In “The Value of a Sherpa Life,” Schaffer explains that people on an expedition express sorrow if a Sherpa dies. He then writes, But after sorrow should come an acknowledgment of the deep sense of responsibility that is tied into hiring somebody to do such a dangerous job—for an end result that’s ultimately meaningless. Which answer choice best restates his point in the quotation? A. People who hire Sherpas to take risks are responsible for their deaths. B. People who hire Sherpas to take risks have extra responsibility to them. C. Climbers who take risks will be sorry because climbing is meaningless. D. Climbers who hire Sherpas should think about the risks of the climb.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is B. People who hire Sherpas to take risks have extra responsibility to them.
Explanation:
In this quotation, the author discusses the responsibility of people who hire Sherpas for dangerous climbing expeditions. The phrase “deep sense of responsibility” highlights that those hiring Sherpas are not merely passive participants but hold a moral and ethical obligation towards the Sherpas they employ. The author emphasizes that this responsibility is tied to the inherently dangerous nature of the job and the seemingly “meaningless” end result of the climb, which hints at the question of whether such perilous risks are worth taking.
Let’s break it down:
- “But after sorrow should come an acknowledgment” suggests that sorrow or grief over a death should lead to a recognition of deeper responsibilities.
- “of the deep sense of responsibility that is tied into hiring somebody to do such a dangerous job”: This implies that hiring a Sherpa for a dangerous job inherently comes with a moral responsibility. The Sherpa’s life and safety are at risk due to the employer’s request to undertake a perilous task.
- “for an end result that’s ultimately meaningless”: This highlights the futility of the climb, suggesting that the outcome (perhaps reaching the summit) doesn’t justify the immense risks involved, particularly for the Sherpa, who is not the one seeking the personal achievement but is merely hired for the task.
The other options are incorrect for the following reasons:
- A. People who hire Sherpas to take risks are responsible for their deaths: While this choice captures some of the idea, it is too extreme in stating that the employers are responsible for the deaths, which isn’t what the quotation emphasizes. The focus is more on the responsibility they bear due to the dangerous nature of the job, rather than directly attributing the death to them.
- C. Climbers who take risks will be sorry because climbing is meaningless: This is too simplistic. The quotation doesn’t suggest that climbers will be sorry for taking risks themselves, but instead focuses on the responsibility of those who hire others to take those risks.
- D. Climbers who hire Sherpas should think about the risks of the climb: While this is a valid suggestion, it doesn’t fully capture the depth of responsibility the author is conveying. It downplays the moral weight of the situation by simply suggesting that climbers “think about” the risks, whereas the author is stressing a deep, moral responsibility to acknowledge the significance of the task.
Thus, Option B best captures the essence of the author’s point. It acknowledges that those who hire Sherpas for such dangerous tasks bear an extra burden of responsibility because they are putting others at risk for an ultimately pointless goal.
