Question

from schiaparelli and the martian canals
in 1886 several astronomers confirmed schiaparelli’s study of mars and interpreting these canals became an important issue. unlike the oceans, the canals seemed to suggest clear evidence of the work of extraterrestrials on the landscape of mars. where the oceans of mars had suggested the possibility of life on the planet, the canals seemed to offer hard evidence of intelligent life on the red planet.
(from “seeing and interpreting martian oceans and canals” by the library of congress)
red planet mars is often called the red planet.
from war of the worlds
1 the intellectual side of man already admits that life is an incessant struggle for existence, and it would seem that this too is the belief of the minds upon mars....
2... had our instruments permitted it, we might have seen the gathering trouble far back in the nineteenth century. men like schiaparelli watched the red planet... but failed to interpret the fluctuating appearances of the markings they mapped so well. all that time the martians must have been getting ready.

“schiaparelli and the martian canals” gives a history of astronomer giovanni schiaparelli and his map of mars.
how is the reference to schiaparelli in paragraph 2 of the fictional war of the worlds most clearly used?

1. to portray the narrator as a highly educated person
2. to develop a theme that planetary conflict is unavoidable
3. to make the idea of an alien invasion seem more believable
4. to create a character who is sympathetic toward alien life-forms

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze the purpose of referencing Schiaparelli in War of the Worlds. Schiaparelli's work on Martian canals suggested intelligent life, which would make the idea of an alien invasion (the plot of War of the Worlds) more believable. Option 1 is incorrect as the reference isn't about the narrator's education. Option 2 is incorrect as planetary conflict isn't the focus. Option 4 is incorrect as the reference isn't about creating a sympathetic character. Option 3 matches the context: Schiaparelli's findings about possible Martian life support the alien invasion idea in the novel, making it more believable.

Answer:

1. to make the idea of an alien invasion seem more believable