WorksheetsMonsters Are Due on Maple Street
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 1hrs 29mins
1. Read the following italicized stage directions from the beginning of the play.
Why does the playwright begin the play this way?
to show the reader that all streets have bad people that live on them
to establish the setting of the play
to introduce the reader to some of the characters in the play
to create a feeling of suspense for the reader
Read the following italicized stage directions from the play.
The author uses imagery to create what kind of mood?
irate
tense
petrified
joyful
Read the line from the play.
The playwright includes this line in order to–
reveal character
advance the plot
create suspense
add humor
Read the following sentences from the selection.
What word best describes how Steve feels?
disgusted
melancholy
scared
composed
After reading what happened on Maple Street, what is the author’s attitude toward people?
compassionate
trustworthy
unreliable
critical
Pete Van Horn says, ”I’ll cut through the backyard … See if the power’s still on on Floral Street. I’ll be right back!” Which adjective best describes his tone?
sensible
confused
panicked
questioning
Tommy describes the plot of a story about a ship landing from outer space.
Which line or stage direction from the play suggests that the adults take Tommy’s story seriously?
MAN ONE: The kid tells us a comic book plot and here we stand listening-
[There’s another silence as STEVE looks toward the crowd and then towards TOMMY. He wears a tight grin.]
SALLY: Tommy, please son…honey, don’t talk that way-
[There’s laughter at this, but it’s a laughter that comes from a desperate attempt to lighten the atmosphere. It’s a release kind of laugh. The people look at one another in the middle of their laughter.]
What can the reader conclude about Steve and Charlie through their dialogue in Act II?
Charlie is quick to judge, and Steve is trying to be reasonable during the blackout.
Charlie is level-headed, and Steve is irrational during the blackout.
Steve and Charlie are working together to keep the neighborhood calm during the blackout.
Steve and Charlie’s arguing causes the neighbors to panic.
Which sentence from the play best illustrates that Maple Street has changed?
We move into a series of close-ups of various people as they shout, accuse, scream, interspersing these shots with shots of houses as the lights go on and off.
Steve walks down the steps of his porch, walks down the street over to Les Goodman’s house, and then stops at the foot of the steps.
Outside, the camera slowly pans down the sidewalk, taking in little knots of people who stand around talking in low voices.
He stops suddenly as behind him, inexplicably and with a noise that inserts itself into the silence, the car engine starts up all by itself.
What is significant about the time of day as the play progresses?
It gets darker outside as the suspense builds.
The people of Maple Street have trouble seeing at night.
The people of Maple Street can’t see the aliens at night.
It gets lighter outside as the play ends.
Which of these sentence(s) from the play best express the theme?
Just stop a few of their machines and radios and telephones and lawn mowers…throw them into darkness for a few hours, and then you just sit back and watch the pattern.
They pick the most dangerous enemy they can find…themselves.
We’re all scared of the same thing. I was just tryin’ to…tryin’ to protect my home, that’s all!
And we’ll go from one to the other and let them destroy themselves.
In Act I of “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street,” what is Steve’s motivation for asking Tommy to explain his story about the aliens sent ahead to earth?
He wants to make Tommy look foolish.
He wants to know what Tommy thinks.
He wants to take charge of the action.
He wants to leave town immediately.
Why do you think the writer made the events occur on Maple Street, U.S.A.?
The aliens were told to find this street.
The setting indicated that small towns are filled with superstitious people.
The main characters live on this street.
The setting suggests that the events could happen anywhere.
Right after the power failure, Charlie says, “A little power failure and right away we get all flustered and everything.” Why is this statement significant?
It suggests that there will be a greater power failure later in the story.
It suggests that the residents will discover the reason behind the power failure.
It is similar to what the creatures later say about the humans.
It shows that Charlie will overcome his fear and save the town.
Which of these is most influential in establishing the mood in the opening scene of the play?
the narrator’s voice
the stage directions
the characters’ dialogue
none of these
Match the specific stage directions (numbered) to the effects on the reader (letters).
“Fade in on a shot of the night sky.” (line 1)
Creates a sense of mystery.
Shows the character is trying to stay calm, but is feeling more upset than shown.
Emphasizes the fact that the crowd is so overcome with fear of the unknown.
Makes people focus on outer space
Match the specific stage directions (numbered) to the effects on the reader (letters).
“A flash of light plays on the faces of both boys and then moves down the street and disappears.”
Creates a sense of mystery.
Shows the character is trying to stay calm, but is feeling more upset than shown.
Emphasizes the fact that the crowd is so overcome with fear of the unknown.
Reveals that this group might easily become uncontrolled.
Match the specific stage directions (numbered) to the effects on the reader (letters).
“The dark figure continues to walk toward them as the people stand there, fearful, mothers clutching children, men standing in front of their wives.”
Creates a sense of mystery.
Shows the character is trying to stay calm, but is feeling more upset than shown.
Emphasizes the fact that the crowd is so overcome with fear of the unknown.
Reveals that this group might easily become uncontrolled.
Match the specific stage directions (numbered) to the effects on the reader (letters).
“Steve leaves Charlie, walks over to the boy, and puts his hand on the boy’s shoulder. He forces his voice to remain gentle.”
Creates a sense of mystery.
Shows the character is trying to stay calm, but is feeling more upset than shown.
Emphasizes the fact that the crowd is so overcome with fear of the unknown.
Reveals that this group might easily become uncontrolled.
Match the specific stage directions (numbered) to the effects on the reader (letters).
“In this brief fraction of a moment, it takes the first step toward changing from a group into a mob.”
Creates a sense of mystery.
Shows the character is trying to stay calm, but is feeling more upset than shown.
Emphasizes the fact that the crowd is so overcome with fear of the unknown.
Reveals that this group might easily become uncontrolled.
