The Book That Saved the Earth — Practice

Question 1

Who is the vain commander of the Martians, and who is the clever apprentice?

Accepted Answer

✦ Answer: the commander is Think-Tank; the clever apprentice is Noodle.

Question 2

What book did the Martians pick up in the library?

Accepted Answer

✦ Answer: a book of nursery rhymes — Mother Goose.

Question 3

At first, what did the Martians think the books were?

Accepted Answer

They first thought books were sandwiches (Oop tried to eat one), then hats (Iota wore one), before realising they were for reading.

✦ Answer: sandwiches, then hats — before guessing they were for communication.

Question 4

What kind of a leader was Think-Tank?

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — He was vain and arrogant, believing himself the most intelligent and powerful creature in the universe.

Step 2 — Yet he was foolish and cowardly — he misunderstood simple nursery rhymes and fled in panic.

✦ Answer: vain, arrogant and self-important, but actually foolish and cowardly.

Question 5

Why did the rhyme about the cow jumping over the moon frighten Think-Tank?

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — He took the nursery rhyme literally, believing Earth's cows really could jump over the Moon.

Step 2 — He feared such powerful creatures could destroy the Martian space probe and even invade Mars, so he panicked.

✦ Answer: taking it literally, he feared Earth's cows could destroy the probe and attack Mars.

Question 6

How did the book save the Earth?

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — The Martians misread the nursery rhymes as proof that Earthlings were dangerous giants who could threaten Mars.

Step 2 — Terrified, Think-Tank ordered an immediate retreat and forbade any Martian from ever coming near Earth — so the invasion was called off.

✦ Answer: the misread book scared the Martians into abandoning the invasion and staying away from Earth.

Question 7

How does the play show the power of books?

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — The Earth is threatened with a Martian invasion, and no weapons are available to stop it.

Step 2 — A simple book of nursery rhymes, misread by the arrogant Martians, convinces them that Earthlings are too powerful to attack.

Step 3 — They flee, and the invasion is abandoned — the planet is saved by a book, not by force.

Step 4 — The play thus honours books and knowledge as mightier than any weapon.

✦ Answer: a mere book, not weapons, defeats the invasion — showing that books and knowledge are more powerful than force.

Question 8

What lessons does the play teach through Think-Tank and Noodle?

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — Arrogance and ignorance lead to foolish, dangerous mistakes — Think-Tank misreads everything and fails.

Step 2 — Humility and genuine intelligence are valuable — the modest, thoughtful Noodle saves the situation and later becomes commander.

Step 3 — Understanding before judging is essential; misinterpretation causes needless fear.

Step 4 — Books and knowledge deserve respect as powerful forces for good.

✦ Answer: humility and understanding triumph over arrogance and ignorance, and books/knowledge are to be valued.

Practice — The Book That Saved the Earth