The Martian

Multiple Choice and Long Answer questions create ideal opportunities for whole-book review, unit exam, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. Why should bodies be left behind if any crew members die on Mars?

A) It is a way to honor their sacrifice.

B) There is no way to preserve a body on the return flight.

C) The extra weight will use up valuable fuel.

D) It is too risky for the other crew members to retrieve a body.

2. After making an inventory of his resources, what does Watney conclude?

A) His situation is ultimately hopeless.

B) Rescue is possible only if he can survive for four years.

C) If he can communicate with Earth, NASA might figure out how to rescue him.

D) He can live on Mars indefinitely if he’s smart enough.

3. Why does Watney flee to the rover?

A) Too much hydrogen might blow up the Hab.

B) Too much water might flood the Hab.

C) Too much nitrogen has poisoned the Hab’s air.

D) Too much CO₂ has made the Hab’s air toxic.

4. What does Watney wondering why Rosco doesn’t just go to the Dukes’ farm instead of trying to catch the General Lee tell us about him?

A) He’s sympathetic to law enforcement.

B) He’s always problem-solving.

C) He understands car engines.

D) He craves human companionship.

5. For what purpose does Venkat believe Watney intends to travel to the Ares 4 site?

A) To replenish his supplies

B) To contact Hermes

C) To conduct survival research

D) To communicate with Earth

6. What does Watney find most effective in combating his loneliness?

A) Remembering his crewmates’ idiosyncrasies

B) Listening to country music

C) Reading Poirot novels

D) Creating his audio log

7. Why doesn’t Mars have a defense against solar radiation?

A) There is no atmosphere.

B) The greenhouse effect

C) There is no magnetic field.

D) There is too much absorption by the red-colored surface.

8. What POV does the author use to propel the narrative on Mars?

A) Third-person omniscient

B) Second person

C) First person

D) Third-person limited

9. Why does the author retell the story of Watney being left on Mars from his crewmates’ perspective?

A) To better establish their characters

B) To underscore the commander’s remorse when she learns she left Watney on the planet alive

C) To remind readers of the many perils of a mission to Mars

D) To create dramatic irony with the crew just learning what everyone on Earth already knows

10. What pushes Watney to the verge of giving up and dying on Mars?

A) Pathfinder shuts down.

B) He needs a fire, and there’s nothing that will spark.

C) His patch kit resin hardens before he can use it.

D) The Hab breaches, and his faceplate breaks.

11. What is the significance of Venkat choosing the name Elrond for discussing a top-secret plan?

A) It’s a reference to A Wizard of Earthsea.

B) It’s his father’s name.

C) It’s a reference to the Apollo 13 mission.

D) It’s a reference to the author of a highly controversial scientific paper.

12. After months of being in mortal danger, Watney says he has gotten used to it. What makes him nervous again?

A) His bad back might prevent him from carrying out the rescue plan.

B) He might not make it to the rescue rendezvous on time.

C) His crewmates might die trying to save him.

D) The Ares 4 MAV might not be operational.

13. When does Lewis start to worry that Watney won’t make it to Schiaparelli?

A) When his oxygenator starts to malfunction

B) When he veers off course

C) When he gets stuck in a canyon

D) When he’s too deep into the dust storm to get out

14. What does Watney do when the rover starts to roll on his descent to Schiaparelli?

A) Jumps out

B) Curls into a ball and cowers

C) Injures his head

D) Retreats to his bedroom

15. What does Watney discover when he finally reaches the MAV?

A) NASA has not yet figured out how to launch it into orbit.

B) All systems are go, and he can finally relax a little.

C) NASA has lost contact with the Hermes.

D) He has to make his own rocket fuel.

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. How do the exchanges the Hermes crew have with their families on Earth affect the stakes in the effort to rescue Watney?

2. What is the significance of the global community’s response to Watney’s departure from Mars?