The chart below shows the economic cost of two school lunches.
\begin{tabular}{|l|l|l|}
\hline \multicolumn{3}{|c|}{Economic Cost per Lunch} \\
\hline & Current lunch & Healthier lunch \\
\hline Main course & $1.15 & $1.85 \\
\hline Side dish & $0.30 & $0.90 \\
\hline Dessert & $0.30 & $0.10 \\
\hline Beverage & $0.30 & $0.05 \\
\hline Total & $2.05 & $2.80 \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
The side dish most likely costs much more in the healthier lunch because
A. it contains a larger portion than the current lunch.
B. it uses a substitute item that is more expensive.
C. it tastes better than the side dish in the current lunch.
D. it reduces childhood obesity in a more effective way
Answer (1)
The most likely reason for the increased cost of the side dish in the healthier lunch is that it uses a more expensive substitute item. This is because healthier alternatives often involve using fresh, less processed ingredients, which tend to be more costly than their processed counterparts. Therefore, the answer is B.
Explanation
Understanding the Problem We are given a table comparing the economic costs of a current school lunch and a healthier school lunch. We need to determine the most likely reason why the side dish in the healthier lunch costs more than the side dish in the current lunch.
Analyzing the Options Let's analyze the options:
Option 1: it contains a larger portion than the current lunch. This is plausible because healthier options often emphasize larger portions of vegetables or fruits, which can be more expensive.
Option 2: it uses a substitute item that is more expensive. This is also plausible. For example, replacing a processed side dish with fresh vegetables or a more nutritious option like quinoa would increase the cost.
Option 3: it tastes better than the side dish in the current lunch. While taste is important, it doesn't directly correlate with cost. A tastier side dish might simply be prepared differently without necessarily being more expensive.
Option 4: it reduces childhood obesity in a more effective way. While healthier lunches aim to reduce childhood obesity, this is a benefit, not a direct cause of the higher cost. The ingredients and preparation methods are what drive the cost.
Determining the Most Likely Reason Comparing options 1 and 2, both are plausible. However, option 2, the use of a substitute item that is more expensive, is slightly more likely. This is because simply increasing the portion size of a cheap item might not raise the cost as significantly as substituting it with a more expensive, healthier alternative.
Conclusion Therefore, the most likely reason for the higher cost of the side dish in the healthier lunch is that it uses a substitute item that is more expensive.
Examples
Imagine you're planning a school event and want to offer a healthier snack option. Instead of serving processed chips, you decide to offer fresh fruit salad. The fruit salad costs more because fresh fruits are generally more expensive than processed chips. This illustrates how choosing healthier, often less processed, ingredients can increase the cost of a meal or snack.
