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The story is set in the twenty-fifth century at the Museum of Ancient History on Earth, specifically in the Department of the Twentieth Century. The Historian begins by welcoming the audience and explaining the significance of books in the twentieth century. She introduces the story of the Martian invasion of 2040, which was prevented by a single book. Using a historiscope, she shows what happened.
The scene shifts to Mars Space Control, where Think-Tank, the Martian Commander-in-Chief, is preparing to invade Earth. He is assisted by Noodle and a space crew consisting of Captain Omega, Lieutenant Iota, and Sergeant Oop. Think-Tank, with his inflated ego, orders Noodle to establish communication with the space probe headed to Earth.
The Martian crew lands in a library on Earth and is baffled by the books, mistaking them for sandwiches. Think-Tank, believing the books are food, orders Omega to eat one. She hesitates and passes the task to Iota, who then delegates it to Oop. Oop pretends to eat the book and complains about its dryness.
Noodle suggests that the "sandwiches" might be communication devices. Think-Tank orders the crew to listen to the books, but they hear nothing. He then decides they must be for visual communication and tells the crew to decode them. The crew reads nursery rhymes from a book, which Think-Tank misinterprets as advanced Earth technology and military strategies. For example, "Mistress Mary" is seen as a method to grow metals and explosives, and "Hey Diddle Diddle" suggests Earthlings have advanced space techniques and musical culture for animals.
The final nursery rhyme, "Humpty Dumpty," terrifies Think-Tank because he believes it describes his own downfall. Panicked, he orders an immediate retreat to Alpha Centauri and the evacuation of Mars. The scene returns to the Historian, who explains that the misunderstanding led to the prevention of the Martian invasion. She concludes by saying that Earth and Mars eventually became friends, and Mars learned to read, although they still avoid the book "Mother Goose."
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The story humorously illustrates how misunderstandings can lead to irrational decisions, emphasizing the importance of knowledge and communication.
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1. What is the title of the story "The Book that Saved the Earth"? |
2. What is the key message or theme of the story "The Book that Saved the Earth"? |
3. Who are the main characters in "The Book that Saved the Earth"? |
4. What is the significance of the book in "The Book that Saved the Earth"? |
5. How do the Martians save Earth in "The Book that Saved the Earth"? |
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