Companies X and Y have the same number of employees working

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:

A. This critical-reasoning question asks you to weaken the conclusion that the employees of company Y are healthier than the employees of company X. The author draws the conclusion that Y’s employees are healthier than X’s employees based on the cause-andeffect argument that more sick days mean sicker employees.

To weaken cause-and-effect arguments, look for an answer choice that shows another cause is possible for the effect.

Choice (E) doesn’t distinguish between the two companies. It can’t show another cause for the different number of sick days and, therefore, can’t be right. Choice (D) differentiates between the two companies’ record-keeping, but it doesn’t explain how company Y’s new records system accounts for fewer sick days. Dental insurance shouldn’t affect the number of sick days, so Choice (B) doesn’t work. Choice (C) doesn’t address the issue of company X’s greater number of sick days, so free gym memberships don’t matter. The best answer is Choice (A) because it provides a reason other than employee health for the greater number of sick days that company X’s employees take.

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