Question

ordering the chaos of the contemporary world: an introduction to freakonomics
pre-test complete
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
read the following excerpt from levitt and dubners freakonomics.
driving around the parks that encircle washington, he solicited customers with a simple pitch: early in the morning, he would deliver some bagels and a cash basket to companys snack room; he would return before lunch to pick up the money and the leftovers. it was an honor-system commerce scheme, and it worked.
within a few years, feldman was delivering 8,400 bagels a week to 140 companies and earning as much as he had ever made as a research analyst. he had thrown off the shackles of cubicle life and made himself happy.
based on the excerpt, which statement best strengthens feldmans claim that people are mostly honest?
○ feldman solicited customers with a simple pitch.
○ feldman’s payment system was largely successful.
○ feldman earned a good living delivering bagels.
○ feldman found a new career and made himself happy.

Explanation:

To determine which statement strengthens Feldman's claim that people are mostly honest, we analyze each option:

• The first option about the simple pitch is about how he solicited customers, not about honesty.
• The second option: Feldman's payment system was an honor - system (he left a cash basket and trusted people to pay). If this system was largely successful (he was able to deliver 8,400 bagels a week to 140 companies and earn well), it shows that people mostly paid, which supports the idea that people are mostly honest.
• The third option about earning a good living is about his income, not directly about people's honesty.
• The fourth option about finding a new career and being happy is about his career change and happiness, not about people's honesty.

Answer:

B. Feldman's payment system was largely successful.