The chart below shows the economic cost of two school lunches.
| | Current lunch | Healthier lunch |
| :-------------------- | :------------ | :-------------- |
| Main course | $1.15 | $1.85 |
| Side dish | $0.30 | $0.90 |
| Dessert | $0.30 | $0.10 |
| Beverage | $0.30 | $0.05 |
| Total | $2.05 | $2.80 |
The side dish most likely costs much more in the healthier lunch because
A. it contains a larger portion than the current lunch.
B. it uses a substitute item that is more expensive.
C. it tastes better than the side dish in the current lunch.
D. it reduces childhood obesity in a more effective way.
Answer (2)
The higher cost of the side dish in the healthier lunch likely results from the use of more expensive substitute ingredients that meet health standards. Option B is the most appropriate explanation, as it directly links ingredient quality to price. Other options, while plausible, do not provide a strong basis for the cost difference.
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The question explores why a healthier school lunch side dish costs more. By analyzing the options, it's determined that the most likely reason is the use of more expensive substitute ingredients to meet health standards. This understanding helps in budgeting and making informed meal planning decisions.
Analyze the given options.
Evaluate each option based on economic factors.
Determine the most likely reason for the increased cost.
The most likely reason is that it uses a substitute item that is more expensive: i t u ses a s u b s t i t u t e i t e m t ha t i s m oree x p e n s i v e .
Explanation
Analyze the Problem We are given a table comparing the economic costs of a current school lunch and a healthier school lunch. We need to determine the most likely reason why the side dish in the healthier lunch costs significantly more than the side dish in the current lunch. The options provided are:
A. It contains a larger portion than the current lunch. B. It uses a substitute item that is more expensive. C. It tastes better than the side dish in the current lunch. D. It reduces childhood obesity in a more effective way.
Evaluate Each Option Let's analyze each option:
A. It contains a larger portion than the current lunch: A larger portion would naturally lead to a higher cost, as more ingredients are used. B. It uses a substitute item that is more expensive: Using a more expensive ingredient would also directly increase the cost. C. It tastes better than the side dish in the current lunch: Taste is subjective and doesn't directly correlate with cost. While better ingredients could increase cost, it's not the most direct or likely reason. D. It reduces childhood obesity in a more effective way: While a healthier side dish might be more effective at reducing obesity, this doesn't directly explain the higher cost. The ingredients or preparation methods used to make it healthier could be more expensive, but the effectiveness itself isn't the primary driver of cost.
Determine the Most Likely Reason Comparing options A and B, both are plausible explanations for the higher cost. A larger portion means more ingredients, and a more expensive substitute item directly increases the cost. However, without additional information, it's difficult to definitively choose between them. In the context of school lunches, it is more likely that the healthier option uses more expensive ingredients to meet nutritional guidelines.
Final Answer Based on the analysis, the most likely reason for the higher cost of the side dish in the healthier lunch is that it uses a substitute item that is more expensive.
Examples
Understanding the cost factors in school lunches helps in budgeting and making informed decisions about meal planning. For example, if a school wants to offer a healthier lunch, knowing that certain ingredients or larger portions will increase the cost allows them to plan accordingly and allocate resources effectively. This also applies to personal meal planning, where understanding the cost implications of different food choices can help individuals make healthier and more affordable decisions.
