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沙发
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发表于 2012-2-29 21:14:26
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Questions 50-56 refer to the passage on page 380.
50. The primary purpose of the passage is to
(A) present the results of statistical analyses and
propose further studies
(B) explain a recent development and predict its
eventual consequences
(0 identify the reasons for a trend and recommend
measures to address it
(D) outline several theories about a phenomenon
and advocate one of them
(E) describe the potential consequences of
implementing a new policy and argue in favor of
that policy
Main idea
Understanding the author's purpose comes from a
careful consideration of the whole passage. The
author begins by noting one explanation for the
rise in temporary employment, but dismisses it,
finding another explanation more likely. The
author closes the passage by making specific
recommendations to counter the problems caused
by temporary employment.
A The author uses statistical analyses as the
basis of an explanation, but the analyses act
only as support for the larger purpose of
explaining a trend; no further studies are
proposed.
B The author explores possible reasons for a
recent development but recommends ways to
curb or change that development; the author
does not predict the consequences if the
situation is left unchanged or the
recommendations unmet.
C Correct. The author examines possible
reasons for the rise in temporary
employment and makes specific
recommendations to change the current
situation.
D The use of the phrase several theories is
enough to make this inaccurate. Two types
of explanation are suggested: employee
preference or employer self-interest.
E The author makes recommendations but
provides no arguments in support of those
recommendations—merely suggesting that
they are aimed at discouraging employers
from creating too many temporary positions.
The correct answer is C.
51.According to the passage, which of the following is
true of the "factors affecting employers" that are
mentioned in lines 10-19?
(A) Most experts cite them as having initiated the
growth in temporary employment that occurred
during the 1980s.
(B) They may account for the increase in the total
number of temporary workers during the 1980s.
(0 They were less important than demographic
change in accounting for the increase of
temporary employment during the 1980s.
(D) They included a sharp increase in the cost of
labor during the 1980s.
(E) They are more difficult to account for than are
other factors involved in the growth of
temporary employment during the 1980s.
Supporting idea
This question is based on information explicitly
stated in lines 10-12. The statistical analyses
suggest that factors affecting employers account for the
rise in temporary employment.
A Some observers attribute the rise to the
composition of the workforce; the passage
does not identify what most experts believe.
B Correct. The factors affecting employers
may explain the rise in temporary
employment.
C The passage suggests that these factors were
more important than demographic changes
in explaining the rise.
D Although there is some suggestion in lines
15-16 that employers at some point
experienced difficulty from the cost of labor,
the passage does not suggest that a sharp
increase in that cost occurred in the 1980s—
and even suggests that labor costs may have
decreased because of labor's reduced
bargaining strength.
E The issue of how to account for those factors
(i.e., explain why they occurred) is not raised
in the passage—so the issue of whether
those factors are more difficult to account
for than other factors is not raised.
The correct answer is B.
52. The passage suggests which of the following
about the use of temporary employment by firms
during the 1980s?
(A) It enabled firms to deal with fluctuating product
demand far more efficiently than they did before
the 1980s.
(B) It increased as a result of increased participation
in the workforce by certain demographic groups.
(0 It was discouraged by government-mandated
policies.
(D) It was a response to preferences indicated by
certain employees for more flexible working
arrangements.
(E) It increased partly as a result of workers' reduced
ability to control the terms of their employment.
Inference
Since the word suggests is used in the question, the
answer is probably not directly stated in the
passage and therefore has to be inferred. The
author believes that the rise in temporary
employment during the 1980s can be explained
by two factors affecting employers: product
demand and labors reduced bargaining strength.
Temporary employment allows employers to
adapt their workforce to the fluctuating demand
for their product. At this time, labors reduced
bargaining strength left employers, not workers, in
greater control of the terms of employment.
A This goes too far beyond the information
provided in the passage. The passage neither
says nor implies anything about efficiency
levels before the 1980s.
B The author says that demographic changes in
the workforce did not correlate with variations
in the total number of temporary workers,
ruling out this explanation.
C In 1992, the author recommended
government-mandated policies because they
did not exist.
D The author says that growth in temporary
employment now far exceeds the level
explainable by... groups said to prefer
temporaryjobs.
E Correct. Labor's reduced bargaining power
resulted in employers' increased control over
the terms of employment.
53. The passage suggests which of the following about the
workers who took temporary jobs during the 1980s?
(A) Their jobs frequently led to permanent positions
within firms.
(B) They constituted a less demographically diverse
group than has been suggested.
(C) They were occasionally involved in actions
organized by labor unions.
(D) Their pay declined during the decade in
comparison with the pay of permanent
employees.
(E) They did not necessarily prefer temporary
employment to permanent employment.
Inference
The question's use of the word suggests indicates
that the answer is probably not directly stated in
the passage. The author says that the rise in
temporary employment nowfar exceeds the level
explainable by recent workforce entry rates of groups
said to prefer temporaryjobs. Thus, the number of
workers employed on a temporary basis is far
greater than the number of workers who actually
do prefer temporary employment.
A No evidence is presented that temporary
jobs led to permanent positions.
B The passage grants that there was increased
participation in the workforce by certain groups,
such asfirst-time or reentering workers. This
suggests more rather than less demographic
diversity.
C The role of temporary workers in labor
unions is not discussed.
D The passage does suggest that the pay of
temporary workers is less than that of
permanent workers, but not that the pay of
temporary workers declined.
E Correct. The passage indicates that the
number of workers in temporary jobs was
higher than the number of workers who
stated a preference for temporary work.
The correct answer is E.
54. The first sentence in the passage suggests that the
"observers" mentioned in line 1 would be most likely to
predict which of the following?
(A) That the number of new temporary positions
would decline as fewer workers who preferred
temporary employment entered the workforce
(B) That the total number of temporary positions
would increase as fewer workers were able to
find permanent positions
(0 That employers would have less control over the
terms of workers' employment as workers
increased their bargaining strength
(D) That more workers would be hired for temporary
positions as product demand increased -
(E) That the number of workers taking temporary
positions would increase as more workers in any
given demographic group entered the workforce
Application
These observers specifically attribute the growth .<
of temporary employment to increased participation
in the workforce by certain groups ... who supposedly
prefer such arrangements. On the basis of theA
passage's first sentence, any prediction these
observers might make must be about the relation
between the number of workers in temporary
employment and the preference of these workers
for temporary employment. No other issue is
discussed. A rise in temporary employment
could be explained only by a rise in the number
of new workers who prefer temporary jobs, and
a decline in temporary employment only by a
decline in the number of new workers who prefer
temporary work.
A Correct. By this rationale, the only reason
for a decline in temporary employment
would be a corresponding decline in the
number of new workers who preferred
temporary jobs.
B According to the observers, temporary
employment would increase only if a greater
number of employers who preferred
temDprary jobs entered the workforce.
C These observers are not said to consider
control over the terms of employment.
D These observers are not said to consider the
relationship between product demand and
temporary employment.
E The number of workers taking temporary
positions would rise only if they were
composed of certain groups, such as first-time
or reentering workers, who, the observers
believe, prefer temporary work.
The correct answer is A.
55. In the context of the passage, the word "excessive"
(line 23) most closely corresponds to which of the
following phrases?
(A) Far more than can be justified by worker
preferences
(B) Far more than can be explained by fluctuations
in product demand
(0 Far more than can be beneficial to the success
of the firms themselves
(D) Far more than can be accounted for by an
expanding national economy
(E) Far more than can be attributed to increases in
the total number of people in the workforce
Logical structure
In its context in this passage, the word excessive
indicates a value-judgment by the author. The
author recommends that firms be discouragedfrom
creating excessive numbers of temporary positions on
the basis of the statistical analyses, which show
that the rise in temporary employment nowfar
exceeds the level explainable by recent workforce entry
rates of groups said to prefer temporary jobs. In the
context of lines 24—31, it is clear that the author
believes that the large expansion in temporary
employment exclusively serves employer interests
at the expense of employee interests (including
their preferences), and \s\ for that reason,
excessive.
A Correct. An expansion of temporary
employment that serves employer interests
more than it serves employee interests (such
as preferences) is considered by the author to
be excessive.
B It is not because the expansion in temporary
employment allows employers to respond to
fluctuations in product demand that the
author regards the expansion as excessive.
C The relation of temporary employment to
the success of firms is not discussed.
D The relation of temporary employment to an
expanding economy is not discussed.
E The author does not consider the issue of
overall increases in the workforce as a whole,
only the issue of increases in temporary
employment.
The correct answer is A.
56. The passage mentions each of the following as an
appropriate kind of governmental action EXCEPT
(A) getting firms to offer temporary employment
primarily to a certain group of people
(B) encouraging equitable pay for temporary and
permanent employees
(C) facilitating the organization of temporary
workers by labor unions
(D) establishing guidelines on the proportion of
temporary workers that firms should employ
(E) ensuring that temporary workers obtain benefits
from their employers
Supporting ideas
The author closes the passage with a list of
specific recommendations. Check that list against
the possible answers. By the process of
elimination, choose the one recommendation the
author does not make. The author recommends
that government policymakers consider: 1)
mandating benefit coverage for temporary employees,
2) promoting pay equity between temporary and
permanent workers, 3) assisting labor unions in
organizing temporary workers, and 4) encouraging
firms to assign temporary jobs primarily to employees
who explicitly indicate that preference.
A The author does recommend that firms
assign temporary jobs to workers who prefer
temporary work.
B The author does recommend that pay equity
between temporary and permanent workers
be encouraged.
C The author does recommend that labor
unions be assisted in organizing temporary
workers.
D Correct. The author does not recommend
that such guidelines be established.
E The author does recommend that benefit
coverage for temporary workers be
mandated.
The correct answer is D. |
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发表于 2012-2-29 21:14:15
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。。双十二啊。。。晕啊。。
~~~~不好意思~~~~那个~~~昨天那个阅读小分队滴......“自动复制”把饭饭逼疯癫了.........饭饭以后要守时~~~不好意思亲~~~