Which statement describes a consequence of overly hot wash water?

• A. Dishes will always come out with perfect shine.
• B. Detergent is unaffected by temperature.
• C. The foods may bake onto the dishware.
• D. The wash cycle becomes inaudible.

Answer: (C)

The main idea is how wash water temperature affects how soils and foods respond to cleaning. When wash water is far hotter than ideal, it can cause food residues to dry out and set onto the dishware instead of letting detergents loosen and lift them away. Heat can coagulate proteins, caramelize sugars, and gelatinize starches on surfaces, creating a crust that bakes onto the dish and is hard to remove in a subsequent wash. That’s why an overly hot wash can leave foods stuck to plates and cups.

So the best choice describes that consequence: foods may bake onto the dishware. The other statements don’t fit because detergents do rely on temperature to work effectively, an excessively hot cycle doesn’t guarantee perfect shine, and the wash cycle’s sound isn’t the defining effect of temperature in this context.