Updated on 20/06/2026
Ch.-9. The Book That Saved the Earth (Claire Boiko)
1. Who is the author of the humorous science-fiction play, ”The Book That Saved the Earth”?
Ans. Claire Boiko
2. In which year was the Martian planned their invasion on the earth?
Ans. In the year 2040
3. With what name is the twentieth century called?
Ans. The Era of the Books
4. In which century is the story set ‘The Book that Saved the Earth’?
Ans. The Twenty-fifth century
5. Who tried to invade the earth in the twenty-first century?
Ans. The Martians
6. Who was the ‘Commander-in-Chief’ of Mars Space control?
Ans. Great and Mighty Think Tank
7. Who was the deputy of the Think-Tank?
Ans. Noodle
8. How many moons does the planet Mars possess?
Ans. Two moons
9. Which book of nursery rhymes saved the earth from a Martian invasion?
Ans. Mother Goose
10. Who was the captain of the Martian space craft crew on Earth?
Ans. Captain Omega
11. Who was the lieutenant of the Martian space probe crew?
Ans. Lieutenant Iota
12. What was the name of the sergeant space craft crew?
Ans. Sergeant Oop
13. Where on Earth do the Martian crew members land, thinking it is a strange storage barn?
Ans. The Centerville Public Library.
14. Who was Great, Mighty and ruler of Mars?
Ans. Think-Tank
15. Which character eventually succeeds Think-Tank as the wise leader of Mars?
Ans. Noodle
Textual Questions
*1. Why was the twentieth century called the 'Era of the Books'?*
Ans. The twentieth century was called the 'Era of the Books.' It was because there were books of every type. These books were about men and animals. These books taught how, when, where and why of things.
*2. Who tried to invade the earth in the twenty-first century, and what went wrong with their mission ?*
Ans. The Martians, led by their arrogant ruler Think-Tank, attempted to invade Earth in the year 2040. They sent a three-member space probe team (Omega, Iota, and Oop) to scout the planet. However, the mission failed completely because the crew landed inside a public library and totally misinterpreted elementary children's books, causing Think-Tank to panic and cancel the invasion.
*3. What is a Think Tank first guess about books? What happened as a result? *
Ans. The Martians have never seen books. Think Tank thinks that these are sandwiches. The main food of the people on earth. He asks Sergeant Oop to take a bite of it. Oop tells Think Tank to bite it so that it is not delicious and finds it dry and tasteless.
*4. What is a Think Tank second guess about books?*
Ans. After the sandwich theory failed, Noodle suggested that Earthlings used them for communication. Think Tank thinks the second time that these are communication devices. He asks the crew members to listen to those devices. But they can't hear anything. Omega tells Think Tank that they may not be on the correct frequency.
*5. What is the time and place of the play, 'The Book that saved the Earth', at the beginning?*
Ans. The play opens in the twenty-fifth century at the Spotlight on History Department in the Museum of Ancient History on Earth. The Historian acts as a narrator, using a time-viewscreen to show the audience the historic events of the year 2040
Long Answer
*1. Justify the title 'The Book That Saved the Earth'.*
Ans. The story of this play is set in the twenty-fifth century. The place of the play is the Museum of Ancient History. The Martian tried to invade the earth in 2040. A team sent to the earth. Think Tank was the commander in chief of this space. The Martians have never seen the books when they reach the Centerville Public Library. Think Tank guesses that these are sandwiches. The main food of the people. He thinks the second time that these are communication devices. He asks the crew members to listen to those devices. But they can't hear anything. Omega tells Think Tank that they may not be on the correct frequency. So the Think Tank decides not to invade the earth. He ordered his space probe to leave Earth immediately, canceled the entire invasion, and ordered his citizens to flee one hundred million miles away to Alpha Centauri. Thus, a simple book ‘Mother goose’of rhymes saved our planet.