Question

question 12 of 20
read this passage from \harrison bergeron\ by kurt vonnegut:
the year was 2081, and everybody was finally equal. they werent 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.
which statement best explains how irony is used in the passage?
a. a government agency is established to enforce a law that is unconstitutional.
b. the constitution, which guarantees personal freedom, is amended to deny it.
c. people are burdened with handicaps to be made equal in the eyes of the law.

Explanation:

The passage describes a society where equality is enforced through suppressing individual abilities (via handicaps), contradicting the Constitution's core purpose of protecting personal freedom. Amending the Constitution to enable this suppression creates situational irony—using the document meant to safeguard freedom to eliminate it. This contrasts the Constitution’s intended role with its perverted use, making it the clearest example of irony.

Answer:

B. The Constitution, which guarantees personal freedom, is amended to deny it.