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First Days of the Pulse Trivia Quiz

A multiple choice quiz on the early chapters of Stephen King's 2006 novel "Cell", an apocalyptic tale of survival after the world goes mad from technology.

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

Author
oofahlandian

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
235,845

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
1482

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What was Clay Riddell doing at the very beginning of the book when the world suddenly went to hell? Hint

Standing in line to buy ice cream

Talking on a cell phone

Finishing off breakfast

Checking into a hotel

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Who is the first unaffected person whom Clay Riddell meets? Hint

Tom McCourt

Ulrich Ashland

Alice Maxwell

Mr Ricardi

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Where do Tom, Clay, and Alice end up seeking temporary refuge early on the first day after "the pulse" hits? Hint

The Subway at the "T"

Wrigley Field

The Park

The Atlantic Avenue Inn

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. In which city were Tom, Clay, and Alice when half the world went completely mad? Hint

Castle Rock

Chicago

Boston

Derry

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. What was the fate of Mr Ricardi? Hint

We are never told

He made it to Maine unharmed

He was murdered by the "phone-crazies"

He committed suicide

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. On U.S. 1 (a highway also known for its participation in King's much older work "The Long Walk"), the trio meet two men fighting vehemently over what? Hint

A carton of 'C' batteries

A box of ammunition

A keg of beer

A young woman

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. At Tom's home the next morning, the trio watched in fascination as the phone-crazies appeared to "flock" in which direction? Hint

South

East

West

North

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. As Clay, Tom, and Alice walked up to Tom's house, Alice found something that would serve as a talisman to her for most of the book. What was the object she found? Hint

A book

A Red Sox cap

A Baby Nike

An amulet

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Tom was very distraught over leaving who or what as the trio set forth the second night to forrage for guns and move north? Hint

His father's ashes

His mother, Helen

His cat, Rafe

His spoon collection

10. Tom had a nearby neighbor who were fanatical about firearms. It was here they went after leaving Tom's abode to look for some protection. What was the surname of the family living in this house? Hint

McCourt

Maxwell

Nickerson

Stone

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What was Clay Riddell doing at the very beginning of the book when the world suddenly went to hell?

Answer: Standing in line to buy ice cream

He was standing in line before an ice cream truck in Boston, when a number of strange things happened at once: screams from the park, a man biting off the ear of a dog, a woman in a business suit attacking the ice cream man, and a girl attacking the woman in a business suit by biting through her jugular vein.

2. Who is the first unaffected person whom Clay Riddell meets?

Answer: Tom McCourt

As frenzied "phone-crazies" began jumping out of tall buildings around them, Tom began to mutter oaths beside him. "What's going on?" he finally asked Clay.

3. Where do Tom, Clay, and Alice end up seeking temporary refuge early on the first day after "the pulse" hits?

Answer: The Atlantic Avenue Inn

Tom and Clay need to convince Mr. Ricardi to let them in, which he does tentatively. He refuses to let Alice in at first and she herself is unwilling to join up with them. Later Alice, stalked by one of the "phone-crazies", pleads to enter the Inn, and is eventually let in under rather extraordinary circumstances.

4. In which city were Tom, Clay, and Alice when half the world went completely mad?

Answer: Boston

Derry and Castle Rock are famous (if not real) for their repeated use in Stephen King novels. However, "Cell" begins in Boston, Mass. It ends in Kashwakamak, Maine.

5. What was the fate of Mr Ricardi?

Answer: He committed suicide

He killed himself rather than "leaving his post" at the Atlantic Avenue Inn. Clay was the one to find him when he returned to the inn to retrieve his portfolio.

6. On U.S. 1 (a highway also known for its participation in King's much older work "The Long Walk"), the trio meet two men fighting vehemently over what?

Answer: A keg of beer

One of the men had looted a nearby liquor store and stolen the keg. Another man accosted him and they fought until the second man succeeded in winning the prize.

7. At Tom's home the next morning, the trio watched in fascination as the phone-crazies appeared to "flock" in which direction?

Answer: West

Later, a smaller population flocked back east into the Medlan community. Those who were weak but not near death were helped along by fellow phone-crazies. Those too weak to continue were killed.

8. As Clay, Tom, and Alice walked up to Tom's house, Alice found something that would serve as a talisman to her for most of the book. What was the object she found?

Answer: A Baby Nike

Alice found the shoe at the start of Tom's walkway. It came to be a symbol to her of all she had lost, and she took to tying it around her wrist at times.

9. Tom was very distraught over leaving who or what as the trio set forth the second night to forrage for guns and move north?

Answer: His cat, Rafe

He gave the cat extra helpings of milk and food, and left the doors open for Rafe (short for Rafael), before the three set out.

Answer: Nickerson

Clay investigated the scene in the kitchen while the others searched the basement for guns. The kitchen was a mess. Clay deduced that Beth Nickerson had been making a pie. Her daughter had gotten the pulse from a cell phone. The daughter attacked her mother, who attacked back with a rolling pin, killing the former.

In distress, Beth had taken her own life with a Colt .45 revolver, which Clay was only too happy to claim for himself.

Source: Author oofahlandian

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