In an effort to save energy and, thus, money, many people keep their

In an effort to save energy and, thus, money, many people keep their electric freezers halfempty at all times, using them to store prefrozen foods bought at a store and nothing else. Yet freezers that are half-empty usually consume more energy than they would if they were kept fully stocked.

Which of the following, if true, contributes most to an explanation for the apparent discrepancy described above?


A) A person who normally maintains a halfempty freezer would save a considerable amount of money by using a freezer that is half as large.

B) An electric freezer can operate efficiently only if chilled air is free to circulate within the freezing compartment.

C) A given volume of air in a freezer requires much more energy to be maintained at a temperature below freezing than does an identical volume of frozen food.

D) The door of a full freezer is likely to be opened more often, and for a longer period of time, than is the door of a halfempty freezer.

E) On average, it takes less energy to keep food frozen than it does to get it from room temperature to a frozen state.