad.
The green light that Gatsby is staring at is mentioned several more times, and it assumes a
symbolic significance. Where and what do you think the green light might be? - CORRECT
ANSWER - The green light is at Daisy and Tom's mansion in East Egg and it represents
Daisy herself. The light is like a light house for Gatsby.