The lift that won the wrong race
Text: an original contemporary opinion-column-style practice extract.
In the office foyer, a polished notice announced FASTEST LIFT: A. The claim appeared above a table supplied by the building manager.
| Measure used by the building manager | Lift A | Lift B |
|---|---|---|
| Average journey from the doors closing to the doors opening | 18 seconds | 25 seconds |
The figures had the polished calm of a verdict. Eighteen was smaller than twenty-five; Lift A had won. The heading did not bother the reader with the boundary around the measurement. Instead, it hung a medal around a pair of metal doors.
I pressed the button for Lift A. Forty-six seconds passed. During that time, Lift B arrived twice and carried other people away. When A eventually appeared, its journey to my floor took seventeen seconds. The notice had kept its promise, but only after making me wait outside it. It was quicker. I was later.
Over my next three visits, I began timing before either lift moved. My results were these:
| What I recorded over three visits | Lift A | Lift B |
|---|---|---|
| Average wait before entering | 41 seconds | 12 seconds |
| Average journey after entering | 18 seconds | 25 seconds |
| Average total time | 59 seconds | 37 seconds |
Now Lift B appeared to win, although three visits could hardly settle the matter for every hour and every passenger. I had not proved that the manager’s figures were false. I had changed the starting line. The original race began when the doors closed, neatly removing the slowest part of my experience from the track.
The notice could have said SHORTEST JOURNEY: LIFT A. That would be less triumphant, but more exact. My own table might say SHORTER TOTAL TIME IN THREE TRIALS: LIFT B. That would be less certain, but more honest. A number can be measured carefully and still answer the wrong question. The quickest claim is often the one that reaches its conclusion before the reader has arrived.
Analyse the writer’s use of language and structure to engage the reader and develop the writer’s argument.
In your answer, consider:
Support your views with detailed reference to the extract.