The Great Gatsby – Penguin comprehension questions
The Great Gatsby – chapter 2
Who…
a) looks down on the road from a big billboard?
b) owns the garage?
c) is Tom’s mistress?
d) buys a dog?
e) goes to New York City?
f) does Mrs Wilson invite to the apartment?
g) doesn’t drink at the party?
h) tells Nick about her first meeting with Tom?
i) has an argument about using Daisy’s name?
j) hits Myrtle?
The Great Gatsby – chapter 3
Find evidence in the chapter to suggest that:
a) Gatsby’s parties made a lot of mess
b) The food for the parties was not prepared in Gatsby’s house
c) Some of the guests didn’t even know the house belonged to Gatsby
d) Single men often stood by the drinks table at Gatsby’s parties
e) The two girls recognised Jordan
f) Jordan recognised one of the girls
g) Many rich people at the time had shelves with fake books on them
h) Nick fought in France during the Great War
i) Nick didn’t recognise Gatsby
j) Nobody at the party knew the truth about Gatsby’s past
k) Nick was impressed by fame
l) Nick has a poor opinion of women
m) Jordan was a bad driver
The Great Gatsby – chapter 4
Find evidence in this chapter which suggests:
a) Gatsby may be telling the truth about his past
b) Gatsby has powerful friends
c) Meyer Wolfsheim is a criminal
d) Gatsby didn’t want to know Tom Buchanan
e) Daisy didn’t get on with her parents
f) Daisy got over the soldier quite quickly (or perhaps didn’t get over him at all!)
g) Tom Buchanan’s family were very rich
h) Daisy didn’t want to get married
i) Gatsby could see Daisy’s house from his
j) Gatsby is afraid to speak to Daisy directly
The Great Gatsby – chapter 5
Find the response to each sentence from this chapter.
a) Suppose we have a swim in the pool, old sport? n) What day would suit you?
b) How about the day after tomorrow at 4 o’clock? o) You don’t make much money, do you?
c) You’re selling bonds, aren’t you, old sport? p) You might pick up a nice bit of money.
d) Nobody’s coming to tea. It’s too late. q) Why did I have to come alone?
e) We’ve met before. r) This is a terrible mistake.
f) It took me just three years to earn the money that bought it. s) Who’s that?
g) I’m all out of practice. t) Don’t be silly; it’s just two minutes to four.
h) Don’t talk so much, old sport. Play! u) I thought you were left money by your father.
i) I want to get the grass cut. v) It’s too late.
j) I’ve got my hands full. w) Not very much.
k) That? That’s Dan Cody, old sport. x) That’s a secret.
l) Trying to. y) We haven’t met for many years.
m) What day would suit you? z) You’re just embarrassed, that’s all.
The Great Gatsby – chapter 6
Put in order these events relating to Gatsby’s relationship with Dan Cody.
a) Cody asked Gatsby some questions.
b) Cody gave Gatsby a job on his boat.
c) Cody left Gatsby $25,000 when he died.
d) Dan Cody died.
e) Ella Kay managed to take all the money, including Gatsby’s.
f) Ella Kay came on board the boat in Boston.
g) Gatsby sailed three times around America with Cody.
h) He borrowed a rowboat and rowed out to Dan Cody’s boat.
i) He saw Dan Cody’s boat on Lake Superior.
j) He told Dan Cody that a wind might catch his boat and break it up.
k) He told Dan Cody that his name was Jay Gatsby.
-At Gatsby’s house Tom was polite at first, but then became angry. Why?
-Who did Nick spend time with during Gatsby’s party?
The Great Gatsby – chapter 7
Who says each of these things? Who do they say it about?
a) I hadn’t seen him around and I was rather worried.
b) He’s not really speaking into the telephone.
c) My little sweetheart! d) I’m right across from you.
e) What kind of trouble are you trying to cause in my house?
f) Her voice is full of money.
g) I’ve found out some things about this man.
h) You sounded well enough on the phone.
i) I just found out something funny is going on.
j) That’s a great expression of yours.
k) Forget about the heat. You make it ten times worse by complaining about it.
l) You look so cool.
The Great Gatsby – chapter 8
Complete these sentences with one suitable word in each space.
1) The main ______to the accident was Michaelis.
2) He said that Mrs Wilson ______into the road.
3) The car that hit her slowed for a moment then ______around the next bend.
4) Tom stopped his car when he realized there had been a ______.
5) He pushed through the ______and saw Myrtle’s body on the worktable of the garage.
6) Tom found out that Myrtle had been ______by a big yellow car.
7) Tom told Wilson that he wasn’t ______the yellow car.
8) Nick met Gatsby in Tom’s ______.
9) Gatsby asked Nick about the accident but didn’t seem to care about the ______of the woman.
10) He told Nick that Daisy was driving the ______.
The Great Gatsby – chapter 9
Put these section headings in the correct order.
1) Afternoon – Gatsby’s house
2) Daisy’s marriage
3) Early evening – Gatsby’s house
4) Gatsby’s war
5) How Gatsby met Daisy
6) 4 a.m. – Gatsby’s house
7) Lunchtime – New York City
8) Morning – Gatsby’s house
9) Night time in Wilson’s garage
10) Wilson’s movements
The Great Gatsby – chapter 10
Why…
1) didn’t the story of Myrtle’s affair come out?
2) did Nick become responsible for handling enquiries about Gatsby?
3) didn’t Wolfsheim come down?
4) didn’t Nick contact Gatsby’s father?
5) did Gatsby’s father feel a sense of pride in the house?
6) did Nick feel uncomfortable about Mr Gatz’s hopes for his son?
7) did Nick hang up on Klipspringer in disgust?
AFTER READING THE BOOK: EXTENSION ACTIVITY
Find at least five ways in which the character Gatsby is similar to the author Fitzgerald.