L6: Invasion from Mars: Reading Comprehension

What MOST likely explains the different levels of formality in Phillips's and Mr. Wilmuth's speech?

• Phillips is trying to impress Professor Pierson, while Mr. Wilmuth

  does not care.

• Mr. Wilmuth is scared of the metal cylinder, while Phillips is not.

• Mr. Wilmuth is trying to advertise his farm on the radio.

• Phillips's job as a reporter requires formality.

Which sentence from the play is the BEST example of informal speech?

• "I seen a kinda greenish streak and then zingo!"

• "I don't know what to think."

• "This thing is smooth and, as you can see, of cylindrical shape."

• "Ladies and gentlemen, this is Mr. Wilmuth."

Which character in the play speaks MOST formally?

• the policeman

• Mr. Wilmuth

• Professor Pierson

• the creature in the cylinder

Which descriptive sentence in the play provides the BEST evidence that the metal cylinder comes from another planet?

• "The end of the thing is beginning to flake off!"

• "The metal casing is definitely extraterrestrial."

• "Hundreds of cars are parked in a field in back of us."

• "The monster or whatever it is can hardly move."

Read these stage directions from the end of the scene.

(Crash of microphone . . . then dead silence)

How does the scene MOST likely end?

• The creature from the cylinder captures the spectators with its

  tentacles.

• Phillips drops his microphone and runs away from the field

• Mr. Wilmuth captures the strange creature from the cylinder.

• Another cylinder drops from the sky into the field.

How does the reader learn the MOST about the characters in the play?

• through how the characters act

• through what the characters say

• through the way the characters move

• through the descriptions of an omniscient narrator

Why do the captain and policeman hold a white handkerchief tied to a pole as they approach the metal object?

• They want to show that they will do no harm.

• They believe that aliens use handkerchiefs.

• They want to use the pole as a weapon.

• They want to clean the object.

What happens immediately after the top of the metal cylinder falls to the ground?

• Carl Phillips interviews the owner of the farm.

• The police captain confers with a professor.

• A creature comes out of the cylinder.

• The entire field catches on fire.

How does Carl Phillips show his impatience with Mr. Wilmuth?

• He asks Mr. Wilmuth to write an article.

• He refuses to speak to Mr. Wilmuth.

• He asks Mr. Wilmuth to sit down.

• He cuts off Mr. Wilmuth's story.

Where do the events of this play take place?

• in outer space

• in a radio station

• inside a metal cylinder

• on a farm in New Jersey