The Catcher in the Rye: The Beginning Quiz

Answer: Pencey Prep

Holden, as he says, "got the axe" and was expelled from Pencey Prep, as he was flunking four out of five subjects, all subjects except for English. He had also been kicked out from Whooton School and Elkton Hills in the past.

Pencey Prep is an exclusive school in Agerstown, Pennsylvania, a fictional town.

Answer: History

Mr. Spencer, or as Holden calls him, "Old Spencer", was very sick that day, which Holden described as disgusting as he "isn't too crazy about sick people". Even though Holden flunked History, he kind of likes Mr. Spencer, and vice versa.

Spencer even tells him he didn't want to flunk Holden but had to, and he shows him a test Holden took, in which Holden wrote a little note telling Spencer that although his lectures are interesting, he just can't get interested.

Answer: Robert Ackley

Robert Ackley, who according to Holden is called "Ackley" by everyone, is Holden's next-door neighbor. He always tries to hang out with Holden, who tries to ignore him. His personal hygiene, especially dental, is depicted as terrible. His teeth are "mossy and awful".

Ackley hates Holden's roommate, Stradlater, which is why he never goes into Holden's room if he is in there.

Answer: He has had sexual intercourse

Holden clearly states that although mostly everyone at Pencey talks about sex, Stradlater is one of the few guys who really had experienced it.

Stradlater is described as a "sexy bastard" and although apparently Holden dislikes him, he does agree to write a composition for him.

Answer: A baseball glove

Holden's younger brother, Allie, died aged seven from leukemia. It is very clear that Holden still suffers from this loss and is deeply affected by it. Remembering his brother, he writes about a baseball glove Allie used to write poems on.

When Stradlater is back, he tells Holden that isn't what he was supposed to do, causing Holden to tear the composition up.

Answer: The school janitor

Actually, Holden dislikes Ernie Morrow, but he sort of likes his mother which is why he tells her a bunch of lies like "he would've been elected class president if he had let other students nominate him".

Holden also falsely tells her he is on his way to New York to get a brain tumor operation, which is why he left Pencey. This is obviously yet another of Holden's lies.

Answer: Two men kissing

The reader gets a lot of description on what Holden is seeing out his window. There's a man dressing up as a woman, which was not common at all in the 1950s and really surprises Holden, a man and a woman drinking and then spitting mouthfuls of it on each other's faces.

Although two men kissing are not depicted in the book, there are a lot of sexuality-related issues that the book addresses. This caused plenty of controversy.

Answer: The Lavender Room

Although he usually gets alcohol because he appears to be older, the waiter at the Lavender Room does not care and refuses to give him alcohol.

Holden then sort of flirts with three girls that were in the club, but at the same time he kind of mocks them. He ends up paying for their drinks, after they leave.

Answer: Writing in Hollywood

D.B. Caulfield is Holden's brother, who writes for Hollywood's movies. He visited Holden very often.

At Ernie's, Holden bumps with Lillian Simmons, who was accompanied by her boyfriend, a Navy officer. She is friendly at first (as she used to date D.B.) but after Holden tells her he has to meet someone, Lillian leaves with obvious discontent.

Answer: Talk with her

Holden describes himself as a very perverted guy in his mind, but reveals he is a virgin. Sunny, the prostitute, is clearly uncomfortable with being there with Holden trying to engage in conversation with her.

Even though Maurice told Holden the fee was $5 dollars, Sunny says it's $10, and then Maurice confirms it. When Holden refuses to pay, Maurice beats him up.