Name
THE MARTIAN AND THE CAR: Characteristics of Life
During his first mission for the Martian
government, Marvin the Martian was sent to Earth by
the Martian government to find evidence life. While
on Earth, Marvin captured a car and brought it back
to Mars. He thought he'd found a good example of
life on Earth. The Martian government does not
believe that the car Marvin brought back is alive;
therefore, he must stand trial for failing to perform his
Martian duties.
At the trial, Marvin spoke in his own defense.
"I first saw these life forms rolling along roads in great
numbers. They were giving off thick clouds of waste as they
moved. They seemed to move in herds, as many of the cars
moved in the same direction in groups. They seemed to
have a great deal of energy-some of them moved faster
than 70 miles per hour! When one of these life forms stopped or slow down, the others behind it
reacted. They slowed down and gave off a red light from the back, and sometimes they would
make honking noises. I observed that they would often stop to feed on a liquid substance. I even
found their birthing facility in a place called "Detroit where new individuals were born and
carried off to nurseries for adoption."
Your task?
You work for a major newspaper, and have been asked by your editor to write
up a pre-verdict prediction. Predict what both the prosecution (against Marvin) and
defense (for Marvin) will say in their closing statements about the car's being alive.
(Prosecutors will try to show why he was wrong... defense would try to show how he was kind
of close...)
For the prosecution's argument, please explain how Marvin's testimony is wrong
- that his observations are flawed. Instead, you will give an actual example of this
characteristic of life and use it as evidence against Marvin's testimony. Make a chart
LIKE the one below on your own paper, filling in what each will say about each
characteristic
Characteristic
Cellular Organization
Chemicals of Life
Energy Use
Growth and development
Reproduction
Response to surroundings
Defense
Prosecution