A. Answer these questions briefly.
1.
Ans: The scene on Maple Street was calm and normal, with people engaging in everyday activities like talking, eating ice cream, mowing lawns, and using phones.
2.
Ans: Tommy's warning creates a sense of fear and suspicion among the crowd. It instills the idea that there may be extraterrestrial beings among them, causing unease and paranoia.
3.
Ans: People were surprised and suspicious when Les Goodman's car started on its own. They saw it as a strange occurrence and began to question whether he and his family could be the mysterious outsiders.
4.
Ans: Steve is suspected because his wife, Myra, has talked about his odd behavior and the time he spends in the basement working on a radio set. The neighbors become suspicious of Steve's activities and suspect he may be communicating with the supposed extraterrestrial beings.
5.
Ans: Steve initially denies the accusations and becomes defensive. He questions the motives of the accusers and expresses frustration at the escalating paranoia and finger-pointing.
6.
Ans: Myra is Steve's wife. She shares that Steve has been working on a ham radio set in the basement and explains that it is just a hobby and not connected to any suspicious activities.
7.
Ans: Suspicion falls upon Charlie because he is seen as supporting Steve and challenging the accusations made against him. The crowd perceives his defense of Steve as a sign that he may be involved in the alleged conspiracy as well.
8.
Ans: Tommy is suspected because he initially warns Steve and Charlie not to leave, suggesting that "they" (the mysterious beings) don't want them to. This statement raises suspicion that Tommy might have insider knowledge about the situation.
B. Answer these questions with reference to the context.
1.
a.
Ans: Steve is the speaker.
b.
Ans: The power has gone out, the phone lines are dead, and strange events have occurred, leading to fear and suspicion among the neighbors.
c.
Ans: The speaker intends to go downtown with Charlie to investigate the situation, seek answers, and resolve the confusion and fear among the neighbors.
2.
a.
Ans: Sally is the speaker, and she is Tommy's mother.
b.
Ans: The speaker is referring to Tommy's talk about aliens and ships from outer space, which the speaker considers irrational and fantastical.
c.
Ans: Emily suggests that Tommy's fascination with comic books and movies might be influencing his imagination and leading him to discuss implausible scenarios.
3.
a.
Ans: The speaker is not explicitly mentioned in the given text, but it is likely one of the neighbors speaking to the group.
b.
Ans: The procedure being referred to is not mentioned in the given text. It could be related to the collective decision-making or investigative process the neighbors are undertaking.
c.
The procedure suggests that human beings can easily turn against each other and become suspicious, fearful, and accusatory in times of uncertainty or crisis. It highlights the vulnerability of human nature and the tendency to seek out scapegoats or assign blame without concrete evidence.
C. Answer these questions.
1.
Ans: Different people on Maple Street reacted with confusion and concern towards the power failure. They were puzzled as to why the power went off suddenly and discussed possible reasons such as an electrical storm or a malfunction.
2.
Ans: Tommy stops Steve and Charlie from going downtown because he believes that "they" (referring to the beings in the ship that flew overhead) don't want them to leave. He thinks that the power outage and other strange occurrences are part of a plan to keep them trapped on Maple Street.
3.
Ans: The people on Maple Street take Tommy's story seriously because they are already on edge due to the power failure and other unexplained events. They are looking for answers and someone to blame, so when Tommy suggests the presence of extraterrestrial beings, they become fearful and suspicious of each other.
4.
Ans: The things do not happen exactly as Tommy predicts. The power failure and the strange behavior of Les Goodman's car, for example, are not caused by the beings from outer space. However, Tommy's story triggers emotions and paranoia in the people, causing them to turn against each other and suspect their neighbors of being the enemy.
5.
Ans: Les Goodman's car starts by itself, leading to suspicion and accusations from the others. Les insists that he doesn't understand why it happened and claims innocence, but the incident adds to the growing tension and fear on Maple Street.
6.
Ans: Steve compares the people present to that in a kangaroo court because he sees their behavior as a rush to judgment and a willingness to condemn without solid evidence. He criticizes the mob mentality and the way they are quick to accuse and turn against each other based on fear and suspicion.
7.
Ans: Steve's statement, "the only thing that's going to happen is that we'll eat each other up alive," can be seen as prophetic. It foreshadows the destructive consequences of the paranoia and mistrust that engulf Maple Street. The people's fear and desperation lead them to turn on one another, ultimately causing chaos and destruction within their community.
8.
Ans: Steve stands out as different from the others because he questions the collective hysteria and tries to bring reason and calm to the situation. He refuses to participate in the scapegoating and accuses the others of blindly accusing their neighbors without concrete evidence. Steve is portrayed this way to highlight the dangers of mob mentality and the importance of critical thinking in times of crisis.
9.
Ans: The play is a commentary on human behavior, particularly how fear and paranoia can lead to the breakdown of social order and the loss of civility. It explores how easily people can turn against each other, abandon reason, and succumb to base instincts when faced with uncertain and threatening situations.
10.
Ans: The play is a commentary on human behavior, particularly how fear and paranoia can lead to the breakdown of social order and the loss of civility. It explores how easily people can turn against each other, abandon reason, and succumb to base instincts when faced with uncertain and threatening situations.
11.
Ans: The most dangerous enemy of the people on Maple Street is themselves. The fear, paranoia, and mob mentality that take hold of the residents lead them to turn against each other, accusing and attacking their own neighbors. The real threat is not external but internal, as their own actions and the breakdown of trust and cooperation pose the greatest danger to their community.
12.
Ans: The play does not explicitly state the opinion of the aliens about humans. However, their presence and manipulation of the power and technology on Maple Street suggest that they have observed and studied human behavior, particularly how easily humans can be divided and turned against each other. The aliens may view humans as susceptible to fear and self-destruction, making them vulnerable and easily controlled.
