Between 1990 and 1998 occupancy

Between 1990 and 1998, occupancy in Branson Hospital averaged 79 percent of capacity, while admission rates remained constant, at an average of 9 admissions per 100 beds per year.  Between 1998 and 2002, however, occupancy rates increased to an average of 85 percent of capacity, while admission rates declined to 8 per 100 beds per year.

Which of the following conclusions can be most properly drawn from the info given above?


A.  The average stay for Branson Hospital residents rose between 1998 and 2002.

B.  The proportion of children staying in Branson hospital was greater in 2002 than in 1990.

C.  Hospital admission rates tend to decline whenever occupancy rates rise.

D.  Hospitals built prior to 1998 generally had fewer beds than did hospitals built between 1998 and 2002.

E.  The more beds a nursing home has, the higher its occupancy rate is likely to be.
 
The best answer is A.  Choice A receives support from the fact stated above: between 1998 and 2002, Branson hospital occupancy rates rose though admission rats declined.

American customers expect high quality.  When the quality of a manufactured product is raised, it in turn raises customer expectations.  A company that believes that the quality of its products is satisfactory will soon discover that its customers are not similarly satisfied.  The goal of Sunnybrook Corporation is to meet or exceed customer expectations.  

Which of the following must be true on the basis of the statements above?

A.  Sunnybrook’s competitors will succeed in attracting customers only if those competitors adopt Sunnybrook’s goal as their own.  

B.  A company that does not correctly forecast the expectations of its customers is certain to fail in advancing the quality of its products.  

C.  It is possible to meet the goal of Sunnybrook Corporation only if the quality of their products can be continually improved upon.   

D.  If a company becomes satisfied with the quality of the products it manufactures, then the quality is likely to decline.

E.  Sunnybrook’s customers are currently satisfied with the quality of its products.
 
The best answer is C.  Sunnybrook wishes to meet customer expectations, however these expectations are always being raised.  Whatever the quality of Sunnybrook’s products, it will be possible to meet their goal only by continually improving their products.