Question

a look at the fast-food industry by eric schlosser
pre-test complete
1
read the excerpt from fast food nation.
cooking instructions are not only printed in the manual, they are often designed into the machines. a mcdonald’s kitchen is full of buzzers and flashing lights that tell employees what to do.
the evidence presented in this excerpt best supports the author’s claim that
○ mcdonald’s is the leader in fast food innovation.
○ fast food restaurants use technology designed to reduce the need for skilled labor.
○ technology has helped improve the fast food industry.
○ the workers’ limited skills have forced fast food employers to rely on machines instead of people.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option 1: The excerpt focuses on how technology guides employees, not McDonald’s being an innovation leader. Eliminate.
• Option 2: The machines (technology) have built - in cooking instructions and use buzzers/lights to tell employees what to do. This reduces the need for employees to have advanced cooking skills (skilled labor), as the technology directs them. This matches the excerpt.
• Option 3: The excerpt is about how technology is used to direct unskilled labor, not about improving the industry in a general sense. Eliminate.
• Option 4: The excerpt shows employers using machines to guide workers, not that workers' skills forced employers to use machines. The causation is reversed. Eliminate.

Answer:

B. fast food restaurants use technology designed to reduce the need for skilled labor.