The town called on a local detective to investigate. At the town meeting, there were hours of citizens sharing their thoughts, suspicions, and ideas. At the end of the meeting, a citizen asked the detective what she knew based on all the testimony.
“If there’s one thing I know, it’s that I know nothing,” she said.
There was some grumbling at that. Almost everyone in the room but the detective seemed to be pretty sure they knew what had happened. But a week later, the detective determined that the issue was the result of an underground pipe break. No one had guessed that.
Use the story to answer the question.
How does the paradox function in the story?
(1 point)
Responses
It introduces humor by showing that the detective is the least knowledgeable person in the room.
It introduces humor by showing that the detective is the least knowledgeable person in the room.
It proves that knowing something is less important than acting.
It proves that knowing something is less important than acting.
It challenges the reader’s idea about what it means to think you know something.
It challenges the reader’s idea about what it means to think you know something.
It demonstrates how illogical the people in town are being with their theories.
It demonstrates how illogical the people in town are being with their theories.
1 answer
The correct response is:
It challenges the reader’s idea about what it means to think you know something.
The paradox in the detective's statement underscores the complexity of knowledge and certainty. While the townspeople are confident in their theories, the detective's admission that she knows nothing highlights the idea that certainty does not always equate to truth. This ultimately invites readers to question their own assumptions about knowledge and understanding in complex situations.
