Question

read the passage.
the war of the worlds hoax
\martian cylinders are falling all over the country!\ proclaimed a voice on the radio. it was halloween night, 1938, and orson welles was in the midst of a performance of the h. g. wells story the war of the worlds. most listeners were aware that it was fiction; after all, an explanatory announcement had been given at the programs beginning. however, listeners who tuned in late missed the programs introduction. in addition, welles was a magnificent performer, interspersing his
eport\ with sound effects and eyewitness \interviews.\ consequently, some audience members believed they were hearing a real news account. they listened in increasing terror as welles described the \invading army from the planet mars.\ fearing for their lives, some took refuge in their basements or fled their homes. when welles concluded the show with the admission that it had been a halloween prank, reactions ranged from amusement to fury.
what is the main, or central, idea of the passage?
as a result of a news - style radio performance, some war of the worlds listeners believed the broadcast to be true.
some early war of the worlds listeners were so frightened that they hid in their basements or left their homes.
because of an earlier warning that they were about to hear a work of fiction, most war of the worlds listeners knew that they were not listening to real news.

Explanation:

The passage focuses on Orson Welles' radio performance of The War of the Worlds on Halloween 1938. Despite an initial disclaimer, some listeners believed the broadcast was real news due to Welles' performance with sound - effects and "interviews".

Answer:

As a result of a news - style radio performance, some War of the Worlds listeners believed the broadcast to be true.