Question

read this passage:
the planet mars, i scarcely need remind the reader,
revolves about the sun at a mean distance of 140,000,000
miles, and the light and heat it receives from the sun is
barely half of that received by this world. it must be, if the
nebular hypothesis has any truth, older than our world; and
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 show that the narrator is well educated, which adds a sense of
credibility to the story
b. to show the reader the martians point of view, which allows the
reader to feel sorry for the aliens
c. to teach the reader important scientific facts that will help the
reader understand the story
d. to confuse the reader so that the reader can understand the
chaos that the characters are experiencing

Explanation:

The passage provides detailed scientific - like information (distance from the sun, volume comparison, cooling process). In a fictional work like The War of the Worlds, including such factual - sounding details about Mars (where the Martians are from) serves to add credibility. If the narrator can present such “scientific” facts, it makes the story seem more believable. Option B is incorrect because there is no indication of the Martians' point of view (it's more about the planet Mars). Option C is wrong as the facts are not presented in a teaching - for - understanding - the - story - plot way. Option D is also incorrect as there is no confusion created.

Answer:

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