What does the phrase 'the arithmetic of a shirt that must be bought three times' suggest?
A shirt that sells for ten dollars may seem a bargain. However, the price on the tag hides several costs. Cheap fabric tends to wear out within a season, so shoppers buy replacements more often. Factories that keep wages low cut corners on safety. And the shirts that are thrown away fill landfills faster than they can break down. Critics of the industry do not ask people to stop buying clothes; they ask them to buy fewer items and to look after what they own. Others reply that people on low incomes have little choice. Both points deserve a hearing, but neither changes the arithmetic of a shirt that must be bought three times.
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Cheap shirts may cost as much as a lasting one.
Answer: cheap shirts add up over time. Why not the others: The phrase does not mean sets, wear counts or extra charges.
- Step 1: If a cheap shirt wears out, it must be replaced.
- Step 2: Three purchases add up, so the low price is less of a bargain.
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