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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. According to the narrator, what “changed overnight” at the story’s opening?

2. On the story’s first evening, what wakes Nat from sleep?

3. When does Nat most frequently pass time watching the birds?

4. When Nat phones about the birds flying inland, how does the voice on the other end sound?

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

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

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

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

6. What is Nat’s mental state when he returns home from the bus stop?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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This section contains 868 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample