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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. The Narrator characterized the college as a "teaching college" by which he meant
(a) the professors were burned out with teaching so many classes and never had time for research or contemplation.
(b) that only those who truly enjoyed teaching worked there since the college did not require research.
(c) the professors taught the graduate students to teach, but stayed really busy teaching the grad students.
(d) the college was designed to prepare students to be teachers in schools and colleges.

2. Phaedrus served in the
(a) Korean Conflict.
(b) Falkland Skirmish.
(c) Cuban Crisis.
(d) Vietnam War.

3. Chris usually reflects the mood of the Narrator in his
(a) moodiness and depression.
(b) concern and worry.
(c) reactions to others.
(d) mood and actions.

4. Phaedrus was despondent about his inability to
(a) help his students really learn.
(b) excite his students.
(c) teach about quality.
(d) teach what he believed.

5. The course sections Phaedrus most often taught included
(a) English Literature
(b) Freshman English
(c) American Literature
(d) Grammar and Spelling

Short Answer Questions

1. Phaedrus gave up chasing the ghost of rationality and

2. As the Narrator rides past the marshes he sees

3. Annihilation ECS consisted of

4. The point at which Phaedrus gave up on Oriental wisdom was when a professor called the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

5. In his teaching, an essay was to be developed from the basis of

Short Essay Questions

1. What are some of the things John likes about Miles City, Montana? What do these indicate about the city? About John?

2. Sentence fragments are exchanged between the Narrator and the young woman who comes into the classroom. What do we learn about rumors concerning Phaedrus (the Narrator) that circulated in the English department? What do you think is the young woman's role at the university at this time?

3. Which gumption trap is most often a problem for you and how to you overcome it?

4. What is symbolized by the riding without helmets and what is symbolized by Chris' standing on the pegs to ride the motorcycle?

5. The Narrator talks about the set of boxes which define the components of a motorcycle. If you start at the top with "motorcycle" and work to the next level, you have "components" and "functions;" at the next level "components" are divided into "power assembly" and "running assembly." Where else do we find such hierarchies? Give examples of this pyramidal structure of hierarchical organization charts in business, science, and government. Can you think of others?

6. What is the difference between "What's new?" and "What is best?" What type of answer might you get to each question? Which question would you prefer to ask your friends? Which question would you rather have people ask you?

7. Summarize how Poincaré's ideas fit closely to Phaedrus' ideas--like two sides of a jigsaw puzzle.

8. No two motorcycle manufacturers split up the motorcycle parts in the same way. What did the Narrator mean by this? The Narrator talks about the knife they use to split up the parts and then talks about how Phaedrus used the knife creatively, yet analytically. To what do you think the Narrator is alluding to?

9. Goethe's poem captures what may be at stake for the Narrator and Chris on this trip or at this point in their lives. Use the discussion of Chris, the ideas of Phaedrus up to this point, and what is said about the poem to explain how the poem captures what is going on in the Narrator's mind.

10. A society which kills multitudes in wars, pollutes the land and oceans, and destroys the dignity of individuals is said to be a higher society than one that hunts and gathers. How can that be rationally explained?

(see the answer keys)

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