The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street

Q. 

Who are most likely the “suspects” Steve refers to in the following passage?

STEVE. Go ahead, what’s my wife said? Let’s get it all out. Let’s pick out every idiosyncrasy of every man, woman, and child on the street. And then we might as well set up some kind of kangaroo court. How about a firing squad at dawn, Charlie, so we can get rid of all the suspects? Narrow them down. Make it easier for you.

• A family that moves into a new house

• Criminals who have been caught in the neighborhood

• City officials that control the neighbors' lights

• Neighbors who appear different from other neighbors

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Q. 

Q: Which phrase from the following excerpt most closely supports the meaning of the term scapegoat?

“STEVE. [Interrupting] Charlie, don’t tell me what I can afford! And stop telling me who’s dangerous and who isn’t and who’s safe and who’s a menace. [He turns to the group and shouts.] And you’re with him, too—all of you! You’re standing here all set to crucify—all set to find a scapegoat—all desperate to point some kind of finger at a neighbor! Well now look, friends, the only thing that’s gonna happen is that we’ll eat each other up alive—”

• "stop telling me who's dangerous"

• "now, look, friends"

• "desperate to point some kind of finger at a neighbor"

• "we'll eat each other up alive"

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Q. 

What does the following dialogue mainly reveal about Steve?

“CHARLIE. Go ahead, Steve. What kind of ‘radio set’ you workin’ on? I never seen it. Neither has anyone else. Who you talk to on that radio set? And who talks to you? STEVE. I’m surprised at you, Charlie. How come you’re so dense all of a sudden? [A pause.] Who do I talk to? I talk to monsters from outer space. I talk to three-headed green men who fly over here in what look like meteors.”

• Steve explaining how his radio set works so Charlie will understand.

• Steve is admitting to Charlie that he is from outer space.

• Steve is stalling while he figures out how to answer Charlie's questions.

• Steve is showing that he finds Charlie's questions ridiculous.

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What mainly does the following line reveal about what has happened over the course of the excerpt?

(Occurs after Charlie's lights come on)

GOODMAN. That’s what I’d like to know.

• The accuses has become an accuser among the group.

• The neighbors have discovered who is causing the lights to go off.

• The neighbors have reached an agreement about who is to blame.

• The "monster" has been revealed, and it is Goodman.

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Which of the following selections best expresses a theme of the excerpt?

• Talking through a problem can allow for a peaceful resolution

• Leadership is necessary when trying to come up with a solution

• Fear of the unknown and paranoia can lead to disaster

• Spying on the behavior of others assists in preventing neighborhood crime

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Which line from the excerpt most strongly supports the theme?

• “‘I think we better keep our eye on you too!’”

• “‘He comes walking out of the darkness—how am I supposed to know who he was?’”

• “‘Until we get this all straightened out, you ain’t exactly above suspicion yourself.’”

• “'What I’d like to know is—what are we gonna do?’”

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Which inference can be best made about how Steve feels about Goodman?

• Steve feels protective of Goodman

• Steve feels thankful for Goodman

• Steve feels afraid of Goodman

• Steve feels angry with Goodman

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What is Tommy's theory of the cause of the events?

• Animals are attacking

• The government is involved.

• There are spies from another country among them.

• Aliens are invading them

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How does the crowd's mood change as the plot begins to unravel?

• It starts off as worried, but changes to fear and suspicion.

• It changes from upset to sadness.

• It grows from concerned to full of rage.

• It reverts from worried to calm.

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Who turned out to be the resident's biggest enemy?

• themselves

• Charlie

• the figures

• Tommy

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