The Book that Saved the Earth Extra Questions and Answers Class 10 English
The Book that Saved the Earth Class 10 Extra Questions & Answers are available here. Class 10 English The Book that Saved the Earth extra questions and answers are prepared by our expert teachers. All these questions are divided into two or three sections. They are short type questions answers, long type question answers and extract based questions. Learning these questions will help you to score excellent marks in the board exams.
The Book that Saved the Earth Extra Questions and Answers
Short Answer Type Questions
1. How did the children’s book transform his life?
Answer: The children’s book transformed his life as he had to leave his kin and evacuate the entire planet. He had to go to Alpha Centauri, a hundred million miles away to save his life.
2. Why did Think-Tank react in alarm to the third passage read?
Answer: Think-Tank reacted in alarm as he misunderstood the meaning of the poem and thought that they can actually grow crops of rare metals and even explosives also, which are dangerous for him.
3. What different guesses were made by the Martians about what books are?
Answer: In the process of Martian invasion on earth, they landed in a library. They took the books as sandwiches and tried to understand the meaning of the code. And for that, they had to take vitamins given by the chemical department. They thought it would increase their intelligence.
4. What steps did the Crew take to decipher the code in the sandwich?
Answer: Martians reached the library in the process of invasion of earth. They had never seen books before that. They did not understand where they are and what are the things placed in different racks. Firstly they thought that they were sandwiches and tried to eat them. Then they misunderstood that sandwiches are used as some sort of communication device. Later they took them as eye communication and not ear communication, and understand that they had to take vitamins to understand all these codes.
5. Why did Think-Tank send his crew on the earth?
Answer: Think-Tank, the ruler of Mars regarded the Earth as a mass of mud, and Earthlings as ugly, tiny-headed creatures. He planned to invade Earth and expand his domain. He sent Probe One to Earth to get more information about the Earthlings.
6. How did Think-Tank interpret the poem ‘The Cat and the Fiddle”.
Answer: The second rhyme was about the cat and the fiddle, wherein the cow jumped over the moon, the dog laughed to see it and the dish ran away with the spoon. Think-Tank misinterpreted it. He thought that Earthlings had taught their domesticated animals’ musical culture and Space Techniques. They might be launching an interplanetary attack on millions of cows!
7. How does Think-Tank describe the people on Earth? Why does he command Noodles to contact the Space probe?
Answer: Think-Tank thought Earthlings were weak, ignorant, uncivilized persons and hence planned to invade Earth. He sent his commander Noodles to make contact with the crew of the manned space probe, now on Earth to seek more information about the Earth.
8. What do historians speak about the books?
Answer: The historians tell that the twentieth century was called — The Era of Books. They and motivate them when they are man’s best friends and companions. They inspire disheartened. They give us pleasure and knowledge.
9. What do Noodles suggest to Think-Tank about the books?
Answer: Noodles tell Think-Tank that the Earthlings did not listen to the sandwiches, they; opened and watched them. Think-Tank had thought that the books were sandwiches. He told hint that they use these books as a device of communication.
10. Who was Omega? Why did he try to oat the book?
Answer: Omega was the captain of the space control Probe One, on Earth. Think-Tank asked him to pick up the most colourful sandwich (book) and report him about his observation on it.
11. Why books referred to as a man’s best companion? Which book saved the Earth from Martian invasion?
Answer: Hooks are our best friends and companions. They are never demanding but always giving knowledge and pleasure. They give us company. The book that saved the Earth from Martian invasion was ‘Mother Goose.’
12. Why did Think-Tank decide to evacuate Mars?
Answer: Think-Tank misinterpreted the rhymes and thought Earthlings were a threat to him as well as to Mars. He got scared and called back Probe One, dropped the idea of invading and escaped to Alpha Centauri, a hundred million miles away from Mars.
13. What happens when the Historian turns on the hysteroscopy?
Answer: As the Historian turn on the hysteroscope, suddenly, the scene changes from the present twenty-fifth century to many centuries ago in 2040. Spotlight on Historian goes out. Think-Tank appears. He is seated on a raised box, arms folded. He has a huge, egg-shaped head. He wears a long robe decorated with stars and circles. Apprentice Noodles stands beside him.
14. What do Noodles say in the praise of Think-Tank? Why does Think-Tank ask Noodles to go over the whole thing again?
Answer: Noodles bows low before the Commander-in-Chief, Think-Tank. He calls Think-Tank “Great and Mighty”. He was the most powerful and intelligent creature in the whole universe. But Think-Tank stops Noodles abruptly. He had left out a part of his salutation. He asks him to repeat it again from the very beginning. Noodles add that Think-Tank is the newer ruler of Mars has two moons. He bows down to receive orders from his chief.
15. How does Think-Tank compare the Earth and Earthlings, with Mars and Martians?
Answer: Think-Tank’s comments on the Earth and the Earthlings are very sarcastic, ridiculous and insulting. He considers Martians a handsome race. They are much more attractive than those ugly Earthlings with their tiny heads. He calls the Earth as a primitive ball of mud. He even threatens to invade it.
16. Name the persons who are in the Mars Space Control.
Answer: There are five persons who are managing the Mars Space Control. First and the most important of them all is great and Mighty Think-Tank. He is the Commander-in-Chief, and the ruler of Mars and two moons. Noodle is an apprentice who is always praising Think-Tank but also giving subtle suggestions very respectfully. Then, there is Captain Omega who is always opening and closing card catalog drawers. Sergeant Oop is at right, opening and closing a book. Lieutenant Iota is up left, counting books in a bookcase.
17. Describe Think-Tank and his role in the play.
Answer: The think-tank is the Commander-in-Chief and the ruler of Mars and its two moons. He is considered as the most powerful and intelligent person in the universe. He himself thinks so. He is proud of belonging to a handsome race of Martians. He is dominating, loves no arguments, expects obedience and compliance. But all these claims fall short of realities and belie his claims of greatness.
18. What does Think-Tank, first of all, guess about the books? Why does he order to eat them?
Answer: Think-Tank views a book closely. He declares that the item (book) is called a sandwich. He tells them that sandwiches are the main staple diet of the people of the Earth. There are two slices of bread and between them is some sort of filling. He asks Omega to eat a sandwich to confirm his opinion.
19. Why do they hesitate to eat sandwiches (books)? Who is made to eat a sandwich in the end?
Answer: Having declared books as sandwiches, Think-Tank asks Captain Omega to eat a sandwich to confirm his opinion. When she hesitates, Think-Tank snubs her for doubting the Mighty Think-Tank. Captain Omega orders poor lieutenant to eat tha sandwich. Iota very cleverly orders Sergeant Oop to eat the sandwich immediately. And he eats it for the glory of Mars. He makes terrible faces after eating it. He doesn’t like it.
20. Why do Noodles say that those sandwiches are actually communication sandwiches? Does “Think-Tank’ confirm it?
Answer: Noodles claim that he has seen surveyor films of those sandwiches. He noticed that the Earthlings didn’t eat them. They used them as some sort of communication devices. Think-Tank actually confirms Noodles findings. He orders them to listen to them.
21. Why does Think-Tank declare that these sandwiches are not for ear communication but for eye communication?
Answer: They don’t hear any sound coming from the sandwiches. Noodles say that a cloudy piece of information is twirling around in his head. Think-Tank asks to twirl it out. Noodles clarify that the Earthlings don’t listen to the sandwiches but open and watches them. Think-Tank finds it correct and declares that those sandwiches are not for ear-communication but they are for eye communication.
22. Why do Noodles recommend giving space to people vitamins? What does Think-Tank say in this regard?
Or
Are they able to describe the code of the books (sandwiches)? Why does Think-Tank order giving vitamins to them?
Answer: They pick up a very large volume of `Mother Goose’. Think-Tanks asks them to decode them. They fail to decode little lines, squabbles and dots along with pictures in the book. Think-Tank says that perhaps the Earthlings are not as primitive as they have thought. He asks their chemical department to give vitamins to space people to increase their intelligence. They will be able to unfold the meaning of the code successfully.
23. How does Think-Tank interpret the rhyme: “Mistress Mary….?” Why does he say that it is no time for laxity?
Answer: As is his habit of misjudging, Think-Tank misinterprets the rhyme on Mistress Mary. He chides Oop for laughing. He says that he should realise the seriousness of the discovery. The Earthlings have discovered how to combine agriculture and mining. They can actually grow crops of silver and other metals. And for cockle shells, Think-Tank interprets them as high explosives. They can grow even explosives. He asks Noodles to contact their invasion fleet.
24. How did Think-Tank interpret the `Humpty-Dumpty’ rhyme as a threat to the Martians?
Answer: Although called the most intelligent man in the universe, Think-Tank’s knowledge was skin-deep. He was an expert in misinterpreting things without going into the depth of the words. The rhyme, “Humpty Dumpty had a great fall” makes Think-Tank scream. He misinterprets the words “Had a great fall” meaning that the Earthlings plan to capture Mars Central Control and him. He orders them to prepare a space capsule for him to escape.
25. Why does Think-Tank order the invasion fleet to evacuate the entire planet of Mars? Where are they heading for?
Answer: Misinterpreting the words “Had a great fall” of ‘Humpty Dumpty’ rhyme, Think-Tank declares that the Earthlings want to capture Mars Central Control and him. He orders space people to leave Earth at once without leaving any traces of their visit. They will be heading for Alpha Centauri, a hundred million miles away from Mars.
26. How did a dusty old book of nursery rhymes to save the world from a Martians invasion?
Or
In what way does Think-Tank misinterpret innocent nursery rhymes as a threat to the Martians?
Answer: Think-Tank was about to give orders for the invasion of the Earth. But a dusty old book of nursery rhymes to save the world from a Martians invasion. Think-Tank misinterpreted the words “had a great fall” to his own downfall. He interpreted that his downfall was imminent as the Earthlings wanted to capture Mars Central Control and him. It is an invasion on Mars. He orders the invasion fleet to evacuate the entire planet of Mars. He must escape without delay in a space capsule.
27. What happened when great and mighty Think-Tank was replaced by a clever Martians, Noodles?
Answer: Great and Mighty Think-Tank was replaced by a clever MartiAnswer: He was a wise and wonderful Noodles! The Earthlings resumed contact with the Martians and became very friendly. Noodles taught Martians the difference between sandwiches and books. They also taught them how to read. But they could never read one book and that was ‘Mother Goose’.
28. What is the time and place of the story at the beginning?
Answer: This is a science fantasy. This imaginary story is set in the twenty-fifth century. The place is the Museum of Ancient History. Department of the Twentieth Century. There is a historian sitting at a table. There is a movie projector on the table.
29. What strange thing about a book does the historian tells the audience?
Answer: The historian tells her audience that once a book saved the earth. She narrates a real story from the twenty-first century. She tells how the Martians (people from the planet Mars) invaded the earth in 2040 and a book of nursery rhymes saved the Earth from their attack.
30. The story takes place in the twenty-fifth century. How does the historian take her audience back to the twenty-first century?
Answer: The historian shows the audience the happenings that actually took place. Them: base been recorded in a film She turns on the projector. On the projector, the audience sees what actually happened in the twenty-first century.
31. Who is shown when the projector starts?
Answer: The projector shows the Mas Space Control room. We see Think-Tank who is the Commander-in-Chief. He has a huge, egg-shaped head. He wears a long robe decorated with stars and circles. His deputy, Noodles stands beside him at a switchboard.
32.What is the purpose of the manned spacecraft sent to the earth by Think-Tank?
Answer: Think – Tank has already sent a manned spacecraft to the earth. Their purpose is to collect information about the earth’s defense system and send it back to the other spacecraft from Mars who are ready to attack the earth before lunch.
33. Who are in a library on the earth? What are they doing there?
Answer: Captain Omega and his deputies are in a library. They came here in order to gather secrets of the earth defense. They have landed in a library. They have seen the books and the library for the first time.
34. What is Think-Tank’s first guess about the books?
Answer: With the help of his remote camera, Think-Tank looks at the ‘books’. He calls them ‘eatables’ and they are in a refreshment stand. He says that they are ‘sandwiches’. They are the main food of Earth diet.
35. What is Think-Tank’s second guess about books?
Answer: Think-Tank’s second guess about books is that they are communication devices. He orders Omega to listen to them (books). He puts a book to his ears and tries hard to listen. Think-Tank asks Omega if he can listen to something from them. Omega replies that they may not be on the correct frequency.
36. What order does Think-Tank give Noodles for escaping from Mars?
Answer: Think-Tank orders Noodles to prepare a space capsule for him. He must escape without delay. The Earthlings are coming to capture Martians. Noodles ask Think-Tank where they shall go. Think-Tank replies they will go to the planet Alpha-Centauri, a hundred million miles away.
37. When was the contact resumed with Mars? What did the Earthlings teach the Martians?
Answer: In the twenty-fifth century, they resumed contact with Mars. They became friends. Think-Tank was replaced by Noodles. They taught the Martians the difference between books and sandwiches. They established a model library on Mars.
Long Answer Type Questions
1. ’Pride has a fall’. Justify this statement giving relevant points from how Think-Tank reacted to the readings from Mother Goose.
Answer: Martians invaded the earth and reached in a library. Think-Tank was their boss. He was very proud of his wisdom, as he was having a big balloon-like head. He thought that he was the wisest person on Mars. Nobody could disobey him, or even dare to speak against him. He claimed that he had a quick mind. He had no respect for anyone and regarded other views as trifling. He was also fickle-minded.
He misinterpreted the rhymes in a complete verbal manner. The rhyme mistress Mar made him ponder over the discovery of the earth. From the poem diddle-diddle he was more alarmed and from the poem Humpty-Dumpty, he was so frightened that he decided to leave his kingdom and run away to Alpha Centauri. Thus his great wisdom was defeated and had a great fall.
2. Attempt a character-sketch of Noodles highlighting the values projected by him.
Answer: Noodles are one of the crew members of the invasion team that came to invade earth. He is known as Apprentice Noodles. He is the co-coordinator between Think-Tank and the invasion team. He echoes Think-Tank in every manner. He is a very clever creature. He knows that Think-Tank being commander-in-chief has to be obeyed. So he keeps on praising Think-Tank and also passing sarcastic remarks. It is only Noodles who think practically and differently about the books which were considered as sandwiches to eat. But Think-Tank took over the idea as his own. But Noodles is not sad at all. He is a blind and true follower of Think-Tank.
3. Historians speak highly about books. How can books help you in preventing a catastrophe?
Answer: The Historian is placed in the twenty-fifth century. He is trying to clear of the twentieth century. He calls it as the Era of the Book and speaks highly about the books, According to him books control all life. Books teach children. Books teach people how to and when to and where to and why. They illustrate, educate, punctuate and even decorate the life of the people.
According to Historian, only the books saved the Earth from Martian invasion, for the Martians had misunderstood the meaning of the poems and got frightened of them. So they left the earth in a hurry and even evacuated the Mars and headed over to Alpha Centauri. Even in our day to day life, we get all our solutions from books whether—it is health-related or anything else. So we can say that books help us in preventing a catastrophe.
4. How did one old book of nursery rhymes to save the earth from a Martian invasion?
Or
How do the three nursery rhymes frighten Think-Tank?
Or
In what ways does Think-Tank misinterpret innocent nursery rhymes as a threat to the Martians?
Answer: The old, dusty book of nursery rhymes was ‘Mother Goose’. Think-Tank wanted to invade Earth. He had sent Probe One to get more information about the Earthlings. The crew enters a library. There, after taking vitamins, they take out ‘Mother Goose’ and decipher the rhymes.
The rhymes are misinterpreted as threats by Think-Tank. After listening to the first rhyme, ‘Mistress Mary,’ he concluded that Earthlings had discovered how to combine agriculture and mining. The second rhyme, ‘Hey Diddle, Diddle’, seemed to suggest to him that the Earthlings might be launching an interplanetary attack on millions of cows. The third rhyme, ‘Humpty Dumpty’ wherein Humpty had a great fall and its picture that resembled him threatened him and his planet Mars. He got so scared that he dropped the idea of invading Earth, and escaped to Alpha Centauri. Thus a book of nursery rhymes saved Earth from Martian invasion.
5. Justify the title of the play ‘The Book that Saved the Earth’.
Answer: A good title should reflect the theme, idea or the traits of a character. It should revolve around any of the above. The story or the play should be woven around any one of them.
In the play — ‘The Book that Saved The Earth’, a book of nursery rhymes of ‘Mother Goose’ is responsible for stopping the Martian invasion of Earth. Think-Tank, the ruler of Mars plans to invade Earth before lunch and sends Probe One to get more information about the Earthlings. They enter a library but can’t figure out what items books are. They take vitamins, increase their intelligence then read the rhymes from ‘Mother Goose’. Think-Tank misinterprets the rhymes, takes them as threats to him and Mars. Scared, he calls back Probe One, drops the idea of invading and escapes with his subjects to Alpha Centauri, a hundred million miles away from Mars.
Thus, the book ‘Mother Goose’ was responsible for stopping the Martian invasion of Earth. The title The Book That Saved the Earth’, reflects the theme of the play, so it is an apt (appropriate) title.
6. What is the message or the lesson that `The Book That saved the Earth’ gives to the readers? Elucidate it.
Or
Half-Baked knowledge is always dangerous. Rushing to conclusions without going deep into the details of things always leads to uninvited chaos and disasters. Explain the above-mentioned statements in the light of Think-Tank’s interpretations of the rhymes of the book ‘Mother Goose’.
Answer: There is nothing more dangerous than half-baked knowledge. Truth is not skin-deep. And so is knowledge. We have to take a comprehensive view of things. We have to go deep into the details before coming out with sweeping generalisations. Sweeping statements are never good statements. Sometimes misinterpretation of things leads to unavoidable disasters. Think-Tank symbolises how a half-baked the mind could have led to an invasion on another planet.
Think-Tank excelled in misinterpreting and misrepresenting things. When they saw books they could not identify what they were. He jumped to one conclusion after the other. He interpreted them as sandwiches. He misinterpreted the words “had a great fall’ to his own downfall. He screamed and at once ordered to evacuate the entire Mars immediately. He felt that Mars was being invaded soon. He decided to escape without delay in a space shuttle. He told that they could go a hundred million miles away from Mars.
7. What does Historian say about the importance of books in the twentieth century? Why does he point out that particular dusty old rhymes saved the world from a Martian invasion?
Answer: Historian terms the twentieth century as the Era of the Book. It was the period when all kinds of books were published. There were books almost on all subjects. And each subject had many books. One could find books from anteaters to Zulus. Books taught people how to, and when to, and where to, and why. They illustrated, punctuated, and even decorated. But the strangest thing a book ever did was to save the Earth. The invasion never really happened.
A single book-`Mother Goose’ saved the Earth. Just one dusty old book of nursery rhymes changed the very course of the world. It happened in 2040. The invasion of the Earth was saved because the Martian Commander-in-Chief misinterpreted the rhyme “Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.” He misinterpreted that the Earthlings wanted to capture Mars Central Control and him. He ordered the invasion fleet to evacuate the entire planet of Mars. He prepared to escape at once in a space capsule.
8. Draw a pen-portrait of Great and Mighty Think-Tank. Was he really the most powerful and intelligent person in the universe?
Answer: Great and Mighty Think-Tank has been presented as the most powerful and the most intelligent creature in the whole universe. At least, Noodles and other associates think so. Powerful, of course, he was. After all, he was the Commander-in-Chief and the ruler of Mars and her two moons. He was feared, pampered, flattered and obeyed. No one could afford to disagree with him. Disobeying him was totally out of question. Only Noodles, through his diplomatic and humble pleadings, could request him to give some suggestions.
It is rather difficult to digest that Think Tank was the most intelligent creature in the whole universe. He was vain and haughty. His shallowness was quite apparent. He didn’t have the capacity to go deep into things. Nor did he digest his criticism. His views about books were totally ridiculous. To him, books were really sandwiches, the staple diet of the Earthlings.
Great and Mighty Think-Tank excelled in misinterpreting things, particularly the rhymes of ‘Mother Goose’. His half-baked knowledge made him interpret the nursery rhyme “Humpty Dumpty had a fall” as the plan of the Earthlings to capture Mars Central Control and him. He immediately ordered to send the invasion fleet to evacuate the entire planet of Mars. He prepared himself to escape in a space-shuttle at once.
9. What ridiculous guesses did Great and Mighty Think-Tank make about the books found on the earth? How did Noodles manage to suggest something without offending him?
Answer: Think-Tank makes ridiculous and fantastic guesses about books that are found on the planet Earth. Using his unusual fertile brain, he makes a wild guess that books are actually sandwiches, the staple diet of the Earthlings. To confirm his opinion, he asks the captain Omega to eat a book. When Oop doesn’t find it delicious, Noodles using his negotiating skills declares that the Earthlings don’t eat them. But they use them as some sort of communication device. Think-Tank shows his agreement and asks Omega to listen to them.
Omega takes two books from the case, holds them .to his ears, listening intently. When nothing heard, H Noodles they watched them. Think-Tank agrees and declares that the sandwiches are not for ear-communication but for eye-communication. Noodle suggests giving vitamins to the space people to increase their intelligence to unfold the code language of the books (sandwiches). Thus, Noodle very cleverly keeps the Commander-in-Chief in good humor. He has to be obeyed. But he knows how to handle his all-powerful, but arrogant chief.
10. Give a character sketch of Noodles highlighting his diplomatic handling of Think-Tank and even suggesting things without offending his mighty chief.
Answer: Noodles have to walk on a tightrope. He has to maintain a very delicate balance. And he succeeds to some extent in his mission. The think-tank is the Commander-in-Chief and the ruler of Mars. Naturally, nobody can argue with him. It is difficult to disagree with him. And it is impossible to disobey him. Noodles know the real worth of Think_ Tank but still, he tries to keep him in good humor. Think-Tank is called the most intelligent and powerful person in the whole universe. But Needle is a clever manipulator of things. He uses his convincing skills and humility to disarm an arrogant but all-powerful Commander-in-Chief.
Regarding the books, he very subtly but humbly goes on making new suggestions. Think-Tank is made to accept them. The needle is gifted with a rare understanding of men and situations. Historian tells that the wise and wonderful Needle replaces Great and Mighty Think Tank in the end. It is the victory of sanity and good sense over arrogance and insanity.
11. What does the historian tell the audience about the twentieth century and Mars?
Answer: This imaginary story is set in the twenty-fifth century. The place is the Museum of Ancient History, Department of the Twentieth Century. A historian sitting at a table. There is a movie projector on the table. She is giving a talk to the audience about the twentieth century. She tells the audience that the twentieth century was often called the Era of the Book. In those days there were books about everything. They taught the people everything. But the strangest thing was that a book saved the Earth. She narrates a real story from the twenty-first century. She tells how the Martians (people from the planet Mars) invaded the Earth in 2040 and a book of nursery rhymes saved the Earth from their attack.
12. who is Think-Tank? Why has he sent a manned spacecraft to Earth?
Answer: Think-Tank is the Commander-in-Chief of the Mars Space Control Room. He has a huge, egg-shaped head. He wears a long robe decorated with stars and circles. His deputy, Noodles stands beside him at a switchboard. Think-Tank has already sent a manned spacecraft to the Earth. Their purpose is to collect information about the earth’s defense system and send it back to the other spacecraft from Mars who are ready to attack the earth before lunch. The incident described in the story is about the Martian invasion of 2040. In fact, the invasion never took place. A single book stopped it. It was a book of nursery rhymes. Then the historian shows the audience the happenings that actually took place. These have been recorded in a film. She turns on the projector. It shows the Mars Space Control room. We see Think-Tank who is the commander-in-chief.
13. What happens when the Martians land in a library on the earth? What guess does Think-Tank make about books?
Answer: The Martians land in a library. They have seen the books and the library for the first time. Think-Tank talks to Captain Omega who tells him that they have arrived on Earth without incident. As they have never seen a library before, they are not sure where they are. However, Lt. Iola tells Think-Tank that there are about two thousand peculiar items (books). She thinks that the place must be some storage barn. Sergeant Oop calls them ‘hats’. Omega asks for Think-Tank’s advice. Through his remote camera, Think-Tank looks at the ‘books’. He says that what they have in their hands are ‘sandwiches’. They are the main food of Earth diet. Think-Tank orders Omega to eat it (book) to confirm. Omega asks Lt. Iota to eat it. Iota orders Sergeant Oop to cat it. Oop bites a corner of the book. He pretends to chew and swallow and tells Think-Tank that it is delicious.
14. Why does Think-Tank decide not to invade the earth?
Answer: Omega looks at the books and tells Think-Tank that they have pictures of Earthlings. They have some sort of code, lines and dots with pictures. He asks him to study the pictures and decipher the code in them. The book that Omega is looking at is a nursery rhyme book and reads it. Think-Tank wonders how the Earthlings have combined agriculture and mining. They also grow explosives. He feels that the people of the earth are very intelligent and brave. Noodles say that the invasion spacecraft are ready to attack the earth. But Think-Tank asks Noodles to tell the invasion fleet to hold. New information has come to him. Think-Tank asks Iota to transcribe the information. He thinks that the Earthlings have reached a higher level of civilisation. They have taught their domesticated animal’s music and space techniques. So he decides not to invade the earth.
15. Why does Think-Tank decide to run away from Mars? What does the historian say after she has narrated the incident?
Answer: Oop reads the nursery rhyme ‘Humpty Dumpty … again’. He shows the picture of Humpty Dumpty also. The picture resembles Think-Tank. He is scared. He says that the Earthlings have seen him. They are planning to capture Mars Central Control and him. He decides to run away from Mars. He orders Noodles to prepare a space capsule for him. He must escape without delay. Noodles ask Think-Tank where they shall go. Think-Tank replies they will go to the planet Alpha-Centauri, a hundred million miles away. After narrating the incident to his audience, the historian says that one old book of nursery rhymes saved the earth from a Martian invasion. Then in the twenty-fifth century, they resumed contact with Mars. They became friends. They taught the Martians the difference between books and sandwiches. They established a model library on Mars.
Self-Assessment Test
Short Answer Questions
1. Why was the twentieth century called the ‘Era of the book’?
2. What does the Historian say about the book that saved the earth?
3. What report is given by Omega to Think-Tank?
4. What was Oop’s opinion about the ‘sandwiches’ he had eaten?
5. What was the plan of Martians?
Long Answer Questions
1. How did the three nursery rhymes frighten Think-Tank?
2. Who was Think-Tank? What did he mean? Who were his companions?
3. Noodle was the true Think-Tank. Comment.