Haraway’s Primate Visions

Answer choices

1. A

   Too Strong: all4% picked this

   Those scientists who have been properly trained in field techniques will all record similar observations about the

   This is a very strongly worded answer saying that "if you've been properly trained (whatever that means), then you'll always record similar observations". We have no way to support an idea this strong. If anything, the author probably disagrees with this. She might think that scientists are idiosyncratic and vary from person to person, because they're each projecting their own beliefs consciously and unconsciously onto their work.

   4%
2. B

   Unknown Comparison5% picked this

   Primatologists are more likely to record accurate and sensitive observations about the animals they are studying than

   Nothing in the passage gives us any ammunition for comparing primatologists to other animal behaviorists. The author never compliments primatologists for being especially good at recording accurate and sensitive observations.

   5%
3. C

   Unknown Comparison15% picked this

   Scientists studying primate behavior will probably record more accurate and sensitive observations than will scientists studying animals that

   This is comparing studying primates to studying other types of animals. The 1st paragraph stresses that "primates seem so much like ourselves that they provide ready material for scientists' conscious and unconscious projections of their beliefs about nature and culture". But that's the only part of the passage that seems to compare primates to non-primates, and nothing in that sentence is talking about us being more likely to record accurate and sensitive observations.

   15%
4. D

   Correct71% picked this

   Scientists who study primates will probably be more likely than will scientists studying other animals to interpret an animal’s behavior in terms

   Why this is right

   This is comparing studying primates to studying other types of animals. The 1st paragraph stresses that "primates seem so much like ourselves that they provide ready material for scientists' conscious and unconscious projections of their beliefs about nature and culture". That sentence seems to provide some support for this answer. The 1st paragraph is saying that Haraway may have selected primatology as a vehicle for discussing how scientists are imparting their biases and worldview on their work, because "primatology is a particularly apt vehicle for such themes". In other words, scientists who study primates are particularly likely to reveal how they are projecting their own beliefs consciously and unconsciously on what they're studying.

   Skill tested: Non-Author Opinion · how this choice captures the passage's function is the move to repeat next time.

   71%
5. E

   Unknown Comparison5% picked this

   Scientists who take a passive role in interactions with the animals they study will probably record observations similar to those recorded by

   This is comparing passive interactions with active interactions, which is almost a distinction the passage brings up in the first sentence of the 2nd paragraph. But that sentence just says that traditionally scientists think of themselves as an active knower and think of the animals they're studying as passive objects. It has nothing to do with passively interacting with animals vs. actively interacting with animals.

   5%