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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. How long does it take anyone to speak after hearing the answer?

2. What is Arthur reading?

3. Who does Ford find lying face-down in the cold dust?

4. What do the mice agree should be the ultimate question?

5. What speed does the aircar travel at?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Phouchg and Loonquawl react to Deep Thought's answer?

2. How do the characters escape from the computer bay?

3. How does Deep Thought intend to help the men find the question to his answer?

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

5. Why do the mice believe the Ultimate Question they made up will sound plausable to the general public?

6. Do the characters learn any great lessons through the course of this book?

7. How does the author create suspense in this chapter?

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

9. What does Slartibartfast's award mean to him?

10. What was the true relationship between mice and men?

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 explains the role of Arthur Dent's character in the story, and the key differences between him and the other characters.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay that discusses the meaning of life, the universe, and everything.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 903 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample