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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. Who saved Ford and Arthur?

2. What is the name of Zaphod's private brain care specialist?

3. What does Arthur awake to the sound of?

4. What is the planet Damogran home to?

5. Why did Trillian pick up hitchhikers?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Arthur try to save Ford and himself from the Vogon? What happens?

2. What is Arthur angry about? What does he do?

3. What does the Nutri-Matic drink machine do?

4. How does Ford Prefect manage to get Arthur to stop lying in front of the bulldozers?

5. Why does Trillian have trouble sleeping?

6. What is the problem with Zaphod's brain?

7. What was life like in the former Galactic Empire?

8. How do the characters react to the surface of Magrathea?

9. Why does Zaphod pretend to be stupid? What does Trillian think of this?

10. What is the significance of the chances of being picked up in space?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a short essay that describes the unusual writing style of Douglas Adams, giving examples where he "breaks the rules" of writing.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay explaining your opinion on the nature of the universe, and the basic elements of a novel that would communicate this opinion to readers. Be sure to include:

1 - Themes that would best express this viewpoint (for example, optimism, futility, cyclical events);

2 - Types of characters (for example, anti-heroes, well-meaning protagonists);

3 - How the novel's viewpoint is similar or different to that of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay that lists and explains all of the references within the novel to feelings of unease with the universe and the characters within it.

(see the answer keys)

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