Rhett: Otto gives me a ride to work every morning and expects me to help pay for fuel. But I shouldn't have to pay. G...

Victoria on March 22, 2020

Hi @Masada,

Happy to help!

We are analyzing the passage to determine which of the answer choices Rhett and Barbara disagree over.

First, we have to break down Rhett and Barbara's arguments.

Rhett argues that they should not have to pay Otto for the fuel he uses driving Rhett to work. Why? Because picking Rhett up in the morning does not increase the amount that Otto spends on fuel as Otto must drive right past Rhett's house on his way to work.

Barbara argues that Rhett is using flawed logic to draw this conclusion and uses an analogy to present an example of an incorrect conclusion that Rhett's logic would allow them to reach. Using this logic, Rhett would be entitled to the warm air heating the unused spare room of Barbara's house if it did not increase her expenses.

Overall, Barbara is arguing that Rhett is using flawed logic to draw their conclusion, making the conclusion that Rhett should not have to pay Otto for fuel incorrect.

In this way, Rhett and Barbara disagree over whether Rhett should have to help pay Otto's fuel expenses. This is directly restated by answer choice (B), making it the correct answer.

Answer choice (A) is incorrect because this is a fact. Rhett and Barbara's opinions on the matter have no impact on whether Otto requires Rhett to pay him for fuel or not.

Answer choice (C) is incorrect because Barbara implicitly agrees with Rhett through her analogy: "...you would be entitled to the warm air that heats the unused spare room of my house, if you could divert it to your house without increasing my expenses." Through the latter part of the analogy, Barbara implicitly agrees with the fact that driving Rhett to work does not increase Otto's fuel expenses.

Answer choices (D) and (E) are incorrect because Rhett does not touch on this in their argument. The warm air in Barbara's unused spare room is simply an analogy employed by Barbara to demonstrate why Rhett should pay Otto for the fuel he uses driving Rhett to work.

Hope this is helpful! Please let us know if you have any further questions.