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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why doesn’t Mrs. Hocken immediately open the door for Nat when he runs home?

2. When Nat sees the gulls circling overhead, what do they look like they’re waiting for?

3. Who does Mrs. Trigg suggest Nat should call to find out the reason behind the bird attacks?

4. What do the seagulls camouflage while Nat is burying the bird bodies?

5. At what time is the news broadcast in the evening?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Nat filled with “a kind of excitement” upon returning home from the beach?

2. When does Nat typically watch the birds, and what does he notice about them when the story opens?

3. How is the weather described on the morning of the first bird attack?

4. What theory does Mrs. Trigg present as the origins of the strange birds?

5. How does Nat dispose of the bird carcasses that litter his yard after the first attack?

6. During the news broadcast at dinner that night, what insight does the announcer give into the attacks?

7. How does Nat fight the birds away from his children during the first attack?

8. When do the birds first draw blood from Nat?

9. What supplies do the Hockens have at home, and what does Nat list as necessities to buy the next time he’s in town?

10. What does Nat Hocken do for a living, and why does he enjoy it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the initial response toward the bird attacks by the authorities? Why do they respond in the way that they do? What suggestions does Nat have for dealing with the birds? Are the birds ever dealt with? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

The story's setting in an isolated English coastal town is critical to the plot. Do you believe this is so? If so, how does the setting of the story ultimately affect the plot, especially in terms of isolation? If the setting is not critical to the plot, why not? Explain how setting the story elsewhere would not affect the plot.

Essay Topic 3

Although it is not explicitly stated, it can be argued that "The Birds" is a reference to the coming Cold War. Do you believe this is an accurate assessment? Why or why not? If so, provide examples from the text to support your claim. If not, explain why the Cold War analogy is made using references from the story. Refute these references.

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