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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 condition is Ford in when Arthur discovers him?

2. What does Ford hope to exploit about the Vogons?

3. What does Ford say that one could buy with the amount he pays at the Bar & Grill?

4. In what area of London is Tricia's video editing suite?

5. How do the aliens get goods from Earth?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the man who accosts Ford and Arthur when they enter the London club say?

2. How does the new Guide arrange a spaceship to come?

3. How does Ford suggest getting off Arthur's new home planet?

4. Describe the monument that marks the location where the species Vogon Vogonblurtus first appeared.

5. What does Tricia learn when she calls her television station from the editing booth?

6. Why doesn't Arthur's watch tell the right time?

7. How is the Earth finally destroyed?

8. What sort of review does Ford give the Bar & Grill?

9. How does Ford get the new Guide out of the Guide offices?

10. What do Ford and Arthur talk about as they ride the Perfectly Normal Beast away?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

All of the characters have unique and sometimes conflicting perspectives in the novel. Discuss relative perspectives and points of view in the novel.

1) What are the limitations of individual perspectives of characters like Arthur, Ford, Tricia, and Random? How do their perspectives affect their choices?

2) Why does the author emphasize limited, individual perspectives in the novel?

3) How is a limited perspective necessary for understanding and comprehending the world?

Essay Topic 2

Mostly Harmless is a humorous novel. Discuss the author's humor and how he uses humor in the novel.

1) What kinds of humor does the author use? How are the characters, situations, and ideas in the novel humorous?

2) How does the ending, and the destruction of Earth, fit in with the humorous nature of the novel?

3) What kinds of liberties does humor allow the author to take? How does humor allow the author to create wildly improbable situations and events?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the ability to discover and perceive truth in the novel.

1) How do the limitations of knowledge and perception affect the ability to discover truth in the novel? How does it affect Tricia's ability to share her knowledge of the existence of aliens?

2) How is Ford's desire to find out the truth behind the new Guide inhibited by the limits of knowledge and perception?

3) Why are characters in the novel unwilling to try to discover truth? Why do scientists find truth muddled and confusing? Why do characters like the Lamuellans not want to delve into mysteries like the Perfectly Normal Beasts?

(see the answer keys)

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