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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. Why does Nat worry about the cows during the bird attacks?

2. How many children do the Triggs have?

3. While collecting supplies, what reason does Nat realize the birds have for not attacking him?

4. How does Nat react to the crashing sound, which ends the droning?

5. What does Nat realize the droning during dinner really is?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Nat decide to take his family with him to the Trigg farm in search of supplies?

2. Why does Nat drive through the second gate to his home after leaving the Trigg farm?

3. During the final attack, what does Nat wonder about the birds’ mindset?

4. When Nat leaves the house for the first time to gather supplies, what does he notice about the birds?

5. What does Mrs. Hocken chide Johnny about during dinner in the story’s final section, and why is this ironic?

6. How does Nat feel about the army sending reconnaissance forces to battle the birds?

7. Why does silence fill the Hocken house after the third attack, and what does this mean?

8. Why doesn’t Nat feel bad about stealing supplies from the Trigg farm, and how much does he gather?

9. How does the Hocken family respond to the six o’clock news announcement?

10. How have the farm animals, on both the Hocken and Trigg properties, been affected by the attacks?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is unique about the past of the character Nat Hocken? How does his past affect him in the present? Does this set him apart from other characters in the story? Why or why not?

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

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 892 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample