The Algorithm's Choice

What is the theme of the story?

Answer explanation

The themes of this story are: Free will vs. Control and about trusting your own instinct.

What technique can you identify?

Organize the following into a correct PETER paragraph structure. The prompt is: "How does "The Algorithm's Choice" explore the conflict between free will and control?"

• In "The Algorithm's Choice," Doe proposes that humans must prioritize personal freedom and emotional connections over societal control to truly live meaningful lives.

• For example, when the algorithm assigns Ava her ideal match, she feels conflicted, as her emotional connection to Kieran challenges the logic of the system’s decision.

• The author uses symbolism in the algorithm to represent the way rigid systems can restrict individuality and emotional depth.

• Through this, the story shows that while control offers stability and order, it comes at the cost of personal freedom and emotional fulfillment. Ava’s hesitation and eventual choice suggest that living authentically requires embracing uncertainty. This tension highlights the limitations of systems that ignore the human need for emotional and personal agency.

• The story encourages readers to reflect on how much of their lives they are willing to surrender to technology or societal expectations. It asks whether security is worth sacrificing the richness of human experience. Ultimately, the narrative pushes us to value freedom and emotions as essential parts of being human.

Create a POINT for the prompt: How does the author of "The Algorithm’s Choice" use literary techniques to emphasize the limitations of technology in understanding human emotions?

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Select the best evidence for the Point: "In "The Algorithm’s Choice," the author uses literary techniques to show that technology is incapable of fully understanding human emotions, highlighting its limitations in defining meaningful choices."

• "The algorithm didn’t consider such feelings relevant. That was the beauty of EquiChoice: it erased the noise of human emotion."

• "The EquiChoice Algorithm, designed to maximize efficiency, dictated everything—from careers to relationships."

• "Dax’s profile filled the screen—stable career, strong genes, logical temperament. He was, as the algorithm assured her, ideal."

• '“I couldn’t stop thinking about you,” Ava admitted. “About whether this... this life we’re told to live is real.”'

Complete the sentence to review the technique used: Doe uses the glowing algorithm as ___________ of the distance that technology has from true human experience.

What can be improved about the following explanation: "This symbolism shows how technology can’t capture the complexity of emotions or the importance of memories that shape who we are. Ava’s conflict between trusting the algorithm and following her heart demonstrates that real human choices are often messy and unpredictable. The story reminds us that emotions and personal connections are what make life meaningful, even if they don’t fit into a perfect system."

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In the story, the algorithm is described as:
"The glowing terminal emitted an ethereal blue light, its hum steady and assured, like a heartbeat for the city itself."

What literary device is used in this description?

• Personification

• Metaphor

• Hyperbole

• Alliteration

When Ava stands in front of the terminal and hesitates, the story shifts to a memory:
"A faint memory tugged at her—a boy with muddy hands and wild laughter. Kieran."

What structural technique is being used here?

• Flashback

• Foreshadowing

• Dialogue

• Paralleism

The wilderness outside NeoRegis is described as:
"Buildings faded into dense greenery, and the sterile hum of the city gave way to the sound of wind and rustling leaves."

How does the word choice contrast the city and the wilderness?

• By emphasizing the freedom of the wilderness compared to the control of the city.

• By showing how the city and the wilderness are equally unpredictable.

• By focusing on the quietness of both the city and the wilderness.

• By portraying the wilderness as chaotic and uninviting.