Read the excerpt from David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest.It’s clear that this really pretty sincere yellow Dean at left is Admissions. And surely the little aviarian figure at right is Athletics, then, because the facial creases of the shaggy middle Dean are now pursed in a kind of distanced affront, an I’m-eating-something-that-makes-me-really-appreciate-the-presence-of-whatever-I’m-drinking-along-with-it look that spells professionally Academic reservations. Why does the narrator most likely refer to the deans by their titles rather than their names?
Answer
A
to distance himself from those present
B
to show a personal connection with the group
C
to explain his position in relation to the others
D
to set a formal tone for the meeting
Explanation
The narrator identifies the men by their roles—Admissions, Athletics, and Academic—rather than treating them as individuals by name. This makes the group feel impersonal and suggests that the narrator is observing them from a distance, not expressing a personal connection. The best choice is “to distance himself from those present.”
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