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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 gas do the beings from this planet breathe?

2. What did Ford kindly leave Arthur?

3. What causes the alarms to sound?

4. What type of talk costs lives?

5. What had mankind achieved?

Short Essay Questions

1. What species do you think is smarter than the dolphins? How do you know?

2. Why do the cops believe that they are more intelligent and enlightened than their peers?

3. What is Zaphod Beeblebrox trying to do with the Pan Galactic Gargle Blasters?

4. What mental condition is Marvin suffering from? How does he display these symptoms?

5. Explain what Slartibartfast means when he says, "That's bureaucracy for you."

6. Did the dolphins leave mankind to its fate, or try to help?

7. Why do the philosophers object to Deep Thought? What is the computer's solution?

8. What have the inhabitants of Magrathea been doing all this time? Why?

9. What is still unfinished about the New Earth?

10. What do the mice want from Arthur?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay about something in the novel that is based on something in the real world, and the connection between the fictional and real versions. Examples include the bureaucratic Vogons, the figurehead Galactic presidency, and so on.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay that critiques the scientific accuracy of a specific science theme in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, such as the babel fish or the Infinite Improbability Drive. The essay should be more of an opinion piece than a strict science essay, though try to be as "scientific" as possible.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay that lists and explains all of the references within the novel to feelings of unease with the universe and the characters within it.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 937 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample