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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. Who offers to drive Jill home from the bus stop?

2. During the one o’clock news bulletin, how are the birds described?

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

4. Who suggests that the army should shoot the birds out of the sky?

5. After looking in the larder, how long does Nat reckon his family can survive with their current supplies?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

While "The Birds" is believed to have been allegorical to the Cold War, it is also believed that "The Birds" is a cautionary tale about the environment, or a warning about pushing nature too far. Which of these do you believe to be most accurate? Provide three examples from the text to support your claim. If you believe that "The Birds" is allegorical to all three options, provide one example speaking to each from the text.

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 863 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample