Once, there was a great mystery in our town. Every lawn on the main street turned brown overnight. There’d been no strange weather, no unseasonable chill nor oddities in rainfall. The neighborhood was abuzz with rumors. Some thought it was just an odd case of bad luck, but others believed it was an intentional act.

Question

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.

Question
Use the story to answer the question.

How does the paradox function in the story?

(1 point)
Responses

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 proves that knowing something is less important than acting.
It proves that knowing something is less important than acting.

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 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.

Answer 1

The correct response is:

It challenges the reader’s idea about what it means to think you know something.

This choice reflects the paradox in the story, as the detective’s admission of her ignorance contrasts with the confidence of the townspeople, highlighting the difference between actual knowledge and assumptions.