Question

question 17 of 21
in a short story, a scientist spends decades working to genetically engineer a chimpanzee that can produce human speech. her eventual success reveals that animals of all kinds are far smarter and more perceptive than we had ever realized. in the end, the chimpanzee is released into the wild and the scientist’s work erased because humans are not comfortable with this knowledge.
what are two common literary themes that this story most clearly shows?
a. the determination to succeed and the acceptance of failure
b. the complexity of nature and the security of ignorance
c. the power of science and the evil of humankind
d. the domination of man over nature and unrealized dreams

Explanation:

1. The story reveals animals are far smarter than humans realized, highlighting nature's complexity beyond human understanding.
2. Humans erase the scientist's work and release the chimp to avoid confronting this uncomfortable truth, showing they prefer the security of remaining ignorant rather than facing a reality that challenges their worldview.
3. Other options do not fit: Option A's "acceptance of failure" is absent; Option C's "evil of humankind" is too extreme (the story shows discomfort, not evil); Option D's "domination of man over nature" and "unrealized dreams" do not align with the plot points.

Answer:

B. The complexity of nature and the security of ignorance