On The Beach Novel Quiz! Trivia

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| By KaylaBarclay

KaylaBarclay

Community Contributor

Quizzes Created: 16 | Total Attempts: 63,712

Questions: 10 | Attempts: 68 | Updated: Mar 18, 2023

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The novel, “On the Beach,” is a 1957 post-apocalyptic story written by British author Nevil Shute. The book demonstrates the idea of a world being taken over by nuclear war and destruction. There are only a few lasting survivors who are about to die from a radioactive cloud that is heading toward them. Take this quiz and learn more about the book, “On the Beach. ”

Questions and Answers

1.

What does the phrase "on the beach" mean?
- A.
  
  Vacation
- B.
  
  Navy term for "out of service"
- C.
  
  A place to be
- D.
  
  I don't know
Correct Answer
B. Navy term for "out of service"

Explanation
The phrase "on the beach" is a navy term used to describe a ship that is out of service or decommissioned. When a ship is "on the beach," it means that it has been taken out of active duty and is no longer operational. This term is often used to refer to ships that are either awaiting repairs or are being permanently retired from service. It is not related to vacation or simply a place to be.

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2.

Where does the story take place?
- A.
  
  Australia
- B.
  
  United States
- C.
  
  Scotland
- D.
  
  Mexico
Correct Answer
A. Australia

Explanation
The story takes place in Australia.

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3.

When does the story take place?
- A.
  
  1953
- B.
  
  1960
- C.
  
  1959
- D.
  
  1963
Correct Answer
D. 1963
4.

What war caused the nuclear apocalypse?
- A.
  
  A nuclear attack by Albania on Italy
- B.
  
  The bombings of the United States and the United Kingdom by Egypt
- C.
  
  A retaliatory strike on the Soviet Union by NATO
- D.
  
  All of the above
Correct Answer
D. All of the above

Explanation
The correct answer is "All of the above." This means that all three events mentioned in the options - a nuclear attack by Albania on Italy, the bombings of the United States and the United Kingdom by Egypt, and a retaliatory strike on the Soviet Union by NATO - caused the nuclear apocalypse.

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5.

Which hemisphere was affected?
- A.
  
  Northern Hemisphere
- B.
  
  Southern Hemisphere
- C.
  
  Both
- D.
  
  I don't know
Correct Answer
A. Northern HemispHere

Explanation
The correct answer is Northern Hemisphere because the question is asking which hemisphere was affected. Since the answer states Northern Hemisphere, it implies that only the Northern Hemisphere was affected, not the Southern Hemisphere.

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6.

Which places were for the most part unaffected by the radioactive fallout?
- A.
  
  Australia
- B.
  
  New Zealand
- C.
  
  South Africa
- D.
  
  All of the above
Correct Answer
D. All of the above

Explanation
All of the above places - Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa - were for the most part unaffected by the radioactive fallout. This means that these countries did not experience significant contamination or negative effects from the release of radioactive materials into the environment.

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7.

What does the Australian government give to the civilians?
- A.
  
  Food
- B.
  
  Suicide pills and injections
- C.
  
  Water
- D.
  
  Radiation suits
Correct Answer
B. Suicide pills and injections
8.

What do Osborne and the crew find out about the radiation when they go to the Gulf of Alaska?
- A.
  
  The state is destroyed
- B.
  
  Radiation levels are not decreasing
- C.
  
  Survivors
- D.
  
  Nothing
Correct Answer
B. Radiation levels are not decreasing

Explanation
Osborne and the crew discover that the radiation levels in the Gulf of Alaska are not decreasing. This implies that there is a continuous and ongoing source of radiation in the area, which could have severe implications for the environment and the health of any living beings present. The fact that the radiation levels are not decreasing suggests that there might be a persistent and unaddressed issue that needs to be investigated further.

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9.

What gave off the mysterious radio signal?
- A.
  
  The wind
- B.
  
  The machine malfunctioned
- C.
  
  A survivor
- D.
  
  A broken window sash swinging in the breeze and occasionally hitting a telegraph key
Correct Answer
D. A broken window sash swinging in the breeze and occasionally hitting a telegrapH key

Explanation
The broken window sash swinging in the breeze and occasionally hitting a telegraph key would give off the mysterious radio signal. The swinging motion of the broken window sash, combined with it occasionally hitting the telegraph key, would create a series of electrical signals that could be transmitted as a radio signal. This would explain the source of the mysterious radio signal.

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10.

How does the story end?
- A.
  
  They survive in a bunker
- B.
  
  Everyone dies
- C.
  
  The submarine crew survives
- D.
  
  A few people survive
Correct Answer
B. Everyone dies

Explanation
The given answer states that everyone dies. This implies that there is a tragic ending to the story, where all the characters meet their demise. It suggests that there is no hope or survival for any of the individuals involved in the story, leading to a bleak conclusion.

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