Critical Reasoning: Investigation Questions
While manufacturing tasks at Foldaco are performed by human workers, at Boksco they are all done by programmed robots. Because of this, fewer workers are needed at Boksco while the output levels of the company match those of Foldaco. Clearly, Boksco's operational expenses are lower than those of Foldaco.
The answer to which of the following would be most useful in evaluating the argument?
Incorrect.
[[snippet]]While robot maintenance would be an additional operational expense for Boksco, answering this question would not really help us assess whether the conclusion is correct. This is because we still wouldn't know anything about how much Boksco spends on maintenance in comparison with Foldaco.
There is another answer choice which would provide more useful information for this investigation. Look for it!
While training could affect operational expenses and efficiency at Foldaco, answering this question would not really help us assess whether the conclusion is correct. This is because we still wouldn't know anything about how much Foldaco spends on or gains from training in comparison with Boksco.
There is another answer choice which would provide more useful information for this investigation. Look for it!
Incorrect.
[[snippet]]Since the argument deals with expenses alone, retail prices, which affect sales and revenues, have nothing to do with it. Therefore, a comparison between the prices of products made by each brand is irrelevant.
Incorrect.
[[snippet]]In the conclusion, the author makes a statement about Boksco's operational expenses in comparison to those of Foldaco. This means the comparison is about the costs of running and operating the factory; this answer choice, however, relates to building and setting up the factory and is therefore irrelevant.
Excellently done!
[[snippet]]This question would help further define the comparison of expenses. It cannot be assumed that both companies pay the same wages to their workers, so knowing who has more employees is not enough.
While this answer choice does not entirely prove or disprove the conclusion, it is the most valuable of the five in the process of evaluating it because it compares operational expenses. If the sum of the wages at Boksco is higher than that of the wages at Foldaco, then Boksco might have higher operational expenses. If this sum is lower than Foldaco's then indeed it is likely that Boksco has lower operational expenses.
