Question

what mainly do the following lines about the ballerinas reveal (paragraph 10)?
they werent really very good—no better than anybody else would have been, anyway. they were burdened with sashweights and bags of birdshot, and their faces were masked, so that no one, seeing a free and graceful gesture or a pretty face, would feel like something the cat drug in.
a. the ballerinas are the only people left who are allowed to be beautiful.
b. dance is the last remaining art form.
c. shielding high intelligence or good looks keeps the public from feeling inferior.
d. people are forced to wear their handicaps in order to encourage them to become even stronger.
ccss: rl 7.1, rl 7.2

Explanation:

The text mentions that the ballerinas are burdened with sashweights and bags of birdshot and have masked faces. This implies that their natural attributes (like grace or good looks) are hidden. In a context where equality is enforced (as in the story "Harrison Bergeron"), shielding high intelligence or good looks (by handicapping) is to prevent others from feeling inferior. Option C aligns with this idea as it connects the masking/burdening (handicapping) to public perception of inferiority.

Answer:

C. Shielding high intelligence or good looks keeps the public from feeling inferior.