English 11

Short Stories

"All The Troubles of the World" (1958)

by Isaac Asimov

Questions for Discussion
    1. Why do Ali Othman and Rafe Leemy wait before they tell Bernard Gulliman the whole truth? Are their actions believable considering the seriousness of the crime? Explain.
    2. What evidence from the story tells you that Ben and the other characters see Multivac as a kind of God? What effect does their view have on the story’s ending?
    3. What does the ending suggest about the ability of technology to bring about a perfect world? Do you agree? Explain your answer.
    4. Would you like to live in a society in which there was a computer such as Multivac? How might it help/hinder the progress of society? Discuss
    5. Create arguments both in support of, and contrary to, the following two statements:
      6.
    1. Teachers should be replaced by computers.
    2. Computer technology is destroying the fabric of society.

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