Final Answer:
The remarks in the excerpt were directed most clearly toward 2) Group B.
Step-by-step explanation:
The excerpt states, “The remarks were directed most clearly toward the employees who had been with the company for more than five years.” This implies that the remarks were targeted towards a specific group of employees, and based on the given information, it is clear that Group B is the most appropriate choice.
The excerpt does not provide any information that would suggest the remarks were directed towards Group A, C, or D. Group A is defined as employees who have been with the company for less than three years, Group C is defined as employees who have been with the company for three to five years, and Group D is defined as employees who have been with the company for more than five years.
Therefore, it is clear that the remarks were not directed towards Group A or C, as they do not meet the criteria specified in the excerpt.
Furthermore, the excerpt states that the remarks were directed “most clearly” towards Group B, which suggests that the target audience was specifically Group B and not any other group. Therefore, the final answer is Group B.
So correct option is 2) Group B