Question

Observe the cartoon below carefully and answer the question that follows. (Cartoon by Tom Toro, originally published in The New Yorker on November 18, 2024. Used for educational purpose.)

Which of the following options BEST explains the underlying message depicted in the cartoon?

• A. Love is about caring for others even if it wears you out.
• B. Our sense of identity is based on how others interpret us.
• C. Our interpretation of others’ reality is mostly arbitrary.
• D. Our sense of duty for others can overwhelm our sense of self.
• E. Our understanding of others, based on our beliefs, may not be true.

Hint:

Cartoon-based RCs usually hinge on irony — the mismatch between external perception and internal reality.

Answer 1

Answer: (E)

Step 1: Analyze the cartoon.
The human perceives the dog’s behavior as finding happiness in simplicity. Conversely, the dog's internal monologue indicates it feels burdened by emotional obligations.
Step 2: Match with options.
- Option A: Addresses love and sacrifice, deviating from the cartoon's core theme. - Option B: Concerns identity influenced by external views, which is unrelated to the cartoon. - Option C: Proposes that reality is random, which is too general. - Option D: Discusses the weight of obligation eclipsing personal identity; partially applicable but not exact. - Option E: Accurately reflects the cartoon's point that our understanding of others' circumstances can be fundamentally mistaken.
Step 3: Conclude.
Therefore, Option E offers the most accurate explanation.
Final Answer: \[\boxed{\text{E}}\]