reported on the threatened city

Question 1

Who is the narrator of ‘Report on the Threatened City’?

Answer 1

“The story is narrated by alien visitors who observe and report on a city threatened by disaster.”

Question 2

What is the main theme of ‘Report on the Threatened City’?

Answer 2

“The main themes include human ignorance

Question 3

How do the aliens communicate their warning to the humans?

Answer 3

“The aliens attempt to warn humans in various ways

Question 4

What is the significance of the aliens using children to deliver their message?

Answer 4

“Children are seen as innocent and open-minded

Question 5

What disaster threatens the city in the story?

Answer 5

“The exact nature of the disaster is left ambiguous

Question 6

How do the authorities react to the aliens’ warnings?

Answer 6

“The authorities dismiss the warnings

Question 7

What does the aliens’ failure to convince humans symbolize?

Answer 7

“It symbolizes humanity’s arrogance

Question 8

How does the story criticize human nature?

Answer 8

“It critiques human complacency

Question 9

What is the role of the media in ‘Report on the Threatened City’?

Answer 9

“The media in the story manipulates information

Question 10

How does the setting contribute to the story’s message?

Answer 10

“The city represents any modern society that ignores warnings about impending doom

Question 11

What literary techniques does Doris Lessing use in the story?

Answer 11

“Lessing uses irony

Question 12

What is the significance of the title ‘Report on the Threatened City’?

Answer 12

“The title suggests an objective

Question 13

How does the story fit into the genre of speculative fiction?

Answer 13

“It uses an alien perspective to examine human society

Question 14

What is the effect of the story being written as a report?

Answer 14

“The report format creates a sense of detachment and scientific objectivity

Question 15

How does the story reflect Cold War anxieties?

Answer 15

“The story was written during the Cold War

Question 16

What role does irony play in the story?

Answer 16

“Irony is central

Question 17

How do the aliens view human society?

Answer 17

“They see humans as irrational

Question 18

What is the ultimate fate of the city?

Answer 18

“Though the story does not explicitly state the city’s fate

Question 19

How does Lessing’s background influence the story?

Answer 19

“Doris Lessing was known for her political activism and critiques of authority

Question 20

Why is the use of an alien perspective effective in the story?

Answer 20

“It allows for a fresh

Question 21

What does the story suggest about leadership and power?

Answer 21

“Leaders in the story prioritize control and dismiss outside perspectives

Question 22

How does the story explore the conflict between logic and emotion?

Answer 22

“The aliens use logic to present their warnings

Question 23

How is the story an allegory?

Answer 23

“It serves as an allegory for real-world issues like climate change

Question 24

How does ‘Report on the Threatened City’ compare to other dystopian literature?

Answer 24

“Like other dystopian works

Question 25

What message does Lessing leave the reader with?

Answer 25

"She warns that societies that ignore threats and reject change are doomed to destruction

Question 26

What is the main conflict in 'Report on the Threatened City'?

Answer 26

"The conflict is between the aliens

Question 27

How do humans react to the aliens in the story?

Answer 27

"Humans react with fear

Question 28

What is the significance of the aliens' advanced intelligence?

Answer 28

"Their intelligence highlights the limitations of human thinking

Question 29

How does Lessing portray government and authority figures in the story?

Answer 29

"She portrays them as resistant to change

Question 30

What does the aliens' struggle to communicate symbolize?

Answer 30

"It symbolizes how revolutionary or uncomfortable truths are often ignored or suppressed by society."

Question 31

What role does propaganda play in the story?

Answer 31

"The media distorts the aliens' message

Question 32

Why do the aliens choose to observe rather than force humans to act?

Answer 32

"They respect free will and believe in logical persuasion

Question 33

How does the story explore human arrogance?

Answer 33

"Humans refuse to accept warnings from an advanced species

Question 34

What literary devices does Lessing use to emphasize her themes?

Answer 34

"She employs irony

Question 35

How does the story reflect attitudes toward outsiders?

Answer 35

"The aliens

Question 36

How does Lessing’s use of satire enhance the story?

Answer 36

"It mocks the absurdity of human ignorance and resistance to change

Question 37

Why is the city left unnamed in the story?

Answer 37

"The unnamed city makes the story universal

Question 38

What parallels can be drawn between the aliens and whistleblowers?

Answer 38

"Like whistleblowers

Question 39

What historical or political events may have influenced Lessing’s writing?

Answer 39

"The Cold War

Question 40

How does Lessing’s portrayal of human behavior relate to climate change denial?

Answer 40

"The story parallels climate change denial

Question 41

How does the ending of the story reinforce its message?

Answer 41

"The aliens ultimately fail

Question 42

What does the use of children as messengers reveal about communication?

Answer 42

"It highlights that truth can come from unexpected sources but is often dismissed when it challenges authority or conventional thinking."

Question 43

What does the phrase ‘threatened city’ imply about human society?

Answer 43

"It suggests that all societies are at risk when they ignore warnings and resist necessary change."

Question 44

How does the structure of the story affect its impact?

Answer 44

"The report format adds a sense of detachment

Question 45

What is the relationship between fear and control in the story?

Answer 45

"Leaders use fear to maintain control

Question 46

How does the story critique scientific skepticism?

Answer 46

"It shows how scientific truths can be ignored when they are inconvenient or challenge existing beliefs."

Question 47

What does the story say about humanity’s ability to recognize truth?

Answer 47

"It suggests that humans often reject truth if it does not fit their pre-existing beliefs or if it threatens established power structures."

Question 48

How does Lessing create tension in the story?

Answer 48

"By showing the growing desperation of the aliens and the increasing hostility of the humans

Question 49

What does the failure of communication in the story symbolize?

Answer 49

"It represents the broader human failure to learn from history

Question 50

How does the story reflect on human self-destruction?

Answer 50

"It suggests that humanity’s own ignorance

Question 51

What is the significance of the aliens' neutrality?

Answer 51

"They do not interfere forcefully

Question 52

How does Lessing’s background as a political writer influence the story?

Answer 52

"Her focus on government control

Question 53

How does the story compare to dystopian fiction?

Answer 53

"It shares themes with dystopian literature

Question 54

What lesson does 'Report on the Threatened City' teach about responsibility?

Answer 54

"It suggests that people must take responsibility for their own future instead of blindly following authority or ignoring evidence."