Chapter 17 Quiz — The Catcher in the Rye

Where does Holden wait for Sally Hayes at the beginning of Chapter 17?

• In front of the Museum of Natural History
• In the lobby of the Biltmore Hotel
• At the entrance to Central Park
• Outside Radio City Music Hall

What does Holden tell Sally in the cab on the way to the theater?

• That he has been expelled from Pencey Prep
• That he wants to break up with her
• That he loves her
• That he does not want to see the play

Who does Sally run into during intermission at the theater?

• Stradlater, Holden's former roommate
• George Harrison, a boy from Andover
• Carl Luce, Holden's former student advisor
• D.B., Holden's older brother

Where do Holden and Sally go after the Broadway matinee?

• To dinner at a restaurant in Midtown
• To the Museum of Modern Art
• Ice skating at Radio City
• To a nightclub in the Village

What does Holden propose to Sally while sitting at the skating rink?

• That they get engaged immediately
• That they drop out of school and get jobs in New York
• That they drive to Massachusetts and Vermont and live in a cabin near a brook
• That they move to California and start over

How does Sally respond to Holden's escape plan?

• She enthusiastically agrees and wants to leave immediately
• She says she will think about it after talking to her parents
• She rejects it as impractical, saying they should wait until after college
• She laughs and assumes he is joking

What insult does Holden hurl at Sally, ending their date?

• He calls her a 'phony'
• He calls her 'a royal pain in the ass'
• He calls her 'boring and predictable'
• He calls her 'just like everyone else'

What is the primary reason Holden is frustrated by Sally's response to his plan?

• She does not find him attractive enough to run away with
• She responds with practical objections rather than hearing his emotional desperation
• She reveals that she is already engaged to someone else
• She tells other people at the rink about his plan

Why is it ironic that Holden delivers his anti-civilization speech at Radio City?

• Because Radio City was built by his family
• Because Radio City is one of New York's most iconic symbols of commercial entertainment
• Because Holden had previously said Radio City was his favorite place
• Because Sally's father owns part of Radio City

Which of the following events actually happen in Chapter 17?

Which of these statements about Holden's behavior in Chapter 17 are true?

What does 'ambivalence' mean in the context of Holden's feelings toward Sally?

• Complete certainty about one's emotions
• The state of having simultaneous, conflicting feelings toward a person or thing
• A gradual loss of interest in a relationship
• The inability to remember someone's name

What does 'escapism' mean as it relates to Holden's cabin fantasy?

• A carefully planned relocation to a better environment
• The tendency to seek distraction and relief from unpleasant realities through fantasy or retreat
• A literary technique where the narrator breaks the fourth wall
• The act of physically running away from home

What does 'volatile' mean in the context of Holden's mood swings during the date?

• Consistently calm and measured in behavior
• Likely to cause a chemical reaction
• Liable to change rapidly and unpredictably, especially for the worse
• Extremely focused on a single goal