PT7.S4.Q15 - Ice Cream Consistency vs. Flavor

Clemens_

Why is (E) the right answer choice here, as opposed to (B)?

Stabilizers: Cheap, preserve consistency, but bad for flavor
Low temperatures: Expensive, preserve consistency, better for flavor

(B) suggests: To save money, we should omit the very low temperatures; just use stabilizers to preserve consistency and don't worry about the flavor

Is the idea that the stimulus just remains neutral on flavor, contrary to what (B) suggests?

The stimulus certainly seems to entail the suggestion that cost considerations would encourage ice cream producers to accept higher temperatures, but the stimulus does not also seem to entail an unequivocal recommendation concerning stabilizer use: Contrary to what (B) suggests, ice cream producers might not use very low temperatures (thus reducing costs) AND also not use stabilizers, thus sacrificing consistency for the sake of flavor.

I assume this must be it: The cost considerations mentioned in the stimulus certainly incentivize higher temperatures, but the stimulus does not also entail an unequivocal recommendation concerning stabilizer use. (B) thus does not follow, unlike (E).

Dexterity

I think you're misinterpreting B - it actually says that it'd be cheaper to give up consistency than flavor. The main issue with B, as you've probably already figured out, is that it contradicts the stimulus: From what the stimulus tells us, it would appear that preserving consistency over flavor is the cheaper option. So, we certainly can't say B must be true on the basis of the information provided.

E, on the other hand, follows logically from the stimulus. Let's go over what we know:

1. Temperature changes are bad for consistency.
In other words, if we subjected our ice cream to temperature changes, then we couldn't have ice cream with the best possible consistency:

TC > /BC
BC > /TC

2. Stabilizers are bad for flavor.
In other words, if we exposed our ice cream to stabilizers, then we couldn't have ice cream with the best possible flavor:

S > /BF
BF > /S

Thus, if we removed these two negative factors (that is, if we kept our ice cream at a stable temperature, and also at a very low temperature so we wouldn't need stabilizers as much,) then we'd have both the necessary conditions (/TC and /S) the stimulus gives us for having ice cream with the best possible consistency and flavor.

Clemens_

Right, (B) actually seems to say: Do NOT sacrifice flavor, give up on consistency instead. This is the opposite of what the argument from the stimulus recommends.

Thank you, this is helpful!