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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. What haunting sound does Nat hear when the birds start to attack on his way home from the bus stop?

2. At the story’s opening, how does Nat describe the birds’ strange behavior?

3. Why doesn’t Nat ride along with Jill?

4. Which character says, “Come on now … let’s see how fast you can run”?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Nat find irritating about the radio announcer’s voice, and why?

2. How does Mr. Trigg help the situation when Jill arrives at the bus stop?

3. What does Mrs. Hocken think the army should do to battle the birds, and what is Nat’s reaction to his wife’s idea?

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

5. How does Nat protect himself from the bird attack as he runs home from Jill’s bus stop?

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

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

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

9. How does Mrs. Hocken react when Nat starts boarding up the windows and doors?

10. Why does Nat rush to the bus stop, early, to meet Jill from school?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In your opinion, why does the story have an ambiguous ending? Is this merely to elicit a reaction from the readers, or does the author have a deeper purpose? Is there an entirely different reason? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

How does Nat's relationship with his wife and family differ both before and after the attack of the birds? Why is this so?

Essay Topic 3

What signs that something is amiss does Nat notice early on in the story? Why does he notice these things when no one else does? How does Nat's ability to notice these things ultimately affect the fate of his character?

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