After Twenty years (Questions and answers)

Unit I

1. How does the writer describe the atmosphere of the story?

The story starts on a quiet, chilly night in a New York street, with very few people outside because of cold wind and rain. Most shops are closed, and the area is dark.

 2. How did the policeman perform his duties?

The policeman did his patrol carefully, checking every closed door as he walked. He was alert, moving smartly, and making sure everything was safe in his area.

3. What picture of the wanted criminal do you get from the text?

The criminal is described as having a pale face, square jaw, dark eyes, and a small white scar near the right eyebrow. He was known for printing fake currency notes.

4. How did the stranger try to interact with the policeman?

The stranger explained that he was waiting for an old friend because of a promise made twenty years ago. He shared the history of the place to make the policeman trust him.

5. How did the policeman see the stranger’s face?

The policeman clearly saw the stranger’s face when the man lit a match to smoke his cigar in front of the hardware store, making his face visible in the darkness.

Unit II

1. What was the appointment made between two friends twenty years before?

The two friends, Bob and Jimmy, promised to meet at the same spot, at the same time, exactly twenty years later, no matter what their life situations would be.

2. What information about the friends do you gather from their conversation?

They were like brothers, born and raised in New York. Bob moved west for fortune while Jimmy stayed behind. They kept in touch for a while but then lost contact as life got busy.

3. Describe the bond between the two friends, and what led to their separation.

Their bond was deep; they cared for each other. They parted because Bob wanted adventure and riches in the West, while Jimmy chose to remain in New York.

Unit III

1. How long did the man from the West wait? What was the weather then?

He waited about twenty minutes outside the store. The weather was cold and rainy, making the street almost empty of people.

2. How did the man from the West and the man in a long overcoat greet each other?

They greeted each other with surprise and happiness, asking each other’s names to confirm their identities, then shook hands in joy.

3. When did Bob realise that the tall man he had met was not Jimmy Wells?

Bob realised it under the bright light of a store, noticing the man’s nose was not sharp as Jimmy’s, so he suspected this was not his old friend.

4. Why did Jimmy get Bob arrested?

Jimmy recognized Bob was the criminal wanted in Chicago. He could not arrest his friend personally, so he arranged for another policeman to do it.

5. Did Jimmy keep his appointment with Bob after twenty years? What consideration did he show for his old friend?

Yes, Jimmy came on time but let another policeman arrest Bob, showing he cared about his friend but could not break duty as a policeman.