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?
- AThe old plastic bags frequently tore when clerks attempted to pack heavy items, forcing them to spend extra time double-bagging the groceries.
- BThe new paper bags are significantly more expensive for the supermarket to purchase in bulk than the standard plastic bags were.
- 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.Cevap
- DDue 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.
- EThe new paper bags are manufactured with reinforced handles, making them much easier for customers to carry to their vehicles.
Cevap
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.
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