Question

read the 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.

the authors prove feldmans success by describing

• the honor-system scheme
• his daily routine
• his work as an analyst
• the size of his business

Explanation:

Analyze the question prompt

The question asks how the authors prove Feldman's success in the provided excerpt from Freakonomics.

Examine the provided text evidence

The text states: "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."

Evaluate the options

• the honor-system scheme: This describes how his business model operates, not proof of its scale or success.
• his daily routine: This describes his schedule (delivering in the morning, returning before lunch), which explains the process but does not prove success.
• his work as an analyst: This is his past career, which he left behind.
• the size of his business: The numbers "8,400 bagels a week" and "140 companies" directly show the large scale and growth of his business, proving its success.

Answer:

• the honor-system scheme
• his daily routine
• his work as an analyst
• the size of his business (Correct answer)