Question

read the text below and annotate for: predict - question - summarize - clarify - react/respond
chunk 1
1 the year was 2081, and everybody was finally equal. they werent 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. all this equality was due to the 211th, 212th, and 213th amendments to the constitution, and to the unceasing vigilance¹ of agents of the united states handicapper general.

1. what can you infer about the beliefs of the government in the year 2081?
2. in the first paragraph, vonnegut uses the words “unceasing vigilance.” what do these words mean? what impact do they have on the text?

2 some things about living still werent quite right, though. april for instance, still drove people crazy by not being springtime. and it was in that clammy month that the h - g men took george and hazel bergerons fourteen - year - old son, harrison, away.
3 it was tragic, all right, but george and hazel couldnt think about it very hard. 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.

1. part a: why don’t george and hazel think more often about their son?

a. they weren’t very close with their son.
b. they dont like how sad it makes them feel.
c. they agreed with the decision to take him away.
d. they arent capable of thinking about anything for a very long time.
¹ the action or state of keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties

Explanation:

Question 1

To infer the government's beliefs in 2081, we analyze the text. The government enforces total equality (in intelligence, appearance, strength) via constitutional amendments and the Handicapper General's agents. This shows they believe equality must be absolute in all aspects, even if it means controlling citizens (e.g., through handicaps) to eliminate any differences. They prioritize sameness over individualism or natural human variation.

• Meaning of “unceasing vigilance”: The footnote defines “vigilance” as watching for danger/difficulties, and “unceasing” means non - stop. So it means the agents of the Handicapper General are constantly watching to ensure equality is maintained, never stopping their surveillance.
• Impact on the text: These words create a sense of a totalitarian - like control. It emphasizes that the government’s effort to enforce equality is relentless, suggesting that any deviation from equality is seen as a threat that must be constantly monitored. This sets a tone of oppression and shows the extreme measures the government takes to maintain their version of equality.

We analyze each option:

• Option a: The text doesn’t suggest they weren’t close; it’s about their ability to think, not relationship. Eliminate.
• Option b: The text says Hazel can only think in short bursts and George is interrupted by his handicap radio, not about disliking sadness. Eliminate.
• Option c: There’s no indication they agreed with the decision; the text focuses on their cognitive limitations. Eliminate.
• Option d: Hazel has average intelligence (can only think in short bursts), and George has a handicap radio that interrupts his thinking every twenty seconds. So they aren’t capable of thinking about their son (or anything) for a long time. This matches the text.

Answer:

The government in 2081 believes in enforcing absolute equality in every aspect (intelligence, appearance, strength, etc.) of people’s lives. They think that equality must be total and are willing to use constitutional amendments and constant surveillance (via the Handicapper General’s agents) to eliminate any form of difference, even if it means restricting citizens’ natural abilities or individuality.

Question 2