Comprehension
How Juan gets his first promotion after taking a job as a censor
by betraying a fellow worker
What is the likeliest meaning of the synchronizing in this passage?
"Harrison and his Empress merely listened to the music for a while -- listened gravely, as though synchronizing their heartbeats with it.
matching
What is the main reason for Juan's applying for a job as a censor?
to prevent a friend from getting in trouble
Who or what is the main target of satire in "The Censors"?
the repressive practices of dictatorships
This happens to Juan at the end of "The Censors"
He censors his own letter, which gets him in trouble, and then he is executed.
Answers will vary, but they should illustrate this meaning:
deliberately destroy, damage, or obstruct (something), especially for political or military advantage.
What is the author's attitude towards the society he describes in "Harrison Bergeron": silly, disturbing, impressive, or advanced?
disturbing
What customs, institutions, or beliefs does the social commentary criticize most clearly: laboratory testing, wasteful spending, government censorship, government procedures, and/or government building design?
government censorship and procedures
"The Censors" takes place in a country ruled by a dictator. What do the details and outcome of "The Censors" suggest most clearly about dictatorships in general? Choose three options:
a. They are very compassionate.
b. They encourage conformity.
c. They stimulate creativity.
d. They can be very violent.
e. They often seem absurd.
f. They inspire rejoicing.
b. They encourage conformity.
d. They can be very violent.
e. They often seem absurd.
What does the context suggest is most likely the meaning of neutralizing as it is used in this passage from "Harrison Bergeron"?
"And then, neutralizing gravity with love and pure will, they remained suspended in air inches below the ceiling, and they kissed each other for a long, long time."
reducing the effect of
What does this sentence tell us about Juan's experience as a censor?
"He had a truly patriotic task, both self-denying and uplifting."
He becomes proud of his job as a censor.
"There's nothing to stop them from going as far as that hidden Paris neighborhood, kidnapping Mariana, and returning to their cozy homes, certain of having fulfilled their noble mission."
Which word in this quotation best illustrates a cynical tone?
noble
In "Harrison Bergeron," what consequences must a person face for removing a handicap?
pay a fine and spend time in prison
What sort of person can best be described as subversive?
Answers may vary, but they should still mean the same thing: someone who is plotting a rebellion.
Someone who wants to undermine the power and authority of (an established system or institution).
"It's true that on the third day, a fellow worker had his right hand blown off by a letter, but the division chief claimed that it was sheer negligence on the victim's part. Juan and the other employees were allowed to go back to their work, though feeling less secure."
What main technique does the author use to convey her view of the society in which the story is set?
She uses humorous exaggeration of characters and situations, poking fun in order to criticize the society in which the story is set.
Which quotation from "The Censors" best illustrates the story's humorous, mocking tone?
a. Without thinking twice, he [Juan] sat down at his table and wrote her [Mariana] a letter.
b. But he knows that the Censor's Secret Command operates all over the world and cashes in on the discount airfares...
b. But he knows...
In "Harrison Bergeron," how do George and Hazel react to what happens to their son?
They quickly forget about it.
What is the likeliest meaning of consternation as it is used in this passage from "Harrison Bergeron"?
"Screams and barking cries of consternation came from the television set. The photograph of Harrison Bergeron on the screen jumped again and again, as though dancing to the tune of an earthquake."
a. anger
b. dismay
c. annoyance
d. humiliation
b. dismay
From the description of the handicaps that have been placed upon him, what is the most likely conclusion you can draw about Harrison: physically and intellectually extraordinary, a terrible troublemaker, scary and violent, or artistically gifted?
physically and intellectually extraordinary
Which sentence contains an example of hyperbole?
I slept better in the city, but I am a poor sleeper in general.
The crickets' racket is louder than any noise in the world.
crickets sentence