AnswersAZ-English Language Arts 11 BCritiques of American Society in Science Fiction

Critiques of American Society in Science Fiction Answers

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Which condition is considered most dangerous by George and Hazel Bergeron in "Harrison Bergeron"?

A
conformity
B
oppression
C
equality
D
competition
2
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Read the excerpt from "Harrison Bergeron."“That’s all right—” Hazel said of the announcer, “he tried. That’s the big thing. He tried to do the best he could with what God gave him. He should get a nice raise for trying so hard.”How do Hazel’s comments help Vonnegut develop his critique of society in the United States?

A
They illustrate the absurdity of trying to make everyone the same.
B
They emphasize the importance of having compassion for others.
C
They emphasize the importance of doing one’s best.
D
They illustrate the need for laws that enforce equality.
3

Read the excerpt from "Harrison Bergeron."Scrap metal was hung all over him. Ordinarily, there was a certain symmetry, a military neatness to the handicaps issued to strong people, but Harrison looked like a walking junkyard. In the race of life, Harrison carried three hundred pounds.And to offset his good looks, the H-G men required that he wear at all times a red rubber ball for a nose, keep his eyebrows shaved off, and cover his even white teeth with black caps at snaggle-tooth random.How does Harrison Bergeron’s physical description help to create satire?

A
The contrast of military neatness with Harrison’s appearance highlights the importance of sameness.
B
The absurdity of Harrison’s exaggerated handicaps ridicules society’s obsession with eliminating advantages.
C
The humorous description of Harrison’s appearance suggests that good looks are unimportant.
D
The numerous handicaps issued to Harrison criticize society’s obsession with superficial appearances.
4

Read the excerpt from "Harrison Bergeron."And George, while his intelligence was way above normal, had a little mental handicap radio in his ear. He was required by law to wear it at all times. It was tuned to a government transmitter. Every twenty seconds or so, the transmitter would send out some sharp noise to keep people like George from taking unfair advantage of their brains.How is this excerpt an example of irony?

A
Handicapping intelligence contradicts expectations because intelligence is normally considered a positive attribute.
B
Handicapping intelligence is pointless because determining whether one’s intelligence is above normal is a matter of opinion.
C
If George were really that intelligent, he would remove the device from his ear.
D
The mental handicap radio is incapable of correcting physical advantages.
5

Read the excerpt from "Harrison Bergeron."“All of a sudden you look so tired,” said Hazel. “Why don’t you stretch out on the sofa, so’s you can rest your handicap bag on the pillows, honeybunch.” She was referring to the forty-seven pounds of birdshot in a canvas bag, which was padlocked around George’s neck. “Go on and rest the bag for a little while,” she said. “I don’t care if you’re not equal to me for a while.”George weighed the bag with his hands. “I don’t mind it,” he said. “I don’t notice it any more. It’s just a part of me.”This dialogue between George and Hazel portrays George as a

A
static character because he has accepted society’s rules and does not try to challenge them.
B
dynamic character because he makes sacrifices so that Hazel can feel good about herself.
C
static character because he does not report Hazel to the Handicapper General for her suggestion.
D
dynamic character because he needs handicap device to control his strength and intelligence.
6

Read the excerpt from "Harrison Bergeron."He tried to think a little about the ballerinas. They weren’t really very good—no better than anybody else would have been, anyway. They were burdened with sash-weights and bags of birdshot, and their faces were masked, so that no one, seeing a free and graceful gesture or a pretty face, would feel like something the cat drug in. George was toying with the vague notion that maybe dancers shouldn’t be handicapped. This excerpt best illustrates Kurt Vonnegut’s message that

A
everyone in a society should have equal talent and beauty.
B
advances in technology should be closely monitored.
C
television viewing limits individual thought and creativity.
D
absolute equality prevents personal freedoms of expression.
7

Which of the following excerpts from "Harrison Bergeron" best illustrates irony?

A
“If you see this boy,” said the ballerina, “do not—I repeat, do not—try to reason with him.”
B
“He is a genius and an athlete, is under-handicapped, and should be regarded as extremely dangerous.”
C
“My God—” said George, “that must be Harrison!”
D
“Gee—I could tell that one was a doozy,” said Hazel.
8

In "Harrison Bergeron," Vonnegut includes the character of Diana Moon Glampers, the Handicapper General, to

A
reinforce the importance of obeying laws to keep society from falling apart.
B
illustrate a logical solution for correcting inequality in society.
C
represent the real dangers of an oppressive government.
D
provide an example of someone who has natural abilities and advantages over other people.
9

Based on "Harrison Bergeron," which statement would Kurt Vonnegut most likely support?

A
Achieving absolute and literal equality requires the suppression of individuality.
B
Maintaining a stable society necessitates strict obedience to laws and rules.
C
Trying one’s best at any particular task is as good as achieving success.
D
Developing new technologies brings positive advancements to a society.
10

Read the excerpt from "Harrison Bergeron."A police photograph of Harrison Bergeron was flashed on the screen—upside down, then sideways, upside down again, then right side up.This excerpt is an example of satire because it humorously

A
exposes the incompetence that this society views as normal.
B
portrays Harrison Bergeron as being more dangerous than he really is.
C
exaggerates the effects of George Bergeron’s handicaps.
D
illustrates how television and other media control society.

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