The Veldt
What is the purpose of the nursery in the Hadley family's smart home?
A. It helps the parents teach their children math and science
B. It entertains the children by creating virtual environments based on their thoughts
C. It grows food and recycles air for the house
D. It functions as a medical station for emergencies
B. It entertains the children by creating virtual environments based on their thoughts
Why is the sun so important to the children living on Venus?
A. It powers their electricity for the whole year
B. It gives them rare warmth and light in a world of constant rain
C. It helps plants grow inside their school
D. It signals the end of the school year
B. It gives them rare warmth and light in a world of constant rain
What is the Examination Day, and how does it affect the Jordan family?
A. It is a test to choose leaders for the government
B. It’s a family holiday where everyone shares their goals
C. It’s a government-mandated intelligence test that creates fear and tension
D. It’s a school entrance exam that children take voluntarily
C. It’s a government-mandated intelligence test that creates fear and tension
Why did the family visit the East Boston Urban Center?
A. To attend a science exhibition about urban planning
B. To see the last remaining live tree in the area
C. To tour a famous historic skyscraper
D. To participate in a government protest against zoning laws
B. To see the last remaining live tree in the area
What's Mr. Soemer's favorite football team?
A. Cleveland Browns
B. Baltimore Ravens
C. Pittsburgh Steelers
D. Kansas City Chiefs
B. Baltimore Ravens
How does the conflict between the children and their parents drive the plot forward?
A. The parents want to send the children to boarding school, but they refuse
B. The parents plan to move to a new house, and the children try to stop them
C. The parents try to turn off the nursery, which the children see as a threat to their freedom
D. The children want to take a vacation, but the parents say they can’t afford it
C. The parents try to turn off the nursery, which the children see as a threat to their freedom
How does Margot’s isolation contribute to the conflict in the story?
A. She refuses to participate in any school activities
B. The other children are jealous of her memory of the sun and exclude her
C. Her teacher blames her for failing science class
D. She lies about the weather and misleads the class
B. The other children are jealous of her memory of the sun and exclude her
How does the government’s role in the story reflect dystopian control?
A. It promotes literacy and creativity in children
B. It gives everyone equal opportunities to succeed
C. It punishes children for being too intelligent, controlling potential threats
D. It encourages families to hide their true thoughts from each other
C. It punishes children for being too intelligent, controlling potential threats
What does the tree symbolize in the context of the story’s futuristic, urban setting?
A. A flaw in the government’s environmental system
B. A symbol of rebellion against technological progress
C. A reminder of the beauty and vitality of nature that society has forgotten
D. An example of a rare luxury item owned by the wealthy elite
C. A reminder of the beauty and vitality of nature that society has forgotten
Where was Mr. Soemer born?
A. Baltimore, Maryland
B. Paris, France
C. London, England
D. Los Angeles, California
A. Baltimore, Maryland
What does the story suggest about the dangers of overreliance on technology?
A. That technology will eventually replace all physical objects
B. That relying too much on machines can weaken family bonds and emotional growth
C. That children will always be smarter than adults
D. That machines can never truly understand human needs
B. That relying too much on machines can weaken family bonds and emotional growth
What message does the story convey about empathy and bullying?
A. That group decisions are always right
B. That children naturally become aggressive in dark environments
C. That lacking empathy can lead to cruelty and lasting regret
D. That bullying is a necessary part of social development
C. That lacking empathy can lead to cruelty and lasting regret
In what ways does Dickie’s innocence clash with the society he lives in?
A. He trusts authority in a world that punishes honesty and intelligence
B. He is too rebellious for a well-ordered world
C. He dislikes technology in a society that depends on it
D. He is mean to other kids in a peaceful school system
A. He trusts authority in a world that punishes honesty and intelligence
What is the theme of this story?
A. Nature is resilient and humans should not worry about damaging the environment.
B. The benefits of human progress outweigh its negative consequences.
C. Humans value preserving nature over technological progress.
D. Technological progress and urbanization come at a cost.
D. Technological progress and urbanization come at a cost.
What's Mr. Soemer's wife's name?
A. Bethany
B. Kelsey
C. Hannah
D. Sarah
D. Sarah
What dystopian element is most evident in the Hadleys' reliance on their smart home?
A. The family's wealth isolates them from society
B. The technology replaces human roles, leading to emotional disconnection and a breakdown in family structure
C. The government forces families to use technology to raise their children
D. The house is used to monitor and report on family behavior to authorities
B. The technology replaces human roles, leading to emotional disconnection and a breakdown in family structure
Which dystopian feature shapes the children’s behavior on Venus?
A. The overregulation of education by the government
B. The underground living conditions that suppress emotional development and empathy
C. The use of artificial light that mimics the sun’s psychological effects
D. The government ban on outdoor activity and play
B. The underground living conditions that suppress emotional development and empathy
How does the story use dystopian elements to critique intelligence testing?
A. It suggests that only the wealthy can pass exams
B. It shows that intelligence is a threat in a society that values conformity and control
C. It reveals how technology determines social class
D. It promotes intelligence as the only path to success
B. It shows that intelligence is a threat in a society that values conformity and control
What dystopian aspect is shown through the government's plan to tear down the O’Brien house and tree?
A. The government encourages public participation in land-use decisions
B. The authorities want to preserve natural history in digital form only
C. Urban development is prioritized over preserving rare, natural environments
D. Wealthy families are the only ones allowed to visit natural spaces
C. Urban development is prioritized over preserving rare, natural environments
True or False:
Mr. Soemer likes to play basketball.
True
How does the African veldt simulation in the nursery symbolize the children's emotional state and the story’s central themes?
A. It represents their desire for adventure and learning
B. It shows their fear of growing up in a technological world
C. It reflects their hidden anger and the breakdown of parental control
D. It symbolizes the family’s economic struggle in a high-tech society
C. It reflects their hidden anger and the breakdown of parental control
How might the children’s feelings change after they realize what they’ve done to Margot, and what does that reveal about human nature?
A. They likely feel triumphant, revealing children enjoy control
B. They probably feel guilty, showing the capacity for remorse and learning
C. They are indifferent, reflecting emotional detachment
D. They plan to apologize because they want to avoid punishment
B. They probably feel guilty, showing the capacity for remorse and learning
How does the author use irony to critique the idea of intelligence in authoritarian societies?
A. The smartest children are praised and made leaders
B. The government promotes creativity but rewards conformity
C. Intelligence is portrayed as dangerous, and those with it are eliminated
D. The test is optional, but everyone volunteers to take it
C. Intelligence is portrayed as dangerous, and those with it are eliminated
Why does the narrator pick up the acorn and keep it in his pocket?
A. He wants to grow a tree in his backyard despite zoning laws
B. He intends to give it to a museum for preservation
C. He feels a personal, emotional connection to the tree and wants to keep a piece of it
D. He plans to report the tree to authorities for breaking regulations
C. He feels a personal, emotional connection to the tree and wants to keep a piece of it
True or False:
Mr. Soemer is a G
True