Why does June Ngawang refuse to acknowledge his altitude sickness when it is originally feared he has it?

Why does June Ngawang refuse to acknowledge his altitude sickness when it is originally feared he has it?

• A. Sherpa culture is macho, so admitting weakness would jeopardize future jobs.
• B. He wanted to keep climbing despite symptoms.
• C. He was unaware of the symptoms.
• D. He trusted traditional remedies more than medical assessment.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is how cultural and professional pressures shape a climber’s willingness to admit illness. In this story, a Sherpa guide named Ngawang is operating under a norm that values toughness and not showing weakness. Admitting altitude sickness could be seen as betraying the team, signaling incapacity, and risking future job opportunities on expeditions. Because his livelihood depends on being hired for climbs, he is reluctant to acknowledge the illness right away. This explains why the option about macho cultural expectations best fits the situation. It’s less about his personal desire to push on or about not recognizing symptoms, and not about relying on traditional remedies, which isn’t what the scene emphasizes. He’s aware of the risk, but the cultural incentive to appear strong overrides the impulse to acknowledge the problem immediately.

The key idea is how cultural and professional pressures shape a climber’s willingness to admit illness. In this story, a Sherpa guide named Ngawang is operating under a norm that values toughness and not showing weakness. Admitting altitude sickness could be seen as betraying the team, signaling incapacity, and risking future job opportunities on expeditions. Because his livelihood depends on being hired for climbs, he is reluctant to acknowledge the illness right away. This explains why the option about macho cultural expectations best fits the situation.

It’s less about his personal desire to push on or about not recognizing symptoms, and not about relying on traditional remedies, which isn’t what the scene emphasizes. He’s aware of the risk, but the cultural incentive to appear strong overrides the impulse to acknowledge the problem immediately.