Reading

It has come to the university’s attention that there is crowding in the faculty canteen between the hours of 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., an issue that is due to the increase in staff numbers in several faculty departments. A number of faculty members have complained that they stood in line so long that they were unable to get lunch, or did not have time to eat lunch. To offset the crowding, the university has polled the various departments about schedules, and has settled on a recommended roster for when the members of each department should visit the faculty canteen for lunch: 

• Business Dept: 10:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
• Art Dept: 10:45 a.m.–11:45 a.m.
• Math and Science Dept: 12 p.m.–1 p.m.
• Social Sciences Dept: 12:30 p.m.–1:30 p.m.
• Humanities Dept: 1 p.m.–2 p.m.

We ask that all faculty members respect this schedule. Faculty will be expected to display a department badge before entering the canteen for lunch.

Which best describes the final two sentences of the announcement?

A. A friendly reminder to all faculty members to bring a badge to the canteenB.  A word of caution to faculty members about trying to enter the canteen at the wrong timeC.  An implied suggestion that faculty members should consider getting lunch elsewhereD. 

 An indication of university sanctions for faculty members who enter the canteen outside the schedule Explanation 

The final two sentences are as follows: “We ask that all faculty members respect this schedule. Faculty will be expected to display a department badge before entering the canteen for lunch.” 

The overall recommendation is that faculty members should honor the schedule, with the added implication that faculty members will either not be allowed to enter the canteen outside of the posted lunch roster or that departments will be notified if the faculty members attempt to enter outside of their time. No doubt the announcement is also a recommendation to bring the badge, but there is an undercurrent of warning in it that goes beyond a “friendly reminder.” Therefore, answer choice A is incorrect. There is nothing in the announcement or in the two final sentences to suggest that the university wants faculty members to eat lunch elsewhere, so choice C is incorrect. Choice D is a good option, but it infers just a little too much from the final two sentences. While university sanctions might very well be imposed on faculty members who don’t follow the schedule, these two sentences do not mention sanctions. Choice D goes too far, so it too is incorrect.