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Quiz about Douglas Adams Dirk Gently Part Two

Douglas Adams' "Dirk Gently" - Part Two Quiz

The second of three quizzes about the novel "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency". This one's a little tougher than the first. It deals more with actual plot points, and contains spoilers.

A multiple-choice quiz by Fasolt. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Fasolt

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
257,953

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
608

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What word does Dirk claim "is not in my dictionary"? Hint

fear

cowardice

failure

impossible

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Question 2 of 10

2. What poet's works (and the poet himself) figure prominently in the story? Hint

William Blake

William Wordsworth

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Percy Shelly

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Question 3 of 10

3. During the banquet at St. Cedd's, what object does Reg cause to disappear, and reappear inside an antique Greek pot which had been found by a child? Hint

a silver spoon

a silver salt cellar

a gold napkin ring

a crystal wine glass

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Question 4 of 10

4. Name the former editor of the unsuccessful "Fathom" Magazine who finds himself out of a job when his mother sells the magazine out from under him? Hint

Lord Magna

Michael Wenton-Weaks

A. K. Ross

Vince Snetterton-Lewis

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Question 5 of 10

5. Where is Reg's time machine? Hint

in his apartment

in a disused cellar

in the college gymnasium

in the courtyard, disguised as a telephone box

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Question 6 of 10

6. Who shoots Gordon Way? Hint

Michael Wenton-Weaks

a police officer

A.K. Ross

an electric monk

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Question 7 of 10

7. When Richard visits Reg in his rooms, there's a sudden noise from upstairs. The Reg investigates, and is relieved to discover that the disturbance is only ... what? Hint

a ghost in the closet

a policeman in the entrance hall

a horse in the bathroom

a poet under the stairs

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Question 8 of 10

8. During questioning under hypnosis, Dirk gives Richard a post-hypnotic suggestion, which Richard later carries out. What does he do? Hint

sings "Happy Birthday"

stands on his head

jumps in a canal

answers an imaginary telephone

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Question 9 of 10

9. How does the ghost of Gordon Way try to communicate with the living world? Hint

by telephone

by appearing on a computer screen

by e-mail

by telepathy

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Question 10 of 10

10. In addition to Gordon Way's, another ghost figures prominently in the story. Who was this ghost in life? Hint

King George III

an alien

Mozart

a sailor

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What word does Dirk claim "is not in my dictionary"?

Answer: impossible

To prove his point, Dirk produces his dictionary from a desk drawer. Indeed all the pages between "herring" and "marmalade" are missing from the book.

2. What poet's works (and the poet himself) figure prominently in the story?

Answer: Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Coleridge's poems "Kublai Khan" and "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" are key to the plot - although in a somewhat different form than we know them.

3. During the banquet at St. Cedd's, what object does Reg cause to disappear, and reappear inside an antique Greek pot which had been found by a child?

Answer: a silver salt cellar

"A rather elaborate piece of business to achieve a very small result" - Although it seems to those at the banquet that he's gone only for a moment, Professor Chronotis actually travels 200 years back in time, finds the maker of the pot and talks him into baking the salt cellar inside the otherwise worthless pot, just to please the little girl who would eventually find it.

4. Name the former editor of the unsuccessful "Fathom" Magazine who finds himself out of a job when his mother sells the magazine out from under him?

Answer: Michael Wenton-Weaks

Wealthy, spoiled Michael finds himself at loose ends when the magazine - his personal toy - is sold to Gordon Way and a new editor (Ross) is installed.

5. Where is Reg's time machine?

Answer: in his apartment

To be more accurate, his apartment IS the time machine. He usually makes a point of using the device simply to observe - he enjoys it more than television. He's been using the machine less and less in recent years, partly because it disrupts his telephone service.

6. Who shoots Gordon Way?

Answer: an electric monk

The alien monk, finding himself on a strange planet and programmed to believe, is told by a gas station attendant that he should "shoot off". He does just that, shooting Gordon Way only because he believes that he should. The confused monk is puzzled at Gordon's reaction.

7. When Richard visits Reg in his rooms, there's a sudden noise from upstairs. The Reg investigates, and is relieved to discover that the disturbance is only ... what?

Answer: a horse in the bathroom

Reg has been vaguely aware of an unknown sinister force trying to make him use his time machine. The fact that this particular disturbance is nothing more menacing than a horse in his bathroom is a source of great relief to him - although it causes Richard some consternation.

8. During questioning under hypnosis, Dirk gives Richard a post-hypnotic suggestion, which Richard later carries out. What does he do?

Answer: jumps in a canal

After being fished out of the water by Dirk, Richard sees nothing unusual in his actions. Dirk likens the effect of his suggestion to possession.

9. How does the ghost of Gordon Way try to communicate with the living world?

Answer: by telephone

By sheer concentration, Gordon's ghost can summon up enough physical energy to dial a phone. His voice can be heard on the other end, although faint and distant. Dirk makes the task a little easier by installing a special phone with oversized push-buttons in his office.

10. In addition to Gordon Way's, another ghost figures prominently in the story. Who was this ghost in life?

Answer: an alien

Billions of years ago, before life existed on Earth, an alien spacecraft landed looking for a new world to colonize. A disastrous explosion killed the entire crew, and the alien responsible for the calamity has been walking the Earth in spirit form ever since.

Source: Author Fasolt

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