Critical Reasoning

KaleeCo has compared the loss in productivity it experiences from employee sick days to the loss experienced by its competitor,Devron. Although they have the same number of employees working the same hours, KaleeCo had on avg twice the loss in productivity due to sick days that Devron had. KaleeCo officials concluded that Devron's employees made additional productivity gains on other days to compensate.

Which of the following, if true offers the most support of the conclusion drawn by the KaleeCo officials ?

A. Some of the days categorized as sick days by KaleeCo employees were actually personal days.
B. The employees of Devron were actually no healthier than the employees of KaleeCo.
C. The overall productivity of KaleeCo is equal to that of Devron.
D. KaleeCo was more profitable than Devron last quarter.
E. KaleeCo and Devron are in the same industry.

IMO B

Conclusion: Devron employees productive on other days.

Evidence: KaleeCo had twice the loss as Devron.

Assumptions: That there isn't another reason for the loss (KaleeCo employees more productive overall, the KaleeCo sick employees were the most productive, the Devron sick employees were least productive, etc.)

Question Rephrase: What would SUPPORT the conclusion?

Prediction: If the sick employees are equally productive between the 2 companies, if Devron's sick employees were the most productive, etc.

IMO: C.

If their productivity is normally the same AND they have the same employees working the same hours, then the only explanation for Devron to have more productivity is if Devron's employees are working harder to compensate.

VivianKerr wrote:Conclusion: Devron employees productive on other days.

Evidence: KaleeCo had twice the loss as Devron.

Assumptions: That there isn't another reason for the loss (KaleeCo employees more productive overall, the KaleeCo sick employees were the most productive, the Devron sick employees were least productive, etc.)

Question Rephrase: What would SUPPORT the conclusion?

Prediction: If the sick employees are equally productive between the 2 companies, if Devron's sick employees were the most productive, etc.

IMO: C.

If their productivity is normally the same AND they have the same employees working the same hours, then the only explanation for Devron to have more productivity is if Devron's employees are working harder to compensate.

I didnt read option C clearly, hence made the mistake. Thanks Vivian

But C doesnt have anything to do with either

Prediction: If the sick employees are equally productive between the 2 companies, if Devron's sick employees were the most productive, etc.

C talks about all the employees
The portion in quotes talks about only the sick employees
OR

If their productivity is normally the same AND they have the same employees working the same hours, then the only explanation for Devron to have more productivity is if Devron's employees are working harder to compensate.

C is talking about "The overall productivity of KaleeCo is equal to that of Devron."
Am I missing few fine lines here???
Looking forward to seeing more explanation.

Thanks in advance!!!

The question's conclusion is that Devron's employees were productive on other days. C is correct because it supports that conclusion by showing that the companies are equally productive. It perfectly matches our Prediction. C supports the conclusion by showing that there isn't another reason for the loss.

sk1 wrote:KaleeCo has compared the loss in productivity it experiences from employee sick days to the loss experienced by its competitor,Devron. Although they have the same number of employees working the same hours, KaleeCo had on avg twice the loss in productivity due to sick days that Devron had. KaleeCo officials concluded that Devron's employees made additional productivity gains on other days to compensate.

Which of the following, if true offers the most support of the conclusion drawn by the KaleeCo officials ?

A. Some of the days categorized as sick days by KaleeCo employees were actually personal days.
B. The employees of Devron were actually no healthier than the employees of KaleeCo.
C. The overall productivity of KaleeCo is equal to that of Devron.
D. KaleeCo was more profitable than Devron last quarter.
E. KaleeCo and Devron are in the same industry.

Whats the OA