Question

excerpt 2, from howard e. kochs script for orson welless radio adaptation.

phillips: ladies and gentlemen, youve just heard mr. wilmuth, owner of the farm where this thing has fallen. i wish i could convey the atmosphere... the background of this... fantastic scene. hundreds of cars are parked in a field in back of us. police are trying to rope off the roadway leading to the farm. but its no use. theyre breaking right through. cars headlights throw an enormous spot on the pit where the objects half buried. some of the more daring souls are now venturing near the edge. their silhouettes stand out against the metal sheen.

(faint humming sound)

one man wants to touch the thing... hes having an argument with a policeman. the policeman wins...

which statements describe similarities in the authors craft? select 3 options.

both authors use descriptive adjectives.
both authors impart an ominous mood.
both authors cite scientific research.
both authors offer social criticism.
both authors use a concerned tone.

Explanation:

Analyze the text and question requirements

The question asks us to select 3 options that describe similarities in the authors' craft between two excerpts (one of which is shown as Excerpt 2, from Howard E. Koch's script for Orson Welles's radio adaptation of The War of the Worlds).

Let's evaluate the characteristics of Excerpt 2:

• Descriptive adjectives: The text uses descriptive adjectives such as "fantastic" (scene), "enormous" (spot), "daring" (souls), "metal" (sheen), and "faint" (humming sound).
• Ominous mood: The atmosphere is tense and mysterious. An unknown object has fallen, police are struggling to rope off the area, people are breaking through, headlights cast an enormous spot on a pit where the object is half-buried, silhouettes stand out against a metal sheen, a faint humming sound is heard, and a man is arguing with a policeman. This creates a highly ominous, suspenseful mood.
• Concerned tone: The speaker, Phillips, expresses worry and urgency ("I wish I could convey the atmosphere", "But it's no use. They're breaking right through", "daring souls are now venturing near the edge"). This reflects a concerned, anxious tone.
• Scientific research: There is no mention of scientific research or data in this excerpt.
• Social criticism: The text describes a chaotic public reaction to an extraordinary event, but it does not offer explicit social criticism.

Using Textual Evidence from the typical companion excerpt (usually H.G. Wells's original novel The War of the Worlds, which also describes the landing of the cylinder with descriptive adjectives, an ominous mood, and a highly concerned, anxious narrator), we can identify the shared elements of craft.

Evaluate the given options

1. Both authors use descriptive adjectives: Yes, both texts rely heavily on vivid sensory details and descriptive adjectives to paint a picture of the scene.
2. Both authors impart an ominous mood: Yes, both the novel and the radio play build suspense and a sense of impending danger/mystery around the alien object.
3. Both authors cite scientific research: No, neither text cites actual scientific research; they are works of science fiction.
4. Both authors offer social criticism: No, these specific narrative excerpts focus on the immediate action and suspense of the arrival rather than delivering social commentary.
5. Both authors use a concerned tone: Yes, both narrators exhibit deep concern, anxiety, and apprehension about the unfolding situation and the crowd's safety.

Thus, the three correct options are:

• Both authors use descriptive adjectives.
• Both authors impart an ominous mood.
• Both authors use a concerned tone.

Answer:

• Both authors use descriptive adjectives. (Correct answer)
• Both authors impart an ominous mood. (Correct answer)
• Both authors cite scientific research.
• Both authors offer social criticism.
• Both authors use a concerned tone. (Correct answer)