An online food delivery company experienced record growth for six consecutive months. Last month, however, orders dropped sharply one week after a popular news channel aired a report criticizing the company’s delivery practices and treatment of workers. The company’s executives insist that the report was not responsible for the decline in orders.
Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the executives’ position?The executives claim that the negative report did not cause the drop in orders.
The best support would show that something broader affected food delivery orders generally, not just this company after the report.
A) The company had advertised frequently on the same news channel that aired the report.
Wrong. Advertising on that channel does not show that the report did not cause the decline.
B) Several competing food delivery companies also experienced a decline in orders during the same week.
Correct. If competitors also saw order declines during the same week, then the drop was likely caused by a broader market factor, not specifically by the report about this company.
C) Some customers said in surveys that they were disappointed by the report.
Wrong. This weakens the executives’ position because it suggests the report negatively affected customers.
D) This was not the first time negative media coverage had targeted the company.
Wrong. Prior negative coverage does not show this report was not responsible for the recent order decline.
E) The company plans to improve working conditions for delivery workers next year.
Wrong. Future plans do not explain why orders dropped last month.
Answer: (B)