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Ben Elton's "Gridlock" Trivia Quiz

A story of love and genius, evil and greed. The story of Geoffrey and the woman he loves, against the world's collective motor industries. Terrific read. Enjoy the quiz!

A multiple-choice quiz by tatterdemalion. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
tatterdemalion

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
178,952

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
8 / 15

Plays
218

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. The "off-the-planet" introduction to "Gridlock" features aliens who are researching Earth for a 3-minute slot in a TV comedy program. What is the name of their native planet?

Answer: (Think...)

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Question 2 of 15

2. Geoffrey Peason was determined that his disease should not be used to define his whole self, and that he should be able to say "spastic" without it seeming like an insult. Therefore he unofficially changed his surname to...? Hint

Spastic

Spaz

Spazzo

Spasmo

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Question 3 of 15

3. According to "Gridlock", there is a certain sticker that can be found on computers which will guarantee that the person owning the computer is "dull, dependable and sane as a pair of corduroy trousers". What does this sticker say? Hint

Working hard or hardly working?

Hang in there!

Work is so bad they even have to pay you to do it

You don't have to be mad to work here but it helps

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Question 4 of 15

4. Geoffrey invented a kind of engine which ran cheaply on what element? Hint

Lithium

Einsteinium

Hydrogen

Helium

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Question 5 of 15

5. In 1977, Geoffrey went to a concert for a classic punk band in his spasmobile. Which band? Hint

Rat Cat

The Sex Pistols

The Clash

The Ramones

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Question 6 of 15

6. Sam Turk, fuelled by greed, murdered his accomplice and friend, Bruce Tungsten. This was because he and Bruce disagreed about how to exploit the miracle engine plans. True or false?

True

False

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Question 7 of 15

7. After the press discover that Transport Minister Digby Parkhurst is a gay transvestite, he commits suicide. How does he do it? Hint

Gasses himself to death in his car

Deliberately crashes his car

Slits his wrists

Drinks poison

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Question 8 of 15

8. What kind of car cost Deborah the use of her legs? Hint

A Global Moritz (Mark III)

A Panther Chief Executive (Kevin Class)

A Global Crappee

A Ford Pinto

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Question 9 of 15

9. Fill in the blank: Deborah's friend and lodger is a young black traffic warden whose name is Harold Wilson ----.

Answer: (Four letters - T...)

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Question 10 of 15

10. "Mr Automobile" Bruce Tungsten, owner of Global Motors, was sent a little mocking doll by the Japanese car company Hirohato. What did it do when he clapped his hands and said "Global Motors"? Hint

It made a rude gesture

It laughed

It sung a little song

It did an insulting dance

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Question 11 of 15

11. Sam Turk orders several hitmen to dispose of Geoffrey. How many of them does Geoffrey manage to kill? Hint

None, but he causes several grievous injuries.

All four, and then Turk himself comes for him.

The first two. The second two get the better of him.

The first three. The last one gets him.

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Question 12 of 15

12. Geoffrey is a "disabled gentleman". What is wrong with him? Hint

He has Motor Neurone Disease

He has cerebal palsy

He suffers from epilepsy

He is a paraplegic

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Question 13 of 15

13. When Sam Turk sends out the hitmen to kill Geoffrey, their code word for him is "hamster". True or false?

True

False

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Question 14 of 15

14. When Deborah confronts Sam in his office, what is the first of Geoffrey's weapons that she uses against him? Hint

A flamethrower to the shins

A flat iron to the head

A sharpened bolt into the thigh

An electric shock through the hands

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Question 15 of 15

15. At the end of the book, who makes the speech announcing the radical new road development plans? Hint

The Queen

The Prime Minister

Ingmar Bresslaw

Transport Minister "Corker" McCorkadale

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The "off-the-planet" introduction to "Gridlock" features aliens who are researching Earth for a 3-minute slot in a TV comedy program. What is the name of their native planet?

Answer: Brain

The show is called "That's Amazing, Brainians". They learned more about humanity and philosophy than we know ourselves, and they accidentally taped a documentary about Tuscany. (You have to read it...)

Answer: Spasmo

This was in vain hope that someday spastics could rise above the negative image connected with the name of their condition. And it was funny.

Answer: You don't have to be mad to work here but it helps

At Geoffrey's office, the woman whose computer wore this sticker was Denise. She was the one who unwittingly revealed Geoffrey's whereabouts to Sam and caused his murder.

4. Geoffrey invented a kind of engine which ran cheaply on what element?

Answer: Hydrogen

It could be extracted from water and after being used, only expelled water, so it was very environmentally friendly.

5. In 1977, Geoffrey went to a concert for a classic punk band in his spasmobile. Which band?

Answer: The Clash

"Geoffrey's had been the only wheelchair to make it to the front of a gig on The Clash's White Riot Tour in '77. His dad had to hose it down to get all the gob off afterwards.

6. Sam Turk, fuelled by greed, murdered his accomplice and friend, Bruce Tungsten. This was because he and Bruce disagreed about how to exploit the miracle engine plans. True or false?

Answer: False

It was Sam's "loyal Lieutennant" Springer who was shot to death because of the money disagreement. As Sam said afterward, "Dough is strange stuff".

7. After the press discover that Transport Minister Digby Parkhurst is a gay transvestite, he commits suicide. How does he do it?

Answer: Gasses himself to death in his car

"The enternal combustion engine had claimed another victim."
Although Digby is a particularly hated character, his death is a tragedy because it highlights the still-existing prejudice against homosexuals.

8. What kind of car cost Deborah the use of her legs?

Answer: A Global Moritz (Mark III)

The accident was caused because of faulty brakes. Global Motors could have improved the brake system on these cars, but decided they'd rather keep the money, and thus pretty much ruined Deborah's life.

9. Fill in the blank: Deborah's friend and lodger is a young black traffic warden whose name is Harold Wilson ----.

Answer: Tosh

His real name is Tosh but his nickname is Toss "because I don't give a..."
One gets the impression that people never appreciate this titbit of wit as much as he'd like them to.

10. "Mr Automobile" Bruce Tungsten, owner of Global Motors, was sent a little mocking doll by the Japanese car company Hirohato. What did it do when he clapped his hands and said "Global Motors"?

Answer: It laughed

He hated the doll but he kept it anyway.
"'The prince sent Harry tennis balls because he was laughing at him Sam, do you understand? ...Two years ago I recieved this, Sam,' Bruce indicated the laughing doll. 'Take a good look at it, old friend, and try to think of it as my balls.'"

11. Sam Turk orders several hitmen to dispose of Geoffrey. How many of them does Geoffrey manage to kill?

Answer: The first two. The second two get the better of him.

Geoffrey kills the first hitmen, Frank and Gary, in his appartment using labour-saving mechanisms he designed. When the second hitmen come - Fritz and Noddy - he uses more of his inventions to combat them but eventually he exhausts his armoury and is shot to death.
This scene is very abrupt and shocking but it is also truly sad.

12. Geoffrey is a "disabled gentleman". What is wrong with him?

Answer: He has cerebal palsy

Despite being a brilliant physicist and "one of the coolest people in London", Geoffrey's achievements are under-recognised just because he is a spastic. Elton spends a lot of time stressing the unfairness of this fact.

13. When Sam Turk sends out the hitmen to kill Geoffrey, their code word for him is "hamster". True or false?

Answer: False

It's actually "gerbil".
"'He dead yet?' demanded Sam.
'The gerbil's state of being is at present undetermined,' replied Springer reprovingly."

14. When Deborah confronts Sam in his office, what is the first of Geoffrey's weapons that she uses against him?

Answer: A flat iron to the head

She tells him she has a copy of the plans in her blouse. He lunges forward to claim them when she presses a magic button and out shoots the irom into the side of his head. Ouchie!

15. At the end of the book, who makes the speech announcing the radical new road development plans?

Answer: The Queen

"The speech was, without a doubt, the foulest and most horrible that she had ever been required by duty to utter." However, she makes it and at the very end, Ingmar and the PM sit in the Cabinet Room and enjoy their happy ending.

Source: Author tatterdemalion

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
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