Context Clues 1
In "The Mandalorian," the Empire uses surveillance droids to track down Baby Yoda.
What does the word surveillance mean in this sentence?
Careful watching of a person or place, usually by the government or police
In "The Giver," children are indoctrinated into their society's rules from a young age.
What does it mean to be indoctrinated?
Teaching someone to accept a set of beliefs without questioning them
In "Beauty and the Beast," the household objects like Lumière and Cogsworth are examples of personification.
What is personification?
Giving human characteristics to something non-human
In the gleaming city of Neo-Tokyo, citizens wore mandatory happiness monitors on their wrists. These devices constantly measured their emotional state, and anyone detected with prolonged periods of sadness or anger was swiftly taken away for "mood correction." The streets were filled with people wearing forced smiles, their eyes darting nervously as they tried to maintain an acceptable level of joy.
Which element of dystopian fiction is present in this paragraph?
A) Environmental destruction
B) Technological control
C) Totalitarian government
D) Loss of individuality
B) Technological control
Citizens of the Surveillance State lived under the constant gaze of the All-Seeing Eye. Cameras monitored every street corner, drones hovered outside windows, and even household appliances were equipped with listening devices. Privacy was a long-forgotten concept, and people lived in constant fear that their most intimate moments might be used against them by the authorities.
Which dystopian element is most prominent in this paragraph?
A) Environmental destruction
B) Loss of privacy
C) Propaganda
D) Social inequality
B) Loss of privacy
In "High School Musical," Troy struggles with conformity when he wants to sing but is expected to focus on basketball.
What does the word conformity mean in the sentence above?
Behaving the way most people do or are expected to
In "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," Jyn Erso engages in subversive activities against the Empire.
What is the definition of subversive based on how it is used above?
Trying to destroy or damage something, especially a political system
In "The Incredibles," it's ironic that Mr. Incredible works at an insurance company that denies claims.
What is irony?
A state of affairs or an event that seems deliberately contrary to what one expects
The last tree in Megapolis withered away, its leaves turning brown and falling to the concrete below. Citizens gathered around, some weeping silently, others simply staring in disbelief. The air was thick with smog, and in the distance, factory chimneys belched out more pollutants into the already toxic atmosphere. No one could remember the last time they had seen a clear sky or breathed fresh air.
Which dystopian element is highlighted in this paragraph?
A) Social inequality
B) Propaganda
C) Environmental destruction
D) Loss of privacy
C) Environmental destruction
In the aftermath of the Great Collapse, resources became scarce, and the government took control of all food production and distribution. Citizens were allotted daily rations based on their perceived value to society. Those deemed "essential" received adequate nutrition, while others slowly starved. The promise of extra food rations was used to manipulate people into compliance with the regime's demands.
What dystopian feature is illustrated in this scenario?
A) Totalitarian government
B) Environmental destruction
C) Loss of individuality
D) Technological control
A) Totalitarian government
In "The Hunger Games," the Capitol's regime controls all the districts with strict rules.
What is a regime?
A government, especially an authoritarian one
In "Inside Out," the character Anger uses euphemisms like "oh, fiddlesticks!" instead of actual curse words.
What is a euphemism?
A mild or pleasant word or phrase used instead of a more direct one
In "Inside Out," the islands of personality are metaphors for different aspects of Riley's character.
What is a metaphor?
A figure of speech that describes an object or action in a way that isn't literally true
In the United States of Conformity, creativity was outlawed. All citizens wore identical gray jumpsuits and lived in identical cube-shaped homes. Personal expression through art, music, or fashion was considered a threat to social harmony and was punishable by exile to the Wastelands. Children were taught from birth to suppress their individuality and embrace the collective.
What dystopian feature is prominent in this scenario?
A) Loss of individuality
B) Technological control
C) Totalitarian government
D) Environmental destruction
A) Loss of individuality
The Education Centers of New Utopia were places of rigid conformity. Students spent hours each day connected to virtual reality machines that fed them government-approved information. Critical thinking was discouraged, and rote memorization of state-sanctioned facts was the primary method of learning. Those who questioned the curriculum or showed signs of independent thought were sent for "mental recalibration."
Which dystopian element is most evident in this paragraph?
A) Loss of individuality
B) Propaganda
C) Social inequality
D) Environmental destruction
B) Propaganda
In "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," the team often has to infiltrate HYDRA bases.
What does it mean to infiltrate something?
To secretly enter a place or organization to get information
In "The Umbrella Academy," Vanya experiences repression of her powers throughout her childhood.
What is repression?
The use of force or violence to control a group of people
In "Peter Pan," the character's name is an example of alliteration.
What is alliteration?
The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words
The Supreme Leader's face beamed down from every screen and billboard in the city. His soothing voice echoed through the streets, constantly reminding citizens of their duty to the state and the dangers of dissent. History books were regularly rewritten to match the current narrative, and anyone who questioned the official version of events quickly disappeared.
Which dystopian element is most evident in this paragraph?
A) Social inequality
B) Propaganda
C) Loss of privacy
D) Environmental destruction
B) Propaganda
In the Productivity Zones, every citizen wore a chip that tracked their work output in real-time. Those who failed to meet their daily quotas were subjected to public shaming and reduced rations. Leisure time was considered a waste, and even sleep was strictly regulated to maximize efficiency. Humans were treated as nothing more than cogs in the great machine of industry.
What dystopian feature is prominent in this scenario?
A) Technological control
B) Loss of privacy
C) Totalitarian government
D) Loss of individuality
A) Technological control
In "Zootopia," Bellwether uses propaganda to turn prey animals against predators.
Based on how it's used in the sentence above, what is propaganda?
Information, often biased, used to promote a political cause
"Zootopia" serves as an allegory for real-world issues of prejudice and stereotyping.
What is an allegory?
A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden
meaning
In "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," Rey becomes an insurgent against the First Order.
What is an insurgent?
A person fighting against a government or invading force
In the Divided States, society was strictly segregated based on a person's genetic profile. Those with "superior" genes lived in luxurious sky-cities, while those deemed genetically inferior were confined to underground slums. Movement between these areas was strictly prohibited, and marriages were arranged solely to produce offspring with the most desirable genetic traits.
What dystopian feature is highlighted in this scenario?
A) Technological control
B) Loss of individuality
C) Social inequality
D) Totalitarian government
C) Social inequality
The last free-thinkers in the World of Consensus huddled in hidden underground meetings. They whispered forbidden ideas and shared dog-eared books saved from the great burnings. Above ground, the majority of the population lived in a state of artificial bliss, their thoughts and emotions regulated by mandatory medication. Creativity, passion, and independent thought were considered mental illnesses to be cured.
Which dystopian element is highlighted in this paragraph?
A) Environmental destruction
B) Social inequality
C) Loss of individuality
D) Propaganda
C) Loss of individuality