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Critiques of American Society in Science Fiction Answers

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3

most

A
Achieving absolute and literal equality requires the suppression of individuality.
M
Maintaining a stable society necessitates strict obedience to laws and rules.
T
Trying one’s best at any particular task is as good as achieving success.
D
Developing new technologies brings positive advancements to a society.
4

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.
6

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.
7

“I think I’d make a good Handicapper General.”“Good as anybody else,” said George.“Who knows better’n I do what normal is?” said Hazel.

I
It depicts her as a round character because she is looking to change her career.
I
It depicts her as a flat character because she represents the stereotype of average intelligence.
I
It depicts her as a round character because she is good at something, which makes her better than her peers.
I
It depicts her as a flat character because she is unclear about what normal means.
8

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.

H
Handicapping intelligence contradicts expectations because intelligence is normally considered a positive attribute.
H
Handicapping intelligence is pointless because determining whether one’s intelligence is above normal is a matter of opinion.
I
If George were really that intelligent, he would remove the device from his ear.
T
The mental handicap radio is incapable of correcting physical advantages.
9

most

c
conformity
o
oppression
e
equality
c
competition
10

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.
11

Read the excerpt from "Harrison Bergeron."“I am the Emperor!” cried Harrison. “Do you hear? I am the Emperor! Everybody must do what I say at once!” He stamped his foot and the studio shook.“Even as I stand here—” he bellowed, “crippled, hobbled, sickened—I am a greater ruler than any man who ever lived! Now watch me become what I can become!” Harrison tore the straps of his handicap harness like wet tissue paper, tore straps guaranteed to support five thousand pounds. Harrison’s scrap-iron handicaps crashed to the floor.What do Harrison’s words and actions reveal about his character?

A
He wants to become like the Handicapper General and have absolute power.
B
He wants to rebel against the law and show off his true self.
C
He wants to force everyone to appreciate music and dancing.
D
He wants to make the people watching television fear for their lives.
12

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.
13

Read the excerpt from "Harrison Bergeron."The year was 2081, and everybody was finally equal. They weren’t only equal before God and the law. They were equal every which way. Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better looking than anybody else. Nobody was stronger or quicker than anybody else. All this equality was due to the 211th, 212th, and 213th Amendments to the Constitution, and to the unceasing vigilance of agents of the United States Handicapper General. The author is describing a society that is

A
uniform.
B
fair.
C
competitive.
D
free.
14

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.
15

Read the excerpt from "Harrison Bergeron."Hazel had a perfectly average intelligence, which meant she couldn’t think about anything except in short bursts. 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 could this excerpt serve as a warning about the consequences of forced uniformity?

A
by suggesting that forced uniformity specifically benefits individuals who are of average intelligence
B
by suggesting that forced uniformity encourages certain people to break the law
C
by implying that forced uniformity interferes with individuals’ intellectual development
D
by implying that forced uniformity hampers a society’s ability to use new technologies
16

Read the excerpt from "Harrison Bergeron."The musicians scrambled back into their chairs, and Harrison stripped them of their handicaps, too. “Play your best,” he told them, “and I’ll make you barons and dukes and earls.”The music began. It was normal at first—cheap, silly, false. But Harrison snatched two musicians from their chairs, waved them like batons as he sang the music as he wanted it played. He slammed them back into their chairs.How does Vonnegut use irony in this excerpt?

A
The musicians are described as the opposite of what is expected.
B
The normal music is described as the opposite of what is expected.
C
Harrison’s actions contradict his character.
D
Harrison’s words contradict his character.
17

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.
18

In "Harrison Bergeron," why is Harrison Bergeron’s character considered a danger to society?

A
He is more physically and intellectually capable than others and this threatens their sense of equality.
B
He calls himself the Emperor and has constructed a detailed plot to overthrow the government.
C
He breaks into the studio and kidnaps a ballerina.
D
He is able to easily remove his handicap radio device.
19

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.
20

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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