MCAT Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills Question 75: Answer and Explanation

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Test Information

Question: 75

3. Suppose that a young girl rescues a formerly abused greyhound dog from an animal shelter. She names him Odysseus after the Greek explorer to honor the dog's past and celebrate his arrival in a safe and loving home. Based on information provided in the passage, how would Derrida respond to this situation?

  • A. Derrida would allow that, even though the act of naming entails treating the animal as Other, the respect signified by the name balances against the violence done to the dog in the past.
  • B. He would point out that even naming the Other is an act of violence, albeit a symbolic one, no matter what the intention behind the name.
  • C. He would praise the girl for choosing such a historically significant and noble name, saying that this reflects her love of animals.
  • D. Derrida would criticize the girl for committing an act of violence as severe as those committed by the dog's former owners.

Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

B This is a New Information question.

A: No. Derrida believes that the act of naming "the Other" is itself an act of violence (see middle of paragraph 2). Although Derrida would most likely allow or admit that this act of violence is less severe than physical abuse, it is still (symbolic) violence. Therefore the naming adds to, rather than balances against, the violence done to the dog.

B: Yes. In paragraph 2, the author discusses Derridian thought and states: "Any act of identification, naming, or relation is a betrayal of and a violence toward the Other." This answer choice is therefore the most appropriate one based on information from the passage.

C: No. There is no evidence in the passage to support this interpretation of Derrida's reaction. There is no suggestion that Derrida would care what the name is or what the intentions of the namer are.

D: No. The author, in the context of explaining Derrida's argument, makes an effort to acknowledge that not all forms of violence are equivalent: "Of course, this should not be taken to mean that such violence is immoral or that all forms of violence are equivalent" (paragraph 2).

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