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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does the narrator react when the first Martian falls out of the cylinder?
(a) He tries to fight it.
(b) He yells for help.
(c) He stays where he is.
(d) He runs away.

2. Who does the narrator say he finds reassuring the morning before he is forced to flee?
(a) The milkman.
(b) His wife.
(c) A policeman.
(d) A reporter.

3. What are the little boys doing to the cylinder the morning after it crashes?
(a) Daring each other to touch it.
(b) Throwing rocks at it.
(c) Trying to open it.
(d) Yelling at it.

4. What are the locals doing when the soldier and the narrator go to check in with the soldiers?
(a) Calmly packing their things.
(b) Frantically evacuating.
(c) Standing in line for food.
(d) Boarding up their houses.

5. How far does the narrator have to drive his wife in the cart?
(a) Twelve blocks.
(b) Twelve miles.
(c) Ten miles.
(d) Seven miles.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why is the narrator eager to get back to Woking after taking his wife to the inn?

2. How many policemen are sent to the common after the heat ray?

3. What does the word "canard" mean?

4. How far is Mars from the sun according to the narrator?

5. Why do the narrator and soldier decide to take a long route when leaving Woking?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to one of the Martian tripods at the Thames River? What is the significance of this event?

2. What does the Thunder Child do to the Martian tripods? How does this change the story?

3. Why are the milkman and the train reassuring to the narrator after the first heat-ray?

4. Why does the author take his wife to his cousin's house? What is the state of the town at that point?

5. Why does the narrator hit the curate with the meat chopper?

6. What happens to the house in Halliford, and why is this important?

7. What happens in the ruined house that makes the narrator hide in the basement?

8. Who does the narrator find on Putney Hill, and what do they discuss?

9. When the narrator returns to the common on the second day, who is in the pit? What are they doing and why?

10. Describe what the Martians look like.

(see the answer keys)

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