Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumExplaining Surprising Outcomes

To reduce the time checkout clerks spend bagging groceries, a regional supermarket chain replaced its standard flimsy plastic bags with thicker, reusable paper bags that stand upright on their own. Management expected that the self-standing nature of the new bags would allow clerks to pack items much faster. However, in the months since the introduction of the new bags, the average time it takes a clerk to pack a customer's groceries has increased by 20 percent.

Which of the following, if true, most helps to resolve the apparent discrepancy?

  1. A
    The old plastic bags frequently tore when clerks attempted to pack heavy items, forcing them to spend extra time double-bagging the groceries.
  2. B
    The new paper bags are significantly more expensive for the supermarket to purchase in bulk than the standard plastic bags were.
  3. The new paper bags have a significantly smaller capacity than the old plastic bags, requiring clerks to use a greater number of bags per order and spend time carefully arranging items to maximize space.Answer
  4. D
    Due to the popularity of the new eco-friendly bags, the supermarket has experienced a 20 percent increase in the total number of customers it serves daily.
  5. E
    The new paper bags are manufactured with reinforced handles, making them much easier for customers to carry to their vehicles.

Answer

The statement that the new paper bags have a significantly smaller capacity, requiring clerks to use more bags per order and carefully arrange items to fit, resolves the discrepancy.
This statement perfectly reconciles the two conflicting facts. Even though the bags stand upright (which management thought would save time), their smaller capacity forces clerks to use more bags per order and spend time arranging items like a puzzle. This new time cost outweighs the time saved from the bags standing upright, explaining the 20 percent increase in average bagging time.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the paradox in the stimulus.
Management introduced self-standing bags expected to speed up bagging, but average bagging time per customer actually increased by 20 percent.
Understanding the conflicting facts is required to find an explanation that reconciles them.
2
Determine the goal.
Find a statement providing a new piece of information that explains why self-standing bags would take longer to pack than the old plastic bags.
A valid resolution must show how both original premises can coexist.
3
Evaluate the answer choices against the goal.
Identify the choice that presents a time-consuming disadvantage of the new bags during the checkout process.
Only a new, offsetting time cost can explain why the expected speed increase resulted in an actual speed decrease.

Key Concept

Explaining Surprising Outcomes
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Rate this question

Topics

Explaining Surprising Outcomes

More questions from this topic