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

2. How does Random respond when the Guide offers to stop saying potentially offensive words?

3. How many days are there in a year on Lamuella?

4. What does Random do with the rag given to her by the creature in the forest?

5. What is Tricia's camera pointing at when the spacecraft she is on lands on Rupert?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Tricia upset by the video footage she has brought back from her trip into space?

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

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

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

5. How was Ford saved the second time he jumped out the window of the Guide building?

6. What does Random find at the crash site?

7. Describe how the Sandwich Maker makes a sandwich.

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

9. How does the interview between Tricia and Random go?

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

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

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?

Essay Topic 3

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?

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