The Veldt

Which of the following would be considered ironic about the situation in Ray Bradbury's short story, "The Veldt"?

• The house is called a HappyLife Home.
• Peter and Wendy are twins.
• David McClean is a psychologist.
• George and Lydia are worried about the nursery.

Which of the following literary devices is being used in this quote? "'I don't imagine the room will like being turned off.'"

• Imagery
• Personification
• Allusion
• Simile

When the parents ask Peter and Wendy why the nursery is stuck in Africa, the children say, "There's no Africa in the nursery."  Then, Wendy runs to the nursery, and comes back declaring there is no Africa scene in the nursery.  Based on the fact that the parents saw Africa earlier, what can be inferred about the children's answer?

• The nursery is broken and no one knows it.
• The children are lying, and Wendy ran ahead to change the room scene.
• The parents are causing Africa to show on the walls.
• Peter is innocent. Wendy is to blame for the scene of Africa.

What is being inferred by the following line from the end of the story?  "And suddenly they realized why those other screams had sounded familiar."

• They heard the screams of the children
• They heard the scream of vultures
• They heard the lions dying in the virtual world
• They heard their own screams

Which answers describe the children? Pick 3

• Spoiled

• Shy

• Sweet

• Rude

• Hateful

Based on the story, which of the following technological advantages could you conclude that the author, Bradbury, think could actually be the most harmful? 

• An entertainment room that makes your thoughts real. 
• An entertainment room that replaces your father or mother for affection. 
• A home that turns off lights before and after you enter the room
• The ability to take rocket trips without any adult supervision. 

A possible theme statement for "The Veldt" is

• Technology should provide more nourishment for people than someone's friends and family.

• It is better if humanity lets machines take over the simple and mundane aspects of life.

• The advancement of technology should not be used to satisfy humanity's selfishness and laziness.

• None of the Above

An appropriate example of foreshadowing from the story is

• When the parents decide to turn the entire house off

• When the children come home from the carnival smelling like peppermint

• When George finds Lydia's scarf all bloodied in the nursery

• When Wendy asks the psychologist if he wants some tea

The best way to describe the nursery in the Hadley home is

• A simulation room complete with sensory technologies that takes the children's thoughts and turns them into a "realistic" scene

• A travel room that allows the family to travel to Africa anytime they want

• A room that a person can program to take them anywhere in the world

• A simulation room that is controlled by the parents at all times as a way to comfort their children when they are upset

The author's primary purpose for writing "The Veldt" can BEST be described as

• Entertaining the reader with a horrific story about violence and deception

• Warning or advising the reader about the potential consequences of advanced technology

• Informing the reader about a family who lost their sense of unity and self

• Persuading the reader to buy futuristic technologies because of the comforts they provide