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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Section 1: "There Will Come Soft Rains".

Multiple Choice Questions

1. To what does the phrase "the children's hour" allude?
(a) A poem by Teasdale.
(b) A fairy tale.
(c) A poem by Longfellow.
(d) A nursery rhyme.

2. What does the house do with the uneaten breakfast?
(a) Leaves it sitting on the table with the rest of the uneaten meals.
(b) Throws it away.
(c) Puts it in the refrigerator.
(d) Scrapes it into the dog's dish.

3. Bradbury mentions that martinis "manifested" on tables. What did the martinis do?
(a) Spilled.
(b) Sparkled.
(c) Appeared.
(d) Evaporated.

4. What does the garage do when no one drives the car away?
(a) Starts the car remotely.
(b) Uses the car horn to alert the family.
(c) Announces again that it is time to go to work and to school.
(d) Waits and then closes again.

5. What allusion is present in the weather box's announcement of the rain?
(a) There is a reference to a very old folk tune, often sung by children.
(b) There is a reference to a famous Dutch painting.
(c) There is a reference to a Greek myth about rain and death.
(d) There is a reference to a popular book of Bradbury's time.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Bradbury compare to Baal?

2. What historical event is alluded to with the date given in the beginning of the story?

3. Who does the story imply is still alive in the city?

4. What can be seen on the house's west wall?

5. What causes the house to temporarily "give up" as the fire spreads?

(see the answer key)

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