Invaders from Mars

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READ AND UNDERSTAND

Invaders from Mars

In 1938 a play called "The War of the Words" was broadcast on the radio. The play started with a news flash about a mysterious explosion on the planet Mars. Then there was a report about a burning object falling over a farm in New Jersey.

At the same time the play began. America's most popular radio show was ending on another station. May listeners missed the very beginning of "The War of the Words." When they changed stations, they did not know that is was just a play. The thought what they were hearing was really happening.

At the play continued, a reporter described the strange object. He said it was shining brightly and hard to look at. Suddenly a door opened. There was a scream, and the reporter was dead. Six thousand soldiers attached the object, but only 120 lived to tell about it.

Of the six million or so people who heard the play, more than two million thought it was a true news report. People anxiously telephoned the radio station for news. Thousands left their homes to escape the Martian invaders. It was many days before life was back to normal.

How did the play end? Neither the Army, the Air Force, nor the Navy could stop the Martians. All Their weapons were useless. Finally, the invaders were killed by a little germ. It was harmless to people from earth, but deadly to the Martians.

CHECKING UNDERSTANDING

1. How did the play start?
2. Why did many people miss the beginning?
3. Who did the reporter describe the object?
4. What happened to the soldiers who attacked the object?
5. How were the Martians finally stopped?

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