For the next year, the Chefs’ Union

Answer choices

1. A

   No Impact6% picked this

   The Chefs’ Union has many more members than does the Hotel

   The number of members in each union doesn't have any effect on this conversation, because we're talking about an average dollar amount raise. We only care whether the average chef salary is higher than / lower than / similar to the average manager salary.

   6%
2. B

   No Impact3% picked this

   The Chefs’ Union is a more powerful union than is the Hotel Managers’ Union and is therefore more likely to obtain

   The likelihood of getting the salary request granted doesn't have any effect on this conversation, because we're only talking about which union has requested a greater raise. This answer would only matter if the conclusion were something like, "The average dollar amount of the raises that the Chefs' Union will receive will be greater than that of the Managers' Union.

   3%
3. C

   Correct78% picked this

   The current salaries of the members of the Chefs’ Union are, on average, higher than the current salaries of the members

   Why this is right

   This is what we were looking for. We don't know if a 10% raise is a larger dollar amount than an 8% raise because it depends on how big a number we're taking 10% or 8% of. 10% of a smaller number could be less than 8% of a bigger number. But, this answer tells us that the Chefs' current salary is bigger than the Managers' current salary. Is 10% of a bigger number more than 8% of a smaller number? Of course, in all cases. So this answer basically proves the conclusion is true (which is not necessary for a correct Strengthen answer, but we'll take it!)

   Skill tested: Strengthen · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

   78%
4. D

   No Impact8% picked this

   The average dollar amount of the raises that the members of the Chefs’ Union received last year was equal to the average dollar amount

   The average dollar amount received last year doesn't have any effect on this conversation, because we're talking about the average dollar amount requested for next year.

   8%
5. E

   No Impact5% picked this

   The members of the Chefs’ Union received salary increases of 10 percent in each of the last two years, while the members of the

   The average salary increases received the past two years don't have any effect on this conversation, because we're talking about the average dollar amount requested for next year.

   5%