An important feature of the labor market in recent years has been the

Question

New Project RC Butler 2019  -  Practice 2 RC Passages Everyday   
Passage # 271, Date : 16-Aug-2019
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An important feature of the labor market in recent years has been the increasing participation of women, particularly married women. Many analysts suggest, however, that women comprise a secondary labor market where rates of pay and promotion prospects are inferior to those available to men. The principal reason is that women have, or are assumed to have, domestic responsibilities that compete with paid employment. Such domestic responsibilities are strongly influenced by social values, which require women to give priority to home and family over paid employment.

The difficulties that women face in the labor market and in their ability to reach senior positions in organizations are accentuated with the arrival of children. In order to become full-time employees, women with children must overcome the problems of finding good, affordable child care and the psychological barriers of workplace marginality. Some women balance domestic and workplace commitments by working part-time. However, part-time work is a precarious form of employment. Women parttimers are often the first laid off in a difficult economy. These workers are often referred to as the “reserve army” of female labor.

One researcher has found that approximately 80 percent of women in their twenties who have children remain at home. Such women who later return to work represent another sector of the workforce facing difficulties. When the typical houseworker returns to the labor market, she is unsure of herself in her new environment. This doubt is accentuated by her recent immersion in housework, a very private form of work. Without recent employment experience, these women confront a restricted range of opportunities and will almost certainly be offered low-status jobs with poor prospects.

Even women professionals who interrupt their careers to have children experience difficulties. Their technical skills may become rusty or obsolete, important networks of business contacts are broken, and their delayed return to work may mean that they are likely to come up for promotion well after the age that would be otherwise normal. Consequently, women, even those of high ability, may find themselves blocked in the lower echelons of an organization, overlooked, or even “invisible” to senior management.   1 
 1. The author of the passage is primarily concerned with

A. advocating changes in employers’ practices towards women with children.
B. examining some of the reasons women rarely reach the higher echelons of paid labor.
C. describing the psychological consequences for women of working outside the home.
D. taking issue with those who believe women should not work outside the home.
E. analyzing the contribution of women to industry and business.

2 
 2. The passage provides information to support which of the following statements about women workers?

A. It is the responsibility of employers to provide child care accommodations for women workers with children.
B. Women in high-status positions are easily able to integrate career and children.
C. Conditions for working mothers are much better today than they were 20 years ago.
D. The decision to work outside the home is often the source of considerable anxiety for women with children.
E. With the expense of child care, it is often not profitable for women with children to work.

3 
 3. According to the passage, men generally receive higher salaries and have a better chance of being promoted because women

A. tend to work in industries that rely almost exclusively on part-time labor.
B. lack the technical and managerial experience of their male counterparts.
C. have responsibilities outside of the workplace that demand considerable attention.
D. are the first to be laid off when the economy grows at a very slow pace.
E. suffer discrimination in the male-dominated corporate environment.

4 
 4. The author’s discussion of women professionals in the last paragraph serves to

A. show that the difficulties of integrating careers and motherhood can be overcome.
B. indicate that even women of higher status are not exempt from the difficulties of integrating careers and children.
C. defend changes in the policies of employers towards working mothers.
D. modify a hypothesis regarding the increased labor force participation of women.
E. point out the lack of opportunities for women in business.

5 
 5. According to the passage, the senior management of many business organizations often fails to promote highly competent women who have rejoined the labor force after raising children for which of the following reasons?

A. Senior management believes that these women cannot be relied upon to remain with the organization since they left the labor market in the past.
B. These women are thought to be too old for promotion into the higher echelons of the organization.
C. These women do not possess the social skills necessary to develop strong relationships with important decision makers in the organization.
D. Senior management views these women as a secondary source of labor that does not possess the managerial skills necessary for entry into the organization's upper ranks.
E. These women spend too much time with their families and too little time at the office.

CrackverbalGMAT · Accepted Answer

1. The author of the passage is primarily concerned with

Almost the entire passage is concerned with describing and detailing the difficulties faced by women in making progress in their own careers, particularly when faced with the prospect of having and raising children. The primary purpose/idea of the passage has to be closely linked to this.

A. advocating changes in employers’ practices towards women with children.  While the passage does have a tone which implies that the author believes the employers to be treating women with children unfairly, the role that employers play forms only a part of the passage. The passage also does not make any advocacy as such - it is restricted to merely describing the difficulties faced by women. Hence this option, while attractive at first glance, is incorrect.

B. examining some of the reasons women rarely reach the higher echelons of paid labor.  Correct.

C. describing the psychological consequences for women of working outside the home.  While the passage touches on this, it is only mentioned in a small portion of the passage. Incorrect.

D. taking issue with those who believe women should not work outside the home.  There is no mention of this in the passage. Incorrect.

E. analyzing the contribution of women to industry and business.  There is no mention of this in the passage. Incorrect.

2. The passage provides information to support which of the following statements about women workers?

A. It is the responsibility of employers to provide child care accommodations for women workers with children.  The only mention of child care in the passage occurs in the second paragraph - " In order to become full-time employees, women with children must overcome the problems of finding good, affordable child care and the psychological barriers of workplace marginality ". While the passage does identify child care as one of the problems faced by women with children, nowhere does it suggest that it is the responsibility of employers to provide the same. Incorrect.

B. Women in high-status positions are easily able to integrate career and children.  The entire passage is dedicated to explaining why this is  NOT  the case. Incorrect.

C. Conditions for working mothers are much better today than they were 20 years ago.  There is no comparison of conditions today with any point in the past. Incorrect.

D. The decision to work outside the home is often the source of considerable anxiety for women with children.
correct : "accentuated with the arrival of children. In order to become full-time employees, women with children must overcome the problems of finding good, affordable child care and the psychological barriers of workplace marginality. "

E. With the expense of child care, it is often not profitable for women with children to work.  The passage does not compare the wages earned by women returning to work after child birth with the costs of childcare - an essential requirement to determine the profitability of women with children working. Incorrect.

3. According to the passage, men generally receive higher salaries and have a better chance of being promoted because women

The first paragraph states - " Many analysts suggest, however, that women comprise a secondary labor market where rates of pay and promotion prospects are inferior to those available to men. The principal reason is that women have, or are assumed to have, domestic responsibilities that compete with paid employment. " This is the only section of the passage that deals with the reasons for women earning lower wages than men.

A. tend to work in industries that rely almost exclusively on part-time labor.  Incorrect. The passage does not state this.

B. lack the technical and managerial experience of their male counterparts.  Incorrect. The passage does not state this.

C. have responsibilities outside of the workplace that demand considerable attention.  Correct. Consistent with the text extract given above.

D. are the first to be laid off when the economy grows at a very slow pace.  While this is stated in the passage, this is not given as the reason for women earning lower wages.

E. suffer discrimination in the male-dominated corporate environment.  While this is implied by the passage, this is not given as the reason for women earning lower wages.

4. The author’s discussion of women professionals in the last paragraph serves to

The last paragraph specifically speaks about the difficulties faced by even women with "high ability", professionals, when they return to work after child birth.

A. show that the difficulties of integrating careers and motherhood can be overcome.  Incorrect. Nothing in this option about women with "high ability"

B. indicate that even women of higher status are not exempt from the difficulties of integrating careers and children.  This is the most appropriate option. While the passage talks about women with "high ability" and not "higher status" (which is different from ability) as this option does, this is only option which talks about even women who are generally "better off" (could be in any aspect) also finding it difficult to re-enter the workplace after child birth. Hence, while not ideally worded, this option is the best among those given.

C. defend changes in the policies of employers towards working mothers.  Incorrect. Nothing in this option about women with "high ability"

D. modify a hypothesis regarding the increased labor force participation of women.  Incorrect. Nothing in this option about women with "high ability"

E. point out the lack of opportunities for women in business.  Incorrect. Nothing in this option about women with "high ability"

5. According to the passage, the senior management of many business organizations often fails to promote highly competent women who have rejoined the labor force after raising children for which of the following reasons?

There are two sections of the passage that talk about women facing discrimination in promotion:

i) The first paragraph states - " Many analysts suggest, however, that women comprise a secondary labor market where rates of pay and promotion prospects are inferior to those available to men. The principal reason is that women have, or are assumed to have, domestic responsibilities that compete with paid employment ".

ii) The last paragraph of the passage states - " ...and their delayed return to work may mean that they are likely to come up for promotion well after the age that would be otherwise normal ".

The correct answer must detail either of these cases.
 
A. Senior management believes that these women cannot be relied upon to remain with the organization since they left the labor market in the past.  Incorrect. Not consistent with either (i) or (ii) above.

B. These women are thought to be too old for promotion into the higher echelons of the organization.  Correct. Consistent with (ii) above.

C. These women do not possess the social skills necessary to develop strong relationships with important decision makers in the organization.  Incorrect. Not consistent with either (i) or (ii) above.

D. Senior management views these women as a secondary source of labor that does not possess the managerial skills necessary for entry into the organization's upper ranks.  Incorrect. Not consistent with either (i) or (ii) above.

E. These women spend too much time with their families and too little time at the office.  Incorrect. Not consistent with either (i) or (ii) above.

Hope this helps.

souvonik2k · Answer

The OA seems to be incorrect.
Answer to 3 shall be C - The passage doesn't mention that (B) women lack the technical and managerial experience of their male counterparts.
Answer to 4 shall be B - The passage doesn't defend any change in policy.

Skyline393 · Answer

1. The author of the passage is primarily concerned with

A. advocating changes in employers’ practices towards women with children.
B. examining some of the reasons women rarely reach the higher echelons of paid labor. =>   Many analysts suggest, however, that women comprise a secondary labor market where rates of pay and promotion prospects are inferior to those available to men. The principal reason is that women have, or are assumed to have, domestic responsibilities that compete with paid employment.   .  And the next paragraphs are supported this view.  
C. describing the psychological consequences for women of working outside the home.=>   The passage doesnt discuss about the psychological consequences=> Irrelevant  
D. taking issue with those who believe women should not work outside the home.
E. analyzing the contribution of women to industry and business.

Timebomb · Answer

I don't understand that in question 4 how is high ability related to high status? E, on the other hand says that it simply elaborated the lack of opportunities for women, that to me seems better as it still talks about lack of opportunities to women taking a break in career.

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Posted from my mobile device

TheNightKing · Answer

souvonik2k

I have no idea why OA for Question 4 is B.

The passage makes no mention of high status women. The passage does talk about women with high ability and that has got nothing to do with status. Thoughts?

SajjadAhmad

I will appreciate your inputs too.

singhaz · Answer

An important feature of the labor market in recent years has been the increasing participation of women, particularly married women. Many analysts suggest, however, that women comprise a secondary labor market where rates of pay and promotion prospects are inferior to those available to men. The principal reason is that women have, or are assumed to have, domestic responsibilities that compete with paid employment. Such domestic responsibilities are strongly influenced by social values, which require women to give priority to home and family over paid employment.

Summary: labor market sees increased participation of women but women have low chances of promotion & get low pay as it is believed they have domestic resposbilities of house.

The difficulties that women face in the labor market and in their ability to reach senior positions in organizations are accentuated with the arrival of children. In order to become full-time employees, women with children must overcome the problems of finding good, affordable child care and the psychological barriers of workplace marginality. Some women balance domestic and workplace commitments by working part-time. However, part-time work is a precarious form of employment. Women parttimers are often the first laid off in a difficult economy. These workers are often referred to as the “reserve army” of female labor.

Summary: This situations is further increased with arrival of childrens in womens life & some women work part time to balance their life but part time workers are not considered important and hence get eaisly laid off during economic hardships & are also considered as reserves.

One researcher has found that approximately 80 percent of women in their twenties who have children remain at home. Such women who later return to work represent another sector of the workforce facing difficulties. When the typical houseworker returns to the labor market, she is unsure of herself in her new environment. This doubt is accentuated by her recent immersion in housework, a very private form of work. Without recent employment experience, these women confront a restricted range of opportunities and will almost certainly be offered low-status jobs with poor prospects.
 Summary: As per a research, 80 percent womens with childrens stay at home. Also as house work is a private form of work, women coming back to work faces difficulty is adjusting to their new environment. These women gets low status jobs.

Even women professionals who interrupt their careers to have children experience difficulties. Their technical skills may become rusty or obsolete, important networks of business contacts are broken, and their delayed return to work may mean that they are likely to come up for promotion well after the age that would be otherwise normal. Consequently, women, even those of high ability, may find themselves blocked in the lower echelons of an organization, overlooked, or even “invisible” to senior management.

Summary: Professional womens also face similar issues and find themselves getting overlooked even afterhaving high calibre.

1. The author of the passage is primarily concerned with

A. advocating changes in employers’ practices towards women with children.
 B. examining some of the reasons women rarely reach the higher echelons of paid labor.
Correct 
C. describing the psychological consequences for women of working outside the home.
D. taking issue with those who believe women should not work outside the home.
E. analyzing the contribution of women to industry and business.

2. The passage provides information to support which of the following statements about women workers?

A. It is the responsibility of employers to provide child care accommodations for women workers with children.
B. Women in high-status positions are easily able to integrate career and children.
C. Conditions for working mothers are much better today than they were 20 years ago.
 D. The decision to work outside the home is often the source of considerable anxiety for women with children.
correct : "accentuated with the arrival of children. In order to become full-time employees, women with children must overcome the problems of finding good, affordable child care and the psychological barriers of workplace marginality. " 
E. With the expense of child care, it is often not profitable for women with children to work.

3. According to the passage, men generally receive higher salaries and have a better chance of being promoted because women

A. tend to work in industries that rely almost exclusively on part-time labor.
B. lack the technical and managerial experience of their male counterparts.
 C. have responsibilities outside of the workplace that demand considerable attention.
Correct 
D. are the first to be laid off when the economy grows at a very slow pace.
E. suffer discrimination in the male-dominated corporate environment.

4. The author’s discussion of women professionals in the last paragraph serves to

A. show that the difficulties of integrating careers and motherhood can be overcome.
 B. indicate that even women of higher status are not exempt from the difficulties of integrating careers and children.
Correct 
C. defend changes in the policies of employers towards working mothers.
D. modify a hypothesis regarding the increased labor force participation of women.
E. point out the lack of opportunities for women in business.

5. According to the passage, the senior management of many business organizations often fails to promote highly competent women who have rejoined the labor force after raising children for which of the following reasons?

A. Senior management believes that these women cannot be relied upon to remain with the organization since they left the labor market in the past.
 B. These women are thought to be too old for promotion into the higher echelons of the organization.
their delayed return to work may mean that they are likely to come up for promotion well after the age that would be otherwise normal. 
C. These women do not possess the social skills necessary to develop strong relationships with important decision makers in the organization.
D. Senior management views these women as a secondary source of labor that does not possess the managerial skills necessary for entry into the organization's upper ranks.
E. These women spend too much time with their families and too little time at the office.

An important feature of the labor market in recent years has been the

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GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

An important feature of the labor market in recent years has been the

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