Bruce Helmer, age 11, of Champaign, I11., for his question:

WHERE IS UTOPIA?

Utopia is a name often given to an imaginary land where absolutely everything is said to be perfect. Actually, and unfortunately, there is no such place.

The name comes from the two Greek words "ou" and "topos," meaning "no place." The name refers particularly to a type of society with ideal economics and social conditions. People now often apply the adjective "utopian" to plans of reform that they consider to be too visionary.

The word was used as the title of a famous book by Saint Thomas More which was published in Latin in 1516 and translated into English in 1551. The book gives More's views on the ideal government. Several other books through the years also describe imaginary ideal states of society.