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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Genghis Cohen shows Oedipa an old German stamp with Thurn and Taxis printed on it which has a special symbol in each corner. He suggests that the extra mark on the symbol is a ______.
(a) Mute.
(b) Moat.
(c) Foul.
(d) Flute.

2. Who does Oedipa find at an all-night Mexican diner in San Francisco?
(a) Jesus Arrabal.
(b) John Nefastis.
(c) Randolph Driblette.
(d) Grace Bortz.

3. What happens to Oedipa after she knocks on the door of Dr. Hilarius's office in Chapter 5?
(a) He gives her LSD.
(b) He makes love to her.
(c) He begs her to run away with him.
(d) He takes her hostage.

4. Bortz leads Oedipa into a study to view woodcut illustrations from the pornographic version of the play. What does she see hovering in the background of the obscene images?
(a) Death.
(b) Trystero.
(c) Love.
(d) WASTE symbol.

5. When Oedipa meets Mike Fallopian for the second time, he tells her it is difficult to find documentary proof of what?
(a) The Second Law of Thermodynamics.
(b) Attacks on mail carriers.
(c) Acts of true kindness.
(d) The Trystero.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Chapter 4, who does Oedipa tell Stanley Koteks she is?

2. What does Stanley Koteks ask Oedipa to look into at Yoyodyne when he thinks she is connected to the company?

3. What is the name of the auctioneer who will be crying the lots the day Oedipa goes?

4. Genghis Cohen claims that the stamp, which depicts a Pony Express rider galloping out of a western fort into a black feather, is what?

5. After arriving at Dr. Hilarius's clinic, Oedipa is told what by the doctor's assistant?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Pynchon ridiculing through all of Oedipa's in-depth research into the Trystero?

2. Describe the Nefastis Machine as it was explained by Stanley Koteks.

3. What causes Oedipa to realize that every source of information on the Tristero can somehow be traced to Inverarity?

4. What is meant by Oedipa seeing Genghis Cohen, the philatelist, framed in a long succession of doorways?

5. What is significant about the fact that the founder of Tristero, Hernando Joaquin de Tristero y Calavera, called himself The Disinherited?

6. When Oedipa visits Vesperhaven House, what does Mr. Thoth tell her about his dream?

7. As Oedipa sits in rush hour traffic on the Bay Bridge, what does she determine she knows about Tristero?

8. What is the story behind the founding of Inamorati Anonymous?

9. According to Jesus Arrabal, what is the miracle of Inverarity?

10. What are the four alternatives Oedipa comes up with to explain her discoveries concerning the Tristero?

(see the answer keys)

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