Question 7 • CMS 2026-2027 English III CREDIT RECOVERY
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?
Answer
A
Handicapping intelligence contradicts expectations because intelligence is normally considered a positive attribute.
B
If George were really that intelligent, he would remove the device from his ear.
C
The mental handicap radio is incapable of correcting physical advantages.
D
Handicapping intelligence is pointless because determining whether one’s intelligence is above normal is a matter of opinion.
Explanation
The excerpt is ironic because the government treats George’s intelligence as an unfair advantage and deliberately disrupts it. Intelligence is usually viewed as a positive quality, so the effort to handicap it contradicts what readers would normally expect. Choice D captures this contrast; the other choices focus on issues the excerpt does not establish.
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