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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. What are the men trying to do to the cylinder the day after it crashes?
(a) Study it.
(b) Open it.
(c) Destroy it.
(d) Dig it out.

2. What is Mars the god of in Roman mythology?
(a) Wisdom.
(b) Love.
(c) The underworld.
(d) War.

3. How large in diameter is the first cylinder?
(a) Twenty yards.
(b) Thirty yards.
(c) Five yards.
(d) Ten yards.

4. Over what town is the gas jet first spotted?
(a) Wincester.
(b) Leatherhead.
(c) London.
(d) Woking.

5. Why is the narrator eager to get back to Woking after taking his wife to the inn?
(a) He wants to see the Martians die.
(b) He wants to try to signal the Martians.
(c) He wants to gather his possessions.
(d) He is afraid something will happen to his house.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Ogilvy think it is impossible for the Martians to become established on Earth?

2. What comes out of the pit after the Deputation signals the Martians?

3. What do the people near the cylinder hear coming from inside of it at the end of the first day after the cylinder crashes?

4. In the days immediately following the first heat ray, the only people that know about it live in what town?

5. What does the word "canard" mean?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the narrator's brother do for the women in the carriage? What does this reveal about his character?

2. How do those who first see the cylinder feel about it in general, and why do they feel this way?

3. How do people react when Ogilvy runs to the village for help, and why?

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

5. Why does the narrator start walking toward London when he leaves the ruined house?

6. As the curate and narrator fight for position at the opening in the ruined house, what do they see, and how does the narrator react?

7. What is the significance of the artilleryman's story?

8. When the narrator first meets the artilleryman, what does the soldier say happened to his unit?

9. What does the "Committee of Public Safety" do to the narrator's brother, and what does this reveal about human nature?

10. What kills the Martians and why is this significant?

(see the answer keys)

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