Question 25 • Hopkins FA American Literature (2026-2027)
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?
Answer
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.
Explanation
Harrison is burdened with three hundred pounds of scrap metal and forced to wear ridiculous facial handicaps, such as a red rubber-ball nose and black tooth caps. These exaggerated details make the government’s effort to erase every advantage seem absurd. This ridicules society’s obsession with eliminating differences and advantages, so B is correct.
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