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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the computer do as the missiles approach?

2. What color are the seas exactly the wrong shade of?

3. Why do parents tell their children about the legend of Magrathea?

4. What is Arthur concerned about?

5. What sits in a corner of the control cabin of the Starship Heart of Gold?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Arthur try to save Ford and himself from the Vogon? What happens?

2. Why does Ford have trouble sleeping?

3. How grateful is everyone to Arthur for saving their lives?

4. How do the characters react to the surface of Magrathea?

5. Why does the computer say that most people's lives are governed by telephone numbers?

6. What is the significance of the babel fish?

7. What were the circumstances of how Arthur and Zaphod originally met?

8. Why are towels so important?

9. How do the characters react to seeing the planet Magrathea? What do they think of its legend?

10. Why does Trillian have trouble sleeping?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay that describes the role of the absurd in literature, giving examples of books that use it as a device and explaining what purpose the absurd can play in communicating a message.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay that briefly describes as many of the galactic civilizations and races in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy as possible. Be sure to cover:

1 - Which civilizations are the most "alien."

2 - Whether or not the civilizations are/were friendly.

3 - Which civilization is the most interesting to you.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay that explains a simple way for people to be happy, or at least happier. The plan need not be entirely realistic.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 935 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample