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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. When Richard first arrives at Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, he overhears Dirk explain to someone at the other end of the phone line that his job involves doing what?

2. When Richard calls L'Esprit d'Escalier, what does he find out?

3. Why does the founder of WayForward Technologies like to call people and leave long, rambling messages on their answering machines?

4. Even though he's a ghost, Gordon grows tired of walking down a deserted road and wonders if he might be able to do what?

5. In Chapter 13, who is the person spying with the binoculars?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Richard see the first time that he goes to Dirk's agency?

2. How does the author utilize foreshadowing with the character Gordon Way?

3. Why and how does Reg entertain Sarah, a bored little girl attending the Coleridge dinner?

4. How does Gordon Way, founder of WayForward Technologies, flesh out his numerous business ideas?

5. Why does Richard dislike Michael Wenton-Weakes?

6. What does Susan decide to do in Chapter 3 after her boyfriend fails to show up?

7. Describe similarities and differences between WayForward Technologies I and II.

8. Why can't Richard bring Susan to the French restaurant, L'Esprit d'Escalier?

9. Dirk Gently doesn't appear in earnest until about a third of the way into the story. Is he the main character, or is someone else the main character of the story?

10. Explain why fellow students liked to wine and dine Dirk Gently.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Does Dirk Gently save the human race from total extinction, as he claims that he does? Does he save the day by himself or with help from others? Explain in detail.

Essay Topic 2

Is Professor Urban Chronotis, commonly known as Reg, an absent-minded professor, a genius, or a little of both? Support your answer with passages from the book.

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast the prominent ghosts in this story, namely, Gordon Way's ghost and the ancient alien ghost. What frustrations do they share? What is each ghost's primary goal or mission? How do their intents differ? What vital role does each ghost play in the story?

(see the answer keys)

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