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02 Dec 2018, 19:08
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A
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
45%
(medium)
Question Stats:
66% (01:57) correct
34%
(02:10)
wrong
based on 857
sessions
History
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Time
Result
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Between 1986 and 1991, the restaurant industry saw an average table occupancy rate (i.e., percent of the time that a table was occupied) of 74 percent, while the number of meals eaten out by Americans stayed constant, at an average of 212 meals out per month per 1000 people. Between 1991 and 1996, however, the average table occupancy rose to 81 percent, while the number of meals eaten out by Americans declined to 195 meals out per month per 1000 people.
If the statements above are true, which of the following conclusions can be most properly drawn?
a) The average amount of time spent per meal by Americans eating out increased between 1991 and 1996.
b) The proportion of very lengthy meals to somewhat lengthy meals was greater in 1996 than in 1986.
c) The average number of Americans dining out per month tends to decline whenever table occupancy rates increase.
d) The number of meals served between 1986 and 1991 was fewer than the number of meals served between 1991 and 1996.
e) The more tables a restaurant has, the higher its occupancy rate is likely to be
If the statements above are true, which of the following conclusions can be most properly drawn?
a) The average amount of time spent per meal by Americans eating out increased between 1991 and 1996.
b) The proportion of very lengthy meals to somewhat lengthy meals was greater in 1996 than in 1986.
c) The average number of Americans dining out per month tends to decline whenever table occupancy rates increase.
d) The number of meals served between 1986 and 1991 was fewer than the number of meals served between 1991 and 1996.
e) The more tables a restaurant has, the higher its occupancy rate is likely to be
03 Dec 2018, 08:16
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I chose (A):
We know that on average:
(1) Time spent occupying restaurant tables rose
(2) While total meals consumed declined
Therefore, customers are spending more time eating at resto tables per meals - offsetting the impact of fewer meals being consumed each month.
What if customers spent the same amount of time eating?
Occupancy would have to decline to reflect less time spent eating fewer total meals consumed each month
Other answer choices:
b) The proportion of very lengthy meals to somewhat lengthy meals was greater in 1996 than in 1986.
We know customers must be spending more time eating on average, but nothing is stated regarding magnitude or distribution of time spent
c) The average number of Americans dining out per month tends to decline whenever table occupancy rates increase.
Irrelevant - None of this is suggested or required for the condition to hold
d) The number of meals served between 1986 and 1991 was fewer than the number of meals served between 1991 and 1996.
This is opposite to what is stated
e) The more tables a restaurant has, the higher its occupancy rate is likely to be
Irrelevant - Nothing is stated
We know that on average:
(1) Time spent occupying restaurant tables rose
(2) While total meals consumed declined
Therefore, customers are spending more time eating at resto tables per meals - offsetting the impact of fewer meals being consumed each month.
What if customers spent the same amount of time eating?
Occupancy would have to decline to reflect less time spent eating fewer total meals consumed each month
Other answer choices:
b) The proportion of very lengthy meals to somewhat lengthy meals was greater in 1996 than in 1986.
We know customers must be spending more time eating on average, but nothing is stated regarding magnitude or distribution of time spent
c) The average number of Americans dining out per month tends to decline whenever table occupancy rates increase.
Irrelevant - None of this is suggested or required for the condition to hold
d) The number of meals served between 1986 and 1991 was fewer than the number of meals served between 1991 and 1996.
This is opposite to what is stated
e) The more tables a restaurant has, the higher its occupancy rate is likely to be
Irrelevant - Nothing is stated
06 Dec 2018, 05:18
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Question Explanation:
Fact 1: Between 1986 and 1996, the restaurant industry average table occupancy rate (i.e., percent of the time that a table was occupied) rose from 74 percent to 81 percent.
Fact 2: Between 1986 and 1996, the number of meals eaten out by Americans declined from an average of 212 meals out per month per 1,000 people to 195 meals out per month per 1,000 people.
The phrase which of the following conclusions can be most properly drawn in the question stem indicates that this is a Resolve/Explain question. The fact that the restaurant industry average table occupancy rate (i.e., percent of the time that a table was occupied) rose from 74 percent to 81 percent between 1986 and 1996 seems like it should correspond with a similar increase in the number of meals eaten out by Americans. However, the number of meals eaten out by Americans declined from an average of 212 meals out per month per 1,000 people to 195 meals out per month per 1,000 people over the same time period.
For an answer choice to explain the discrepancy, it must provide a reason that the number of meals eaten out by Americans per month declined from 1986 to 1996, while the restaurant industry average table occupancy rate increased from 74 percent to 81 percent in the same period. Evaluate the answer choices, looking for one that reflects this idea.
Choice A: Correct. If The average amount of time spent per meal by Americans eating out increased between 1991 and 1996, then diners would be occupying restaurant tables for longer time periods. This would provide a reason that table occupancy rates increased from 1991 to 1996, while meals eaten out by Americans per month decreased.
Choice B: No. This answer choice addresses only one side of the conflict. Even if The proportion of very lengthy meals to somewhat lengthy meals was greater in 1996 than 1986, there is no corresponding information regarding how this relates to all meals of all lengths.
Choice C: No. This answer choice is out of scope. Even if The average number of Americans dining out per month tends to decline whenever table occupancy rates increase, there is no information regarding how this relates specifically to the 1986 to 1996 data in question.
Choice D: No. This answer choice addresses only one side of the conflict. The number of meals served could limit the number of meals eaten out by Americans, but it would have no impact on the average table occupancy rate.
Choice E: No. This answer choice addresses only one side of the conflict. Even if The more tables a restaurant has, the higher its occupancy rate is likely to be is true, there is no corresponding information about how this relates to the number of meals eaten out by Americans.
The correct answer is choice A.
