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The Catcher In The Rye Multiple Choice Quiz | Authors

This quiz deals with one of the more controversial books of the 20th Century. I ask not to use this quiz as a crutch. Read this classic book and fill in the banks this quiz will leave you.

A multiple-choice quiz by Oddball. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Oddball

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
4,389

Updated
Jun 12 22

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
11 / 15

Plays
8587

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 209 (14/15), Guest 100 (15/15), colbymanram (13/15).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. Our hero's name:

Answer: (First and last name...spelling counts ('i before e' and all that))

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Question 2 of 15

2. The story opens on a December evening with our hero packing his things at Pencey Preparatory School. Why? Hint

Graduation

He was expelled for bad grades

Christmas break

Preparing for a road trip with the fencing team

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Question 3 of 15

3. The title of the book came from a song our hero heard a child singing. What is unusual about the song? Hint

He himself sang it years ago

The child got the line wrong

The song was in his head all day

His late brother sang it

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Question 4 of 15

4. Who of the following is NOT a sibling of our hero? Hint

D.B.

Phoebe

Janie

Allie

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Question 5 of 15

5. Our hero has a peculiarity regarding reference to people. What adjective does he put in front of their names? Hint

Old

Wild

Freaky

Goofy

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Question 6 of 15

6. Which of the following is NOT a former instructor of our hero? Hint

Mr. Antolini

Mr. Spencer

Ms. Callon

Mr. Thurmer

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Question 7 of 15

7. What was the Christmas present our hero bought for his sister? Hint

A record

A locket

A porcelain animal

A music box

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Question 8 of 15

8. What happened to the present our hero bought for his sister? Hint

He lost it in a bus terminal

Nothing...she got it

He gave it to two nuns

It fell and broke.

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Question 9 of 15

9. While on the town, our hero decides to set up a Broadway play, ice skating and drinks with an old friend. Who does he call? Hint

Jane Gallagher

Sally Hayes

Lillian Simmons

Shirley Beans

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Question 10 of 15

10. What question does our hero consistantly try to answer through a good part of the book? Hint

Where do the amusement park ponies go when they retire?

What happens to the Central Park ducks in the winter?

Do fish survive in a frozen pond?

Where can I get a fake ID to get drinks?

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Question 11 of 15

11. What is our hero's sister's favorite movie? Hint

Goodbye, Mr. Chips

The 39 Steps

The Bakers Wife

Mrs. Miniver

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Question 12 of 15

12. Why did our hero leave Mr. Antolini's apartment so abruptly? Hint

He had a nightmare about his brother

His parents called, looking for him

He got a call from Jane

He wakes to find him patting his head

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Question 13 of 15

13. Our hero's last act before leaving Pencey was to write a composition for his roommate on an inanimate object. What does he choose to write about? Hint

His brother's baseball mitt

A hunter's cap

The reading lamp on the desk

A snowball

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Question 14 of 15

14. Better late than never...where does most of the story take place? Hint

Montpelier, VT

Agerstown, PA

New York City

Boston

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Question 15 of 15

15. Pertaining to the title, what does a catcher catch in the rye? Hint

Children

Crows

Rye

Locusts

Most Recent Scores

Apr 18 2024 : Guest 209: 14/15
Apr 15 2024 : Guest 100: 15/15
Apr 14 2024 : colbymanram: 13/15
Apr 12 2024 : Guest 99: 12/15
Apr 11 2024 : Guest 98: 14/15
Apr 08 2024 : Guest 81: 11/15
Apr 02 2024 : Puddy2015: 15/15
Mar 28 2024 : Changeling_de: 8/15
Mar 23 2024 : PHILVV: 14/15

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Our hero's name:

Answer: Holden Caulfield

Told you 'i before e', didn't I?

2. The story opens on a December evening with our hero packing his things at Pencey Preparatory School. Why?

Answer: He was expelled for bad grades

He was flunking four out of five classes, except for English.

3. The title of the book came from a song our hero heard a child singing. What is unusual about the song?

Answer: The child got the line wrong

The line, from a poem by Robert Burns, is, 'If a body MEET a body coming through the rye'. The child sang, 'If a body CATCH a body coming through the rye'.

4. Who of the following is NOT a sibling of our hero?

Answer: Janie

D.B., Holden's older brother, is a Hollywood writer. Phoebe is the baby sister, still at home with Mom and Dad. Allie, Holden's younger brother, died from leukemia years before.

5. Our hero has a peculiarity regarding reference to people. What adjective does he put in front of their names?

Answer: Old

Everybody is referred to as 'Old' Sally, 'Old' Phoebe or 'Old' Jane.

6. Which of the following is NOT a former instructor of our hero?

Answer: Ms. Callon

Mr. Thurman, Mr. Spencer and Mr. Antolini all were Holden's teachers (Mr. Thurman was the headmaster at Pencey). Ms. Callon was Phoebe's teacher.

7. What was the Christmas present our hero bought for his sister?

Answer: A record

A 20-year-old recording by Estelle Fletcher of a novelty song called 'Little Shirley Beans'.

8. What happened to the present our hero bought for his sister?

Answer: It fell and broke.

The package with the record dropped out of his arm just as he was entering Central Park. Even after he told Phoebe he broke it, she asked for the pieces anyway.

9. While on the town, our hero decides to set up a Broadway play, ice skating and drinks with an old friend. Who does he call?

Answer: Sally Hayes

The date falls flat after an argument starts over Holden wanting her to come away with him to start a new life.

10. What question does our hero consistantly try to answer through a good part of the book?

Answer: What happens to the Central Park ducks in the winter?

Seems to be a source of consternation to whoever he asks.

11. What is our hero's sister's favorite movie?

Answer: The 39 Steps

Phoebe knows this Alfred Hitchcock classic with Robert Donat by heart.

12. Why did our hero leave Mr. Antolini's apartment so abruptly?

Answer: He wakes to find him patting his head

Finding someone 'acting flitty', as he put it, in the dark just made him feel anxious.

13. Our hero's last act before leaving Pencey was to write a composition for his roommate on an inanimate object. What does he choose to write about?

Answer: His brother's baseball mitt

Allie's left-handed glove was covered with poems on the inside so he had something to read while in the outfield.

14. Better late than never...where does most of the story take place?

Answer: New York City

Agerstown is where Pencey Prep is located. The family lives in an apartment complex near Central Park.

15. Pertaining to the title, what does a catcher catch in the rye?

Answer: Children

Holden tells Phoebe it's the only thing he wants to do. As Holden puts it, the field of rye sits on the edge of a cliff. He catches children playing in the field before they fall off the edge. In a historical perspective, convicted murderer Mark Chapman read this excerpt during his sentencing phase as a defense for killing John Lennon.

Source: Author Oddball

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor MotherGoose before going online.
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