View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who are the four people riding motorcycles on a journey?

2. How many motorcycles are involved in this trip?

3. Phaedrus' stage fright concerning classroom teaching appeared to students as

4. The group crossed the Missouri River at

5. Phaedrus served in the

Short Essay Questions

1. What is a priori knowledge and how are time and space examples of a priori knowledge?

2. How had Chris' YMCA camp experience seemingly made him ill-prepared for actual mountain hiking?

3. In chapter 13, the Narrator talks about Phaedrus' lecture about the "real university." What is a "real university" or a "real high school?" Start by explaining what a "real university" or a "real high school" is not. What is the primary goal of the "real university" or "real high school?"

4. What were the possible reasons John did not want the Narrator to use a beer can to shim his motorcycle handlebars?

5. What hoped-for phenomena resulted from the abolition of grades in his classes?

6. In what ways was Phaedrus changed by his studies in India? How did his background in science help or hinder him in learning to think like the Orientals?

7. 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.

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

9. 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?

10. Why did the thought of teaching Quality seem so confusing, yet so appealing, to him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At the beginning of the book, the Narrator does not seem to understand or connect with Chris on any level. He finds Chris' questions irritating and his behavior frustrating and often refuses to try to communicate. Trace the Narrator's relationship with Chris through the book. Give examples of his attitude at various points. At what point in the book do we see that he is becoming more open to Chris? What does he think or say to make us feel that he wants to reach out to Chris?

Essay Topic 2

The Narrator says it is good to be in a state of "stuckness." What is "stuckness" and why is a good? What does it allow one's mind to do? Give an example of the Narrator being stuck and then using it to do or say something better than he would have if he had kept going in the original direction.

Essay Topic 3

What traits does Chris have that were troublesome traits for Phaedrus?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,754 words (approx. 6 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample