Question

read the excerpt from \harrison bergeron.\

hazel had a perfectly average intelligence, which meant she couldnt think about anything except in short bursts. and george, while his intelligence was way above normal, had a little mental handicap radio in his ear. he was required by law to wear it at all times. it was tuned to a government transmitter. every twenty seconds or so, the transmitter would send out some sharp noise to keep people like george from taking unfair advantage of their brains.

how could this excerpt serve as a warning about the consequences of forced uniformity?

by suggesting that forced uniformity specifically benefits individuals who are of average intelligence
by suggesting that forced uniformity encourages certain people to break the law
by implying that forced uniformity interferes with individuals intellectual development
by implying that forced uniformity hampers a societys ability to use new technologies

Explanation:

Analyze the effects of forced uniformity on George

George's above-normal intelligence is actively disrupted by a government transmitter that sends sharp noises every twenty seconds, preventing him from thinking deeply or continuously.

Evaluate the options against the text

• Option 1: The text states Hazel has average intelligence and cannot think deeply, but it does not suggest she "benefits" from this state; rather, it shows a stagnation of human potential.
• Option 2: There is no mention of forced uniformity encouraging people to break the law in this excerpt.
• Option 3: The physical and mental disruption of George's thoughts directly illustrates how forced uniformity interferes with an individual's intellectual development and cognitive capacity.
• Option 4: The society is actively using technology (the transmitter) to enforce uniformity, so it does not hamper their ability to use new technologies.

Determine the correct choice

The excerpt serves as a warning because it shows that forcing everyone to be equal physically and mentally destroys individual intellectual capabilities.

Answer:

• by suggesting that forced uniformity specifically benefits individuals who are of average intelligence
• by suggesting that forced uniformity encourages certain people to break the law
• by implying that forced uniformity interferes with individuals' intellectual development (Correct answer)
• by implying that forced uniformity hampers a society's ability to use new technologies