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The Monsters are Due on Maple Street

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 10mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

After the flash of light and sound, what happens to the people on Maple Street?

a)

Tommy gets shot.

b)

They go about their day as if nothing happened.

c)

Their power goes out and phones and cars stop working.

d)

It starts to rain.

2.

Why do you think the author made the events occur on Maple Street, USA?

a)

The aliens were told to find this street.

b)

The characters live on this street.

c)

The setting suggests that the events could happen anywhere.

d)

Small towns are full of suspicious people.

3.

For the following questions, please select the word that best describes the TONE conveyed by the quote:


"Steve: What was that? A meteor?"

a)

Confused

b)

Angry

c)

Determined

d)

Fearful

4.

"Woman: Operator, operator, something's wrong on the phone, operator!" The woman's tone can be described as...

a)

angry

b)

panicked

c)

surprised

d)

brave

5.

What is Tommy's explanation for what is happening?

a)

a bad storm is coming

b)

a meteor hit Earth

c)

an alien spaceship has landed

d)

a weather ballon hit a power line

6.

How does Steve try to calm the crowd's fears after Tommy hints that there may be a monster from outer space involved?

a)

By using sarcastic remarks to show the crowd's lack of logic

b)

By claiming that Tommy has an overactive imagination.

c)

By laughing with "The Woman" and asking where the comic book can be purchased.

d)

By helping Les and turning on his car.

7.

Which example shows the kind of sarcasm that Steve Brand uses because he is getting angry with the residents?

a)

"Whoever was in that thing that came over. I don't think they want us to leave here."

b)

"There must be somethin' better to do than stand around makin' bum jokes about it."

c)

"Well I guess what we'd better do then to is to run to check on the neighborhood and see which ones of us are really human."

d)

"Maple Street. Six-forty-four PM on a late September evening. (He pauses.) Maple Street in the last calm and reflective moment (pause) before the monsters came!”

8.

"Tommy: Mr. Brand.....you better not!...They don't want you to." Describe the tone.

a)

eager

b)

gentle

c)

warning

d)

calm

9.

What is the mood in the neighborhood at the beginning of Act II. This is right after the neighbors have cornered Les.

a)

relaxed and peaceful

b)

fearful and tense

c)

sad and mournful

d)

anticipating something exciting

10.

What causes neighbors to suspect Les Goodman is from outer space?

a)

he just moved into the neighborhood

b)

his car starts on its own

c)

he is single

d)

he won't tell his neighbors where he works

11.
What effect does the following stage direction have on the reader?
"The dark figure continues to walk toward them as the people stand there, fearful, mothers clutching children, men standing in front of their wives."
a)
shows the character is trying to stay calm, but is feeling more upset than shown
b)
emphasizes the fact that everyone in the crowd is so overcome with fear of the unknown
c)
makes the reader focus on outer space
d)
makes the reader laugh
12.

Who does Charlie shoot with the shotgun and why?

a)

The women for being hysterical.

b)

Tommy for telling lies.

c)

Steve Brand for not supporting him.

d)

Peter Van Horn because he thinks he is an alien.

13.

"Charlie: There must be something better to do than stand around makin' bum jokes about it." Charlie's tone sounds...

a)

frustrated and nervous

b)

hopeful and optimistic

c)

excited and stimulated

d)

defeated and miserable

14.

"Don: maybe you better tell us. Nothing's working on this street. Nothing. No lights, no power, no radio. Nothing except one car..yours! How does this sound?

a)

worried

b)

accusing

c)

lively

d)

calm

15.

"Goodman: Wait a minute now. You keep your distance - all of you. So I've got a car that starts by itself - well that's a freak thing, I admit it. But does that make me some kind of a criminal or something? I don't know why the car works - it just does! Describe Goodman's tone...

a)

angry

b)

pitiful

c)

clearly an alien

d)

defensive

16.

Think about Rod Serling's view of human nature and how people act when afraid. Which option BEST fits what the author is trying to tell us through this story?

a)

Charlie: "A little power failure and right away we get all flustered and everything."

b)

Sally: "It just doesn't seem right, keeping watch on one of our neighbors."

c)

Steve: "You're standing here all set to crucify - all set to find a scapegoat...the only thing that's gonna happen is that we'll eat each other up!

d)

Les Goodman: "If anybody sets foot on my porch, they're going to get trouble!"

17.

Serling believed one of our failings was the need we had to dislike people different from ourselves. Which line supports this idea?

a)

"There are weapons that are simply thoughts, attitudes, prejudices--to be found only in the minds of men."

b)

"Its a tree-lined, quiet residential street, very typical of the small town."

c)

"A Good-Humor man rides a bicycle and is just in the process of stopping to sell some ice cream to a couple of kids."

d)

"The group stands there, fearful, apprehensive, mothers clutching children, men standing in front of wives."

18.

Who does Charlie say is the alien monster?

a)

Tommy

b)

Steve Brand

c)

Charlie

d)

Les Goodman

19.

Who is really behind the power going out?

a)

a storm

b)

Steve Brand

c)

the electric company

d)

the aliens

20.

Who are the real "monsters" on Maple Street?

a)

creepy aliens who drive flying saucers

b)

Charlie

c)

Tommy

d)

the residents themselves