Comparing and Contrasting Two Versions of The War of the Worlds — Unit test Answers

Consider these versions of The War of the Worlds.Excerpt 1, from H. G. Wells's novel The War of the Worlds:The common round the sand pits was dotted with people, standing like myself in a half-fascinated terror, staring at these creatures, or rather at the heaped gravel at the edge of the pit in which they lay. And then, with a renewed horror, I saw a round, black object bobbing up and down on the edge of the pit. It was the head of the shopman who had fallen in, but showing as a little black object against the hot western sun. Now he got his shoulder and knee up, and again he seemed to slip back until only his head was visible. Suddenly he vanished, and I could have fancied a faint shriek had reached me.Excerpt 2, from Howard E. Koch's script for Orson Welles's radio adaptation:PHILLIPS: Ladies and gentlemen, you've just heard Mr. Wilmuth, owner of the farm where this thing has fallen. I wish I could convey the atmosphere . . . the background of this . . . fantastic scene. Hundreds of cars are parked in a field in back of us. Police are trying to rope off the roadway leading to the farm. But it's no use. They're breaking right through. Cars' headlights throw an enormous spot on the pit where the object's half buried. Some of the more daring souls are now venturing near the edge. Their silhouettes stand out against the metal sheen.Which statement best describes the similarity between these versions?

Read the passage from The Importance of Being Earnest.Jack. . . . Old Mr. Thomas Cardew, who adopted me when I was a little boy, made me in his will guardian to his grand-daughter, Miss Cecily Cardew. Cecily, who addresses me as her uncle from motives of respect that you could not possibly appreciate, lives at my place in the country under the charge of her admirable governess, Miss Prism.Algernon. Where is that place in the country, by the way?Jack. That is nothing to you, dear boy. You are not going to be invited . . .

Read the passage from The Importance of Being Earnest.Gwendolen. [To Jack.] Darling!Algernon. [To Cecily.] Darling! [They fall into each other's arms.][Enter Merriman. When he enters he coughs loudly, seeing the situation.]Merriman. Ahem! Ahem! Lady Bracknell!Jack. Good heavens![Enter Lady Bracknell. The couples separate in alarm. Exit Merriman.]Lady Bracknell. Gwendolen! What does this mean?

anxious charactersdescriptive detailsfactual informationwitty language

Read the passage from an essay on The Importance of Being Earnest.Chasuble. . . . Your brother was, I believe, unmarried, was he not?Jack. Oh yes.Miss Prism. [Bitterly.] People who live entirely for pleasure usually are.

Read the passage.(1) I think that schools should switch from using paper textbooks to using computer tablets. (2) Textbooks were effective in the pre-digital age, but now we live in a technology-based society, so schools need to get with the program and adopt a modern approach to learning. (3) In fact, the chair of the Federal Communications Commission said that "it’s time for the next stage” of learning with tablets and pointed out how textbooks are often out of date. (4) Opponents argue that tablets aren’t a good choice because initially they’re very expensive. (5) The secretary of education pointed out that tablets can be updated regularly, which saves money in the long run. (6) Not to mention the pluses of having the latest and greatest info! (7) Many experts agree that switching to tablets is important for the future of education.

Read the sentence.The band members came to the hospital to visit a sick fan.

Read the excerpt from Act I of The Importance of Being Earnest.Algernon. In the third place, I know perfectly well whom she will place me next to, to-night. She will place me next Mary Farquhar, who always flirts with her own husband across the dinner-table. That is not very pleasant. Indeed, it is not even decent . . . and that sort of thing is enormously on the increase. The amount of women in London who flirt with their own husbands is perfectly scandalous. It looks so bad. It is simply washing one’s clean linen in public. Besides, now that I know you to be a confirmed Bunburyist I naturally want to talk to you about Bunburying.

Which sentence uses a reflexive pronoun correctly?

Read the excerpt from H. G. Wells's The War of the Worlds.The end of the cylinder was being screwed out from within. Nearly two feet of shining screw projected. Somebody blundered against me, and I narrowly missed being pitched onto the top of the screw. I turned, and as I did so the screw must have come out, for the lid of the cylinder fell upon the gravel with a ringing concussion. I stuck my elbow into the person behind me, and turned my head towards the Thing again. For a moment that circular cavity seemed perfectly black. I had the sunset in my eyes.

Which pronouns act as the object in a sentence? Check all that apply.hermehetheyus

Read the excerpt from H. G. Wells's The War of the Worlds.There were raised voices, and some sort of struggle appeared to be going on about the pit. Strange imaginings passed through my mind. As I drew nearer I heard Stent's voice:"Keep back! Keep back!"A boy came running towards me."It's a-movin'," he said to me as he passed; "a-screwin' and a-screwin' out. I don't like it. I'm a-goin' 'ome, I am."I went on to the crowd. There were really, I should think, two or three hundred people elbowing and jostling one another, the one or two ladies there being by no means the least active.

Consider these versions of The War of the Worlds.Excerpt 1, from H. G. Wells's novel The War of the Worlds:"Henderson," he called, "you saw that shooting star last night?" "Well?" said Henderson. "It's out on Horsell Common now." "Good Lord!" said Henderson. "Fallen meteorite! That's good." "But it's something more than a meteorite. It's a cylinder—an artificial cylinder, man! And there’s something inside."Excerpt 2, from Howard E. Koch's script for Orson Welles's radio adaptation:WILMUTH: I seen a kinda greenish streak and then zingo! Somethin' smacked the ground. Knocked me clear out of my chair! PHILLIPS: Well, were you frightened, Mrs. Wilmuth? MRS. WILMUTH: Well, I—I ain't quite sure. I reckon I—I was kinda riled. PHILLIPS: Thank you, Mr. Wilmuth. Thank you.Which statement best describes the similarity between these versions?

Read the excerpt from Act I of The Importance of Being Earnest.Jack. My dear Algy, you talk exactly as if you were a dentist. It is very vulgar to talk like a dentist when one isn’t a dentist. It produces a false impression.

Read the passage.No science fiction anthology is complete without an excerpt from The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells. It has every element of great science fiction: suspense, intrigue, and Martians. The story is a timeless classic. It captivated readers nearly one hundred years ago, and it is still relevant and spellbinding.

Read the excerpt from Act III of The Importance of Being Earnest.Jack. I fear there can be no possible doubt about the matter. This afternoon during my temporary absence in London on an important question of romance, he obtained admission to my house by means of the false pretence of being my brother. Under an assumed name he drank, I’ve just been informed by my butler, an entire pint bottle of my Perrier-Jouet, Brut, ’89; wine I was specially reserving for myself. Continuing his disgraceful deception, he succeeded in the course of the afternoon in alienating the affections of my only ward.

Which excerpt from The War of the Worlds uses a vivid visual description for aesthetic impact?

Read the excerpt from Act III of The Importance of Being Earnest.Gwendolen. True! I had forgotten. There are principles at stake that one cannot surrender. Which of us should tell them? The task is not a pleasant one.Cecily. Could we not both speak at the same time?Gwendolen. An excellent idea! I nearly always speak at the same time as other people. Will you take the time from me?Cecily. Certainly. [Gwendolen beats time with uplifted finger.]Gwendolen and Cecily [Speaking together.] Your Christian names are still an insuperable barrier. That is all!

Read the excerpt from H. G. Wells's The War of the Worlds.The peculiar V-shaped mouth with its pointed upper lip, the absence of brow ridges, the absence of a chin beneath the wedgelike lower lip, the incessant quivering of this mouth, the Gorgon groups of tentacles, the tumultuous breathing of the lungs in a strange atmosphere, the evident heaviness and painfulness of movement due to the greater gravitational energy of the earth—above all, the extraordinary intensity of the immense eyes—were at once vital, intense, inhuman, crippled and monstrous. There was something fungoid in the oily brown skin, something in the clumsy deliberation of the tedious movements unspeakably nasty.

Which sentence contains a pronoun shift error?