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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 kind of shoes does Ford buy himself?

2. What color is the Vogon constructor ship?

3. What does Old Thrashbarg shout after Ford and Arthur as they ride off?

4. How does Random ruin Arthur's knife?

5. What type of solution does Ford look for, to get himself and the Guide out of the thirteenth floor of the Guide offices?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. What worries Ford about what's happened during his visit to the Guide?

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

6. What does the owner of the spaceship that Ford tries to buy tell him?

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

8. Why is Ford worried about the new Guide?

9. How does Ford react when he first sees a pikka bird?

10. How does Arthur use Ford's towel to attract a Perfectly Normal Beast?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Mostly Harmless, multiple dimensions or possible universes are converging and crossing over into each other. The characters deal with the full range of possibilities. Discuss multiple dimensions in the novel.

1) What is the WSOGMM? Why is this idea important to the novel?

2) Why is it difficult or impossible for any one person to comprehend the totality of dimensions or universes? Why is it dangerous for the Guide to comprehend everything?

3) How do multiple potential possibilities affect the characters in the novel? How does the existence of multiple potential possibilities allow the new Guide to manipulate reality?

Essay Topic 2

The novel is science fiction and extensively uses science ideas and concepts. Discuss the role of science in the novel.

1) What scientific concepts does the author use in the novel? What types of scientific ideas does he emphasize?

2) What is the author's view of science? How is science positive and negative? How do the characters view science and technology?

3) How does the novel fit into the science fiction genre?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss communication in the novel.

1) What types of failures of communication appear in the novel? How do Ford and Arthur fail to communicate with each other?

2) How do Arthur and Random fail to communicate with each other? Why does Random have such difficulty communicating?

3) What is the relationship between differing perspectives and failed communication in the novel?

(see the answer keys)

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