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

2. Which of the following bird species is NOT mentioned in the one o’clock news?

3. In the story’s opening paragraph, what does the reader learn about Nat Hocken?

4. According to the news, which of these is NOT a way the attacks affected London?

5. During which month does the story open?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What startling sight does Nat see while on the beach?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Essay Topic 3

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.

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