The Last Lecture Quiz - Chapters 11-18

TRUE or FALSE: With his PhD in Computer Science, the Imagineering department of the Walt Disney Company welcomed Randy to join them right away.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Answer explanation

"The brick walls are there for a reason."

It took MANY phone calls to finally connect with Disney Imagineer Jon Snoddy. Then Randy had to convince him to let him work on the new virtual reality Aladdin ride. He was finally successful, but it took persistence.

The chapter title "The Park is Open Until 8 p.m." refers to...

• the night that Jai and Randy stayed late to see the stars in Yellowstone National Park.

• the night that Jai and Randy stayed late to ride the speed slide over and over again at the water park.

• how Disney World workers are supposed to put a positive spin on the park's closing time.

• the doctor's suggestion that Randy and Jai go to the park to clear their minds after receiving bad news.

Answer explanation

"I wished every medical student considering oncology could see what I was seeing. I watched Dr. Wolff use semantics to phrase whatever he could in a positive light. When we asked, 'How long before I die?' he answered, 'You probably have three to six months of good health.' That reminded me of my time at Disney. Ask Disney World workers: 'What time does the park close?' They're supposed to answer: 'The park is open until 8 p.m.' "

"The Man in the Convertible" refers to...

• Dr. Wolff, Randy's oncologist

• Robbee Kosak, Carnegie Mellon's vice president

• Walt Disney, Randy Pausch's hero

• Randy Pausch, himself

Answer explanation

Live in the moment and enjoy the "now."

Robbee Kosak said she was driving behind a man in a convertible, smiling and tapping his fingers to the music, then realized it was Randy Pausch. She later emailed him saying, "You can never know how much that glimpse of you made my day, reminding me of what life is all about."

Andy van Dam was...

• Brown University's legendary computer science professor

• "Andy van Demand"

• the professor that made Randy his teaching assistant

• Randy's "Dutch uncle"

• All of the above

Answer explanation

"Randy, it's such a shame that people perceive you as being so arrogant, because it's going to limit what you're going to be able to accomplish in life."

A "Dutch uncle" refers to a person who gives you honest feedback. Andy van Dam really was Dutch, but also gave Randy "tough love" criticism to keep the way he came across to others in check.

MULTIPLE SELECT: Randy's time with his niece and nephew, Laura and Chris, was special because...

• ...they learned people are more important than things.

• ..."not telling mom" made the mundane feel magical.

• ...Randy would never get the chance to be the father of children over the age of 6, so he viewed his time with Chris and Laura as a gift.

• ...they went on wild cross-country adventures together.

The "most formidable brick wall" in Randy Pausch's life was...

• getting a job as a Disney Imagineer

• Jai

• getting a job at Carnegie Mellon

• having children

"Even fairy-tale moments have risks" refers to...

• Randy and Jai crashing in their wedding car after leaving their wedding reception.

• Randy and Jai crashing in a plane after leaving their wedding reception.

• Randy and Jai crashing in a hot air balloon after leaving their wedding reception.

• Randy and Jai crashing in a hang glider after leaving their wedding reception.

Randy's belief that "you don't repair things if they still do what they're supposed to do" was mentioned because...

• Jai wrecked his convertible.

• Jai wrecked both of their cars.

• Jai dropped her phone and it was cracked but still worked.

• Jai bleached his clothes but he could still wear them.