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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What was the main objection of television executives?
(a) The Time Element and similar scripts required celebrity actors.
(b) The Time Element and similar scripts were left open ended.
(c) The Time Element and similar scripts were boring.
(d) The Time Element and similar scripts were expensive.

2. Why did television executives not allow the character to warn the Army?
(a) The company was afraid the government would take the show off the air.
(b) Many members of the company were veterans.
(c) The company does not like the Army.
(d) The company was afraid of offending the Pentagon.

3. In 1956, Serling eventually landed a scriptwriting position for what?
(a) The comedy series "Playhouse 90."
(b) The sci-fi series "Playhouse 90."
(c) The drama series "Playhouse 90."
(d) The sitcom series "Playhouse 90."

4. Serling would be required to write what percent of the scripts for the show's first season?
(a) Fifty.
(b) One hundred.
(c) Seventy.
(d) Eighty.

5. Fortunately for Serling, ____________________ was still a relatively new medium.
(a) Radio.
(b) Television.
(c) Advertising.
(d) Film.

6. Serling went into freelance writing, an occupation that was what?
(a) Exciting.
(b) Very high-paying.
(c) Unsteady at best.
(d) Predictable.

7. CBS executives were finally on board with Serling's work and what happened?
(a) A contract was broken.
(b) A contract was signed.
(c) A contract was considered.
(d) Serling wrote more scripts before he signed a contract.

8. Now that the series was underway, Rod Serling requested that _________________ continue to work as the show's producer.
(a) He.
(b) Bill Self.
(c) Buck Houghton.
(d) Charles Beaumont.

9. What did Bob and Rod both like?
(a) Watching television.
(b) Reading and acting out science fiction pulps.
(c) Camping and fishing.
(d) Acting in plays and musical.

10. Serling was encouraged to do what?
(a) Make several scripts into movies.
(b) Write more scripts.
(c) Quit writing.
(d) Become an editor.

11. Who was put in charge of the new series?
(a) John Castagliola.
(b) Bill Self.
(c) Rod Serling.
(d) Buck Houghton.

12. What caused many complications at this location?
(a) The extreme heat of Death Valley.
(b) The rough foliage of Yellow Stone.
(c) The steep walls of the Grand Canyon.
(d) The bears in the Smoky Mountains.

13. Although Serling admitted that "The Time Element" was certainly not a masterpiece, the show received more _____________ than any other show that premiered on the "Desilu Playhouse."
(a) Publicity.
(b) Mail.
(c) Money.
(d) Reviews.

14. When did the Serlings move to Binghamton, New York?
(a) Shortly after Rod's first birthday.
(b) Shortly after Rod's birth.
(c) Shortly before Rod's birth.
(d) Shortly before Rod's first birthday.

15. While in the service, Serling trained as what?
(a) A cook.
(b) A wrestler.
(c) A writer.
(d) A boxer.

Short Answer Questions

1. In what episode does Serling present a story of a man who attempts to warn the Army before the attack on Pearl Harbor?

2. Rod resided in Binghamto until he joined the Army at what age?

3. How does this character strike a deal with the Devil?

4. Serling's older brother Bob often jokes that the family could not get Rod to do what?

5. After reading the show's script, how did the CBS executives feel about the premise of "The Twilight Zone?"

(see the answer keys)

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