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Harrison Bergeron

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 21mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

In this story, people with above-average intelligence have to...

a)

watch a lot of television every night

b)

marry someone with less intelligence

c)

report weekly to the Handicapper General

d)

wear mental-handicap transmitters

2.

Based on the number of handicaps Harrison wears, you can conclude he is...

a)

the same as everyone else

b)

dangerous to others in society

c)

above average in many ways

d)

glad he doesn't live at home

3.

Harrison is in conflict with

a)

his parents

b)

the government

c)

his teachers

d)

a ballerina

4.

Which of the following were a part of Harrison's handicaps?

a)

scrap metal all over his body

b)

scuba diving flippers on his feet

c)

red rubber ball on his nose

5.

What does Hazel suggest George do?

a)

take off his handicaps and have a rest

b)

go break Harrison out of jail

c)

request additional handicaps

d)

change the channel as she doesn't want to watch the ballerinas

6.

What does Harrison call himself when he storms onto the stage?

a)

The Handicapper General

b)

The King

c)

The Abnormal One

d)

The Emperor

7.

When does Diana Moon Glampers kill Harrison and his Empress?

a)

as they are making a run for it

b)

as they twirl in the air

c)

as soon as Harrison shows up and interrupts the ballerinas' performance

d)

right as Harrison breaks out of jail

8.

What's ironic about the ballet?

a)

It was being televised

b)

It wasn't graceful, beautiful or as good as one would expect of a nationally televised ballet

c)

Despite their handicaps, the ballerinas were able to be graceful and put on a beautiful ballet

d)

There was nothing ironic about the ballet

9.

Harrison is a symbol of...

a)

Dependence

b)

Rebellion

c)

Obedience

d)

Family Values

10.

Which quote below demonstrates the irony that the handicaps which were designed to make everyone equal still allow individuals to be identified as unique?

a)

“When George could open his eyes again, the photograph of Harrison was gone. A living, breathing Harrison filled the screen.”

b)

“‘If I was Diana Moon Glampers,’ ” said Hazel, “‘I’d have chimes on Sunday — just chimes. Kind of in honor of religion.’ ”

c)

“She must have been extraordinarily beautiful, because the mask she wore was hideous. And it was easy to see that she was the strongest and most graceful of all the dancers, for her handicap bags were as big as those worn by two-hundred pound men.”

d)

“The music began again and was much improved.”

11.

The author, Vonnegut, uses "Harrison Bergeron" to show that complete equality is...

a)

impossible to achieve

b)

a noble goal

c)

the best thing for society

d)

the way to peace

12.

How is Harrison different from the other members of society in "Harrison Bergeron"?

a)

He is happier.

b)

He is more afraid.

c)

He is smarter.

d)

He is uglier.

13.

Which of the following quotes from the text represents the rising action in the story?

a)

“’I forget,” she said. “Something real sad on television.’”

b)

“Diana Moon Glampers loaded the gun again. She aimed it at the musicians and told them they had ten seconds to get their handicaps back on.”

c)

“She fired twice, and the Emperor and the Empress were dead before they hit the floor.”

d)

“Harrison thrust his thumbs under the bar of the padlock that secured his head harness. The bar snapped like celery. Harrison smashed his headphones and spectacles against the wall.”

14.

Which is not a piece of evidence in the beginning that lets the readers know the setting is in the future?

a)

“All this equality was due to the 211th, 212th, and 213th Amendments to the Constitution. . ."

b)

“George and Hazel were watching television. There were tears on Hazel’s cheeks, but she’d forgotten for the moment what they were about.”

c)

“The year was 2081, and everybody was finally equal.”

d)

“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.”

15.

Which quote best represents the climax?

a)

“The knob of the uprooted studio door was still in his hand. Ballerinas, technicians, musicians, and announcers cowered on their knees before him, expecting to die.”

b)

“’I am the Emperor!’ cried Harrison. ‘Do you hear? I am the Emperor! Everybody must do what I say at once!’ He stamped his foot and the studio shook.”

c)

“She fired twice, and the Emperor and the Empress were dead before they hit the floor.”

d)

“’That’s my girl,’ said George. He winced. There was the sound of a riveting gun in his head.”

16.

What is the resolution of the story?

a)

Everything goes back to the way it was before.

b)

Harrison and the ballerina are both dead.

c)

Diana Moon Glampers makes the musicians put their handicaps back on.

d)

George and Hazel mourn alone in their home.

17.

What text evidence best represents the main conflict in the story?

a)

“The year was 2081, and everybody was finally equal. They weren’t 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.”

b)

“’Even as I stand here’ he bellowed, ‘crippled, hobbled, sickened — I am a greater ruler than any man who ever lived! Now watch me become what I can become!’”

c)

“’Harrison Bergeron, age fourteen,’” she said in a grackle squawk, “’has just escaped from jail, where he was held on suspicion of plotting to overthrow the government. He is a genius and an athlete, is underhandicapped, and should be regarded as extremely dangerous.’”

d)

All of the above.

18.

Which of the following is not a theme found in "Harrison Bergeron"?

a)

The Danger of Total Equality

b)

Intelligence, Beauty, and Strength

c)

Freedom

d)

Death

19.

What does this quote reveal about Harrison's character:

"'I am the Emperor!" cried Harrison. 'Do you hear? I am Emperor! Everybody must do what I say at once!'"

a)

He believes he is physically and intellectually superior to most of the people and, therefore, (he thinks) the one MOST fit to rule.

b)

He is saying the government isn't doing their job

c)

He is having a mental breakdown from all of the handicaps he has been forced to endure

20.

For what reason does the Handicapper General decide to shoot down Harrison and the ballerina?

a)

Harrison Bergeron represents an existential threat to the empire of "equality" that Glampers has created because he will be able to break down her system

b)

She wishes to maintain a stable, controlled society, where everyone is completely equal

c)

She fears that Harrison Bergeron's success will lead to a society where talented individuals are capable of excelling and reaching their full potential.