The cafeteria at Acme Company

Answer choices

1. A

   No Impact (Irrelevant Comparison)2% picked this

   the proportion of Acme Company employees who regularly eat lunch in

   The proportion of employees who eat in the cafeteria regularly would not directly address whether people genuinely prefer mushroom casserole over other dishes permanently. The conclusion is only about the people who do eat in the cafeteria, so it doesn't matter whether that's a large or small % of employees.

   2%
2. B

   No Impact (Irrelevant Comparison)2% picked this

   whether any of the ingredients used in the cafeteria’s recipe for mushroom casserole are included in any of

   This doesn't give us a way to argue that people would be displeased if mushroom casserole became a permanent fixture of the menu. Whether we say, "yes there are some ingredients in common between the mushroom casserole and some of the other main dishes; for example, they both have salt and garlic" or whether we say "no, there are no ingredients in common" doesn't give us any insight into whether people actually liked the flavor of the mushroom casserole or would want it on a regular, ongoing basis.

   2%
3. C

   Correct93% picked this

   a desire for variety as a reason for people’s choice of mushroom casserole during the

   Why this is right

   If we say "people chose to eat the mushroom casserole because they desired something new (rather than the same four choices for years on end)", that offers an alternate explanation for why it was popular over its two day run. It wasn't because it was everybody's favorite dish, but merely because they felt like trying something different. This doesn't establish that people would be displeased if it became a permanent menu item, but it undermines the author's assumption that its two day reign as the most popular item signals that people loved it.

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

   93%
4. D

   No Impact (Irrelevant Quality)2% picked this

   what foods other than main dishes are regularly offered at lunchtime

   What foods other than the main dishes are offered doesn't impact the argument about replacing a main dish with mushroom casserole. There's no common sense link that would allow us to say something like, "If a salad bar is also offered, then people would / wouldn't want mushroom casserole as one of the four permanent dishes."

   2%
5. E

   No Impact (Out of Scope)1% picked this

   whether other meals besides lunch are served in the Acme

   Whether or not other meals besides lunch are served in the cafeteria doesn't address whether mushroom casserole should replace a regular dish for lunchtime. The idea that the cafeteria might also serve breakfast or dinner doesn't give us any insight as to whether people would want mushroom casserole to be one of the four permanent lunch choices.

   1%