Reading Spanish Proposals That Compare Possible Scenarios

Reading Spanish Proposals That Compare Possible Scenarios

In this lesson, you will read a proposal that compares possible scenarios using the same criteria. You will identify the assumptions behind each scenario, the expected benefits and costs, the evidence supporting them, and one missing piece of information that could change the decision.

Read the proposal

La biblioteca municipal necesita reducir los tiempos de espera por la tarde. El equipo ha preparado tres opciones para los próximos seis meses.

Opción A: ampliar el horario dos horas de lunes a jueves. Si se ampliara el horario, más estudiantes podrían venir después de clase. Según los registros actuales, entre las seis y las ocho de la tarde hay demanda suficiente para justificar una prueba. Sin embargo, esta opción exigiría contratar personal adicional o redistribuir turnos.

Opción B: mantener el horario actual y añadir un sistema de reserva para las salas de estudio. Si se organizara mejor el uso de las salas, podría disminuir el tiempo que algunas personas pasan esperando. El coste inicial sería menor que en la opción A, pero no sabemos si resolvería la falta de puestos cuando la biblioteca está llena.

Opción C: abrir los sábados por la tarde y mantener sin cambios los días laborables. Esta opción podría repartir parte de la demanda semanal. No obstante, los datos disponibles no indican cuántos usuarios vendrían el sábado, así que el beneficio es más incierto.

Check the main purpose

La biblioteca municipal necesita reducir los tiempos de espera por la tarde. — The municipal library needs to reduce afternoon waiting times.

All three options should therefore be compared against the same objective: reducing waiting or pressure on study spaces.

Option A: condition and expected benefit

Si se ampliara el horario, más estudiantes podrían venir después de clase. — If the opening hours were extended, more students could come after class.

Supporting evidence:

Según los registros actuales, entre las seis y las ocho de la tarde hay demanda suficiente para justificar una prueba. — According to current records, between six and eight in the evening there is enough demand to justify a trial.

Cost or requirement:

Esta opción exigiría contratar personal adicional o redistribuir turnos. — This option would require hiring additional staff or redistributing shifts.

Option B: expected benefit and uncertainty

Si se organizara mejor el uso de las salas, podría disminuir el tiempo que algunas personas pasan esperando. — If use of the rooms were organized better, the time some people spend waiting could decrease.

Potential advantage:

El coste inicial sería menor que en la opción A. — The initial cost would be lower than in option A.

Uncertainty:

No sabemos si resolvería la falta de puestos cuando la biblioteca está llena. — We do not know whether it would solve the lack of spaces when the library is full.

Option C: weaker evidence

Esta opción podría repartir parte de la demanda semanal. — This option could spread part of the weekly demand.

But:

Los datos disponibles no indican cuántos usuarios vendrían el sábado. — The available data do not indicate how many users would come on Saturday.

The scenario is possible, but the supporting evidence is weaker because expected Saturday demand is unknown.

Assumption versus evidence

Assumption:

If Saturday hours attract enough users, some weekday pressure may move to Saturday.

Evidence actually provided:

No current Saturday-demand number is given.

Do not rewrite the assumption as a confirmed benefit.

Compare with one fixed criterion

Criterion 1: likely reduction in waiting.

Option A has current evening-demand data.

Option B may improve organization but may not create more physical capacity.

Option C may redistribute demand, but demand on Saturday is unknown.

Compare cost or implementation burden

Option A may require more staffing.

Option B has a lower stated initial cost.

Option C's staffing and operating cost are not given in the text.

Do not assume option C is cheap simply because no cost is mentioned.

Identify decisive missing information

One important missing fact is:

¿Cuánto costaría abrir los sábados por la tarde? — How much would it cost to open on Saturday afternoons?

Another:

¿Cuántos usuarios usarían la biblioteca ese día? — How many users would use the library that day?

Supported provisional conclusion

With the information provided, option A has the clearest direct evidence of evening demand, while option B has a lower initial cost. A final choice would still require clearer staffing costs and evidence about how much each option would actually reduce waiting.

A practical proposal-reading method

1. Identify the common objective.
2. List each scenario separately.
3. For each scenario, identify the condition, expected benefit, cost, and implementation requirement.
4. Separate supporting evidence from assumption.
5. Use the same criteria across alternatives.
6. Identify any missing information that could change the ranking.
7. Do not convert a predicted benefit into a confirmed fact.

From Reading Scenarios to Writing a Comparison

You can now read a proposal and explain what each scenario assumes, offers, costs, and leaves uncertain. The next lesson is Writing a Spanish Comparison of Alternative Courses of Action.