What story does the D.H.C. tell Bernard? Why is Bernard shocked?

• A. A tale about an Alpha(+) worker who thinks for himself; Bernard is shocked because it concerns a past event of taking someone to the Savage Reservation and losing the girl
• B. A cheerful account of community rituals
• C. A legend about soma origins
• D. A description of distant planets

Answer: (A)

The question hinges on recognizing that the D.H.C. is revealing a personal, forbidden past to Bernard. He tells a story about an Alpha(+) who thought for himself and took a girl to the Savage Reservation, where the relationship leads to consequences—the girl is lost. Bernard is shocked because this shows the Director isn’t the flawless, all-powerful figure he pretends to be; he once acted on his own desires and paid a real price. It also foreshadows the existence of John, a living reminder of what happens when personal history and rebellion interrupt the World State’s carefully maintained order.