The Monsters are Due on Maple Street

Why do you think the writer made the events occur on Maple Street, U.S.A.? 

• The aliens were told to find this street. 
• The setting indicates that small towns are filled with superstitious people. 
• The main characters live on this street. 
• The setting suggests that the events could happen anywhere. 

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All of the following events make the residents nervous and caused their suspicions except — 

• one man’s power mower stops working 
• Tommy’s computer starts displaying strange messages 
• a screeching roar is heard overhead 
• Mrs. Brand’s stove stops working 

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When Tommy tells Mr. Brand not to go downtown, he says, “They don’t want you to.” To whom is he referring? 

• Aliens from outer space 
• The residents of Maple Street 
• The wives 
• His parents 

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Why do the residents start to believe Tommy’s story? 

• They had read similar stories in books. 
• Tommy has always told the truth before. 
• Fear overtakes their good sense. 
• They think it is wise to consider every possibility. 

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Which statement best describes a mob scene? 

• One thought takes over and people stop thinking for themselves
• Many different thoughts
• Individual voices are heard, and everyone tries to act together. 
• No one person is important, and each individual is respected. 

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The residents turn against Les Goodman because they — 

• like fifth columnists 
• don’t like people with foreign cars 
• distrust anyone who is different 
• know the Goodman family owns a ham radio 

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When Charlie sees all of Maple Street lit by candles, he says, “Why, it’s like goin’ back into the dark ages or somethin’.” What does this mean?

• The space creatures may take the townspeople to a different time period. 
• The neighborhood is dark and lit up by only candles. 
• The creatures causing the power failure are from the Dark Ages. 

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Why does Charlie shoot Pete Van Horn? 

• He thinks Pete caused the power failure. 
• He believes Pete is making ham radios. 
• He has seen Pete gazing at the night sky. 
• He sees a dark figure approaching and thinks it is the monster. 

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At the end of the play, it turns out that the real monster is — 

• Tommy’s mind 
• the fear of human minds 
• Charlie’s behavior 
• Steve’s mind 

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At the opening of the play, the camera pans down to show Maple Street. At this point, the residents seem — 

• friendly with each other 
• like a violent mob 
• suspicious of one another 
• like aliens from outer space 

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