Question

the war of the worlds is a science fiction novel by h. g. wells. it originally appeared in serial form in magazines in 1897 and was later published as a book. it tells the story of england being invaded by martians.
from the war of the worlds
by h. g. wells

no one would have believed in the last years
of the nineteenth century that this world was
being watched keenly and closely by
intelligences greater than man’s and yet as
mortal as his own; that as men busied
themselves about their various concerns they
were scrutinized and studied, perhaps almost
as narrowly as a man with a microscope
might scrutinize the transient creatures that
swarm and multiply in a drop of water.
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how does the author’s description of mars
impact the plot of the story?
it heightens the contrast between what the people
of earth want and what the martians want.
it shows that earth and mars are so similar that
martians would feel at home on either planet.
it emphasizes the reasons that humans should
have anticipated that martians would invade earth.
it implies that martians would not have left their
planet if they had not been forced to by humans.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option 1: The description of Mars (Martians' situation) and Earth (humans' concerns) creates a contrast in their wants (Martians watch/study, humans are busy with their own). This fits as the Martians' need (due to Mars' conditions, implied by their study of Earth) vs Earth's unawareness heightens contrast.
• Option 2: The text doesn't show Earth and Mars as similar; Martians study Earth from afar, not that they feel at home. Eliminate.
• Option 3: The text says humans were "scrutinized and studied" but not that they should have anticipated invasion. Eliminate.
• Option 4: There's no implication humans forced Martians; the text focuses on Martians' study of Earth, not human actions forcing them. Eliminate.

Answer:

A. It heightens the contrast between what the people of Earth want and what the Martians want.