Question

read the excerpt from \harrison bergeron.\

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 is this excerpt an example of irony?

• handicapping intelligence contradicts expectations because intelligence is normally considered a positive attribute.
• handicapping intelligence is pointless because determining whether one’s intelligence is above normal is a matter of opinion.
• if george were really that intelligent, he would remove the device from his ear.
• the mental handicap radio is incapable of correcting physical advantages.

Explanation:

Irony involves a contrast between expectations and reality. Intelligence is widely viewed as a beneficial, positive trait that people would cultivate. However, in the excerpt, George is legally forced to have his intelligence handicapped, which directly contradicts the normal expectation of valuing and using intelligence to one's advantage. The other options do not capture this core ironic contrast: the second option focuses on subjectivity of intelligence (not irony), the third on George's ability to remove the device (not the ironic system), and the fourth on physical advantages (irrelevant to the ironic treatment of intelligence).

Answer:

A. Handicapping intelligence contradicts expectations because intelligence is normally considered a positive attribute.