Many corporations have begun decorating their halls with motivational posters in hopes of boosting their employees’ motivation to work productively. However, almost all employees at these corporations are already motivated to work productively. So these corporations’ use of motivational posters is unlikely to achieve its intended purpose.
The reasoning in the argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that the argument
(A) fails to consider whether corporations that do not currently use motivational posters would increase their employees’ motivation to work productively if they began using the posters
(B) takes for granted that, with respect to their employees’ motivation to work productively, corporations that decorate their halls with motivational posters are representative of corporations in general
(C) fails to consider that even if motivational posters do not have one particular beneficial effect for corporations, they may have similar effects that are equally beneficial
(D) does not adequately address the possibility that employee productivity is strongly affected by factors other than employees’ motivation to work productively
(E) fails to consider that even if employees are already motivated to work productively, motivational posters may increase that motivation
A. Incorrect. This answer shifts focus to companies that don’t use motivational posters, while the stimulus only draws conclusions about companies that do. The argument never makes a claim about all corporations.
B. Incorrect. The stimulus only discusses motivational impact, not whether posters have other types of benefits. Assuming the posters have no other value goes beyond the scope of the argument.
C. Incorrect. The argument centers on motivation to work productively, not actual productivity. Motivation and performance aren't the same, so this answer misrepresents the conclusion.
D. Correct. The key flaw is that the argument assumes posters must raise motivation above a certain threshold to be valuable. It ignores the possibility that the posters still provide a relative boost—even if employees were already highly motivated. This is the best match for the flaw.
E. Incorrect. While tempting, this answer overgeneralizes. The argument only discusses “these corporations” and doesn't draw a conclusion about corporations in general.
