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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. How many days does Nat work on the farm?

3. Throughout the story, whom does Nat often order to “do what I tell you”?

4. How does Jill get to school each day?

5. What wind does Nat claim brought the birds to his neighborhood?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

5. Who does Nat speak to while at the bus stop, and what is their reaction to his call?

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

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

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

9. What does Nat think has caused the birds’ strange behavior?

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 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?

Essay Topic 2

Symbolism is an important element of "The Birds." Find three symbolic elements, incidents, or objects in the story. Explain how the elements are symbolic and why they are important.

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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