Question

4.1.8 quiz: analyze invasion literature
long before this earth ceased to be molten, life upon its
surface must have begun its course. the fact that it is
scarcely one seventh of the volume of the earth must have
accelerated its cooling to the temperature at which life
could begin.
—h. g. wells, the war of the worlds, 1898
why does wells include this type of passage?
a. to teach the reader important scientific facts that will help the
reader understand the story
b. to confuse the reader so that the reader can understand the
chaos that the characters are experiencing
c. to show that the narrator is well educated, which adds a sense of
credibility to the story
d. to show the reader the martians’ point of view, which allows the
reader to feel sorry for the aliens

Explanation:

Wells uses scientific details (e.g., Earth's cooling, volume comparison) not primarily to teach facts but to establish the narrator's scientific literacy. This makes the narrator’s account of Martian invasion more believable, as a knowledgeable narrator enhances the story’s credibility. Option A is incorrect because the goal isn’t teaching; B is wrong as confusion isn’t the intent; D is false because the passage doesn’t reflect Martians’ perspective.

Answer:

C. To show that the narrator is well educated, which adds a sense of credibility to the story