Question

read the excerpt from \harrison bergeron.\

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.

vonnegut uses satire in this excerpt by

• describing a society that has taken the idea of equality too far.
• depicting a dystopian setting where people live and think freely.
• portraying an ideal society where everyone is equal in every way.
• suggesting that the government take a more active role in society.

Explanation:

Analyze the satirical premise of the excerpt

The text describes a future society in 2081 where "everybody was finally equal" not just before God and the law, but "every which way." It specifies that nobody was smarter, better looking, stronger, or quicker than anyone else, enforced by constitutional amendments and the "United States Handicapper General."

Evaluate the options against the satirical mechanism

• Option 1: "describing a society that has taken the idea of equality too far." This directly aligns with Kurt Vonnegut's satirical target. By taking the noble concept of equality to an extreme, absurd level where individual talents and beauty are forcibly suppressed, he uses satire to critique forced conformity.
• Option 2: "depicting a dystopian setting where people live and think freely." This is incorrect because the text describes a highly controlled, unfree environment.
• Option 3: "portraying an ideal society where everyone is equal in every way." This is incorrect because the tone is satirical and dystopian, not a depiction of a genuinely ideal society.
• Option 4: "suggesting that the government take a more active role in society." This is incorrect because the extreme government control (Handicapper General) is being mocked, not promoted.

Answer:

• describing a society that has taken the idea of equality too far. (Correct answer)
• depicting a dystopian setting where people live and think freely.
• portraying an ideal society where everyone is equal in every way.
• suggesting that the government take a more active role in society.