Situation: Someone living in a cold climate buys a winter coat that is stylish but not warm in order to appear sophisticated.
Analysis: People are sometimes willing to sacrifice sensual comfort or pleasure for the sake of appearances.
The analysis provided for the situation above is most appropriate for which one of the following situations?
(A) A person buys an automobile to commute to work even though public transportation is quick and reliable.
(B) A parent buys a car seat for a young child because it is more colorful and more comfortable for the child than the other car seats on the market, though no safer.
(C) A couple buys a particular wine even though their favorite wine is less expensive and better tasting because they think it will impress their dinner guests.
(D) A person sets her thermostat at a low temperature during the winter because she is concerned about the environmental damage caused by using fossil fuels to heat her home.
(E) An acrobat convinces the circus that employs him to purchase an expensive outfit for him so that he can wear it during his act to impress the audience.
A. Incorrect. We don’t know the buyer’s motivation—it could be for show, or simply for personal comfort. Without evidence of a tradeoff between comfort and appearance, this doesn’t fit the pattern.
B. Incorrect. There's no loss in comfort or safety here, so no real tradeoff exists. Choosing the stylish seat doesn’t require sacrificing anything meaningful.
C. Correct. This clearly illustrates a tradeoff: the person chooses a cheaper, more enjoyable wine over a more expensive option that merely appears stylish. Comfort and savings are prioritized over image.
D. Incorrect. The reasoning would work only if the motivation to buy the car was explicitly to appear eco-conscious. As written, it doesn’t establish a clear tradeoff between comfort and showing off.
E. Incorrect. The word “impress” here refers to professional performance, not a social image. The acrobat benefits professionally, not by sacrificing comfort for appearance. So, no relevant tradeoff exists.
