With no explanation, chose the best option from "A", "B", "C" or "D". Blackmon-Malloy, 575 F.3d at 713 (quoting President, 627 F.2d at 362). 14 . To the extent that Hyson argues that the application score or interview should have played a larger role in the hiring decision, the Court "defer[s] to the Government's decision of what nondiscriminatory qualities it ... seek[s] in filling the ... position.” Stewart v. Ashcroft, 352 F.3d 422, 429 (D.C.Cir.2003). 15 . This is especially true in the context of the prima facie burden-shifting scheme and the direct-versus-indirect evidence inquiry. See Wicks, 701 F.Supp.2d at 44 (" '[DJirect evidence does not include stray remarks in the workplace' " (quoting Ayala-Gerena v. Bristol Myers-Squibb Co., 95 F.3d 86, 96 (1st Cir.1996))); Prater v. FedEx Corp. Servs., Inc., 2009 WL 1725978, at *6-7 (D.D.C. June 18, 2009) (<HOLDING>). Once the focus shifts to the ultimate inquiry

A: holding because the plaintiffs erisa claim is based on alleged circumstantial evidence  the eighth circuit analyzed the claim under the mcdonnell douglas framework
B: holding that without a link to the challenged decision stray remarks did not constitute indirect evidence of discrimination sufficient to satisfy the final prong of the mcdonnell douglas framework
C: holding because libels erisa claim is based on alleged circumstantial evidence  we analyze it under the mcdonnell douglas framework
D: holding that absent a casual link between supervisors isolated racial remarks and employers decision to promote stray remarks cannot support a verdict for race discrimination
B.