24. Hollywood restaurant is replacing some of its standard tables with tall tables and stools. The restaurant already fills every available seat during its operating hours, and the change in seating arrangements will not result in an increase in the restaurant's seating capacity. Nonetheless, the restaurant's management expects revenue to increase as a result of the seating change without any concurrent change in menu, prices, or operating hours.
Which of the following, if true, provides the best reason for the expectation?

A、 One of the taller tables takes up less floor space than one of the standard tables.
B、 Diners seated on stools typically do not linger over dinner as long as diners seated at standard tables.
C、 Since the restaurant will replace only some of its standard tables, it can continue to accommodate customers who do not care for the taller tables.
D、 Few diners are likely to avoid the restaurant because of the new seating arrangement.
E、 The standard tables being replaced by tall tables would otherwise have to be replaced with new standard tables at a greater expense.

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】 Argument Construction
Situation Hollywood restaurant is replacing some of its tables with taller tables and stools, and the
management expects this will increase revenue, despite the fact that the restaurant already fills all
of its available seats and that this change will not increase seating capacity. Furthermore, there will
not be any change in menu, prices, or operating hours.
Reasoning What would strongly support the management's expectation? Since the new seating will not increase
the restaurant's seating capacity, the management's expectations must be based on a belief that the
change to taller tables and stools will somehow change diners' behavior, perhaps by leading them
to order more food, or to stay at their tables for a shorter time, thereby allowing the restaurant to
serve more diners during its operating hours without increasing seating capacity. If diners seated
at tall tables and on tall stools spend less time lingering over their dinners, then they will leave
sooner, opening up the tables for more diners. Because the restaurant, before the change, already
fills every available seat during its operating hours, it is reasonable to think that it will be able to
serve more diners than it currently does, thereby selling more food and thus increasing revenue.
A This would be relevant if we could infer from it that seating capacity will increase. However, the passage indicates that the new seating arrangement will not result in greater capacity.
B Correct. Because the restaurant will be able to serve more meals during its operating hours, the restaurant's revenue can be expected to increase.
C This may indicate that the restaurant is less likely to alienate customers who do not care for tall tables and stools, but that only supports the claim that the restaurant will not lose customers and therefore lose revenue; it does not indicate that the restaurant will see revenue increase.
D Again, this merely indicates that there will not be a loss—or much loss—of revenue, not that there will be an increase in revenue.
E Less expensive tables will decrease the restaurant's costs, but it will not increase the restaurant's revenue.
The correct answer is B.