Question

Which of the following is an assumption that enables the conclusion above to be properly drawn?

• A. Employees at the professional level who do not smoke should keep their enclosed offices.
• B. Employees with enclosed offices should not smoke at their desks, even though the new regulations permit them to do so.
• C. Employees at the secretarial level should be allowed to smoke at their desks, even if they do not have enclosed offices.
• D. The smoking regulations should allow all employees who smoke an equal opportunity to do so, regardless of an employee’s job level.
• E. The smoking regulations should provide equal protection from any hazards associated with smoking to all employees who do not smoke

Answer 1

The correct option is D The smoking regulations should allow all employees who smoke an equal opportunity to do so, regardless of an employee’s job level.

The regulations allow some employees-those with enclosed offices-but not others the opportunity to smoke at their desks. If it is assumed that the regulations should allow all employees equal opportunity to smoke, those who are currently denied this opportunity should be given it, and so secretaries who smoke should be offered enclosed offices. Therefore, choice D is the best answer. None of the other choices enables the conclusion to be properly drawn. Choice A tends to conflict with the conclusion, unless some enclosed offices are vacant. Choice B supports no conclusion about how secretaries should be treated, and choice C undermines the conclusion. Finally, nonsmokers already have equal protection from hazards, so choice E cannot be used to justify making any changes.