Oblivious, you go on.

"After all, you know, there's no point treading water intellectually."

"What are you taking besides science?" he asks insecurely, and the first battle is yours. Since you still can't remember what else you're taking besides Nat Sci 6 and Hum 5, you move on applying similar techniques.

"Well, most of my published writings have been rather impressionistic so I thought I'd try Tartaglia's seminar in analysis." "Analysis" could mean mathematics, literature or psychology; hence the danger in using a real name (your Hum 5 section man's) is nil.

Later you will learn to use gambits such as:

"Well, I just changed my field of concentration from Ancient Tasman History and Lit. to Linguistics and Psychoneurology, so..."

But these sophistications are necessary only if (foolishly) you wish to be honest. It is far preferable to let your inquisitor reveal his program first, then o'ertop it with your own.

When, years hence, your B.A. admits you to the company of educated men, you will be able to face the Muzak with a just pride in how little you know and how well you can talk about it.