Critical Reasoning

A control alarm on the multi-line NXD-10 goes off when its separate production lines change widget-manufacturing speeds at different rates. Due to bottleneck constraints, the widgets are damaged if, on average, the NXD-10 produces widgets faster than 110% of its normal rate. In order to track quality control, company policy requires that all differential speed changes be reported by NXD-10 operators to upper management. Since every reported differential speed change reduces employee bonuses, NXD-10 operators in practice only report differential changes that will be discovered later, i.e., due to damaged products.

If the statements above are true, which of the following describes a situation in which an NXD-10 control alarm would go off, but the incident would not be reported to upper management?

A. Gauges show a sharp and uniform increase in widget production

B. Gauges show an overall increase in widget production to twice the normal rate-with some lines increasing production rapidly, others slowly.

C. Gauges show that widget production has risen sharply to 120% of the normal rate; yet one NXD-10 line had a slower production rate than it did previously.

D. Gauges show that widget production has for the most part dropped at a constant rate; yet one NXD-10 line sped up slightly.

E. Gauges show a significant and uniform decrease in widget production.































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answer: D

I chose C, I don't see the difference between choice C and D, since C also refers to the different speed changes reported by the NXD-10 operators to upper management. Why C is wrong?

A) a sharp and uniform increase in widget production. This will not go off a control alarm since widget-manufacturing speeds should be changed at different rates in separate production lines. Moreover, the incident has to be reported by operators to upper management since on average the production speed of widgets increases sharply. In general we do use word "sharply" for 50 or more percent increase.

B) overall increase in widget production to twice (200%) the normal rate. This will go off a control alarm, however, as company policy requires all differential speed changes (110% or more) has to be reported by operators to upper management.

C) widget production has risen sharply to 120% of the normal rate. Same reason as for answer B).

D) widget production has for the most part dropped at a constant rate; yet one NXD-10 line sped up slightly. This means that a control alarm will go off since changes of widget-manufacturing speeds occurs at different rates in separate production lines. Moreover, the incident will not be reported by operators to upper management since on average the production speed of widgets does not increase more than 110% or more). It can be inferred from words "the most part dropped" and "yet one line sped up slightly."

E) significant and uniform decrease in widget production. Same reason as for answer A)

Clarification for answer C):

C) widget production has risen sharply to 120% of the normal rate. This means that operators have to report this incident to upper management since according to the company's policy on average the production speed of widgets increased by more than 110% of its normal rate.

Bek wrote:A) a sharp and uniform increase in widget production. This will not go off a control alarm since widget-manufacturing speeds should be changed at different rates in separate production lines. Moreover, the incident has to be reported by operators to upper management since on average the production speed of widgets increases sharply. In general we do use word "sharply" for 50 or more percent increase.

B) overall increase in widget production to twice (200%) the normal rate. This will go off a control alarm, however, as company policy requires all differential speed changes (110% or more) has to be reported by operators to upper management.

C) widget production has risen sharply to 120% of the normal rate. Same reason as for answer B).

D) widget production has for the most part dropped at a constant rate; yet one NXD-10 line sped up slightly. This means that a control alarm will go off since changes of widget-manufacturing speeds occurs at different rates in separate production lines. Moreover, the incident will not be reported by operators to upper management since on average the production speed of widgets does not increase more than 110% or more). It can be inferred from words "the most part dropped" and "yet one line sped up slightly."

E) significant and uniform decrease in widget production. Same reason as for answer A)

Thanks for your overall explanation, I was confusing about the report to upper management level earlier. Thanks for clarifying me.