P1: Low bonus has lead to financial managers shifting from the finance industry to other nontraditional industry
P2: Shift of financial managers has benefited both, the managers as well as the small business house
P3: Benefits of working in a nontraditional industry
P4: Monetary benefits < Job satisfaction, sense of belongingness, health
P5: Shift to nontraditional industries COULD be the reason why the financial managers are happy BUT there could be other factors as well - location, age, marital status, etc.
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1. The primary purpose of the passage is toA. explore an
old phenomenon in the
light of new evidence -
Incorrect - What "old" phenomenon are we talking about? Is it the shift of managers to nontraditional industries? but since it happened through the 1990s I don't think this phenomenon is that old. Most importantly, what "new evidence" are we talking about? Even if this doesn't convenience you, then just look at the summary above and ask yourself, does (A) truly cover the essence of all the points mentioned above?
B.
reevaluate the contributions of one occupation -
Incorrect - We are not r
eevaluating anything out here. The passage is simply presenting us information about a particular trend of job shifts. Moreover, there is no contribution covered. YES, the passage does say (in P2) that the managers and the small businesses have benefited but that's about it. This is nowhere close to "contributions of
one occupation"
C. point out
increasing difficulties in the financial sector -
Incorrect - Yes, the financial sector has seen a drop in its profits "While net profits
at investment firms have declined by an average of sixteen percent over the past three years" BUT this barely covers one small aspect of the entire passage let alone talk about the "difficulties". By analyzing the summary of the passage, it is clear that our answer choice will have something to do with a trend in the financial industry, moreover, information about the financial advisors who choose this job shift
D. examine the reasons behind and impact of a phenomenon -
Correct - What is the phenomenon? Clearly, the job shift of financial advisors to nontraditional industries. Each paragraph of the passage covers either a reason or the impact/positive effect of this job shift.
E. explain the reasoning behind
a proposed change in
corporate structure -
Incorrect - There is no change that is being proposed. The financial advisors CHOSE to shift to nontraditional industries since financial industries were unable to offer competitive salaries and bonuses, Moreover, the author is not focusing on any corporate structure. Rather he is more interested to highlight the benefits/positive impact of this trend on the financial advisors
Correct Answer: (C)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. The author of the passage cites “ice-cream manufacturing, microbrewing, and institutional art-dealing" (Highlighted) in order to"The reward for this movement to
such diverse industries as ice-cream manufacturing, microbrewing, and institutional art-dealing is reaped by both the managers and their new employers." By using the marker "Such as" the author is providing us with examples of industries. What kind of industries? The ones to which the financial advisors have moved and thus repeating rewards.
A. show the diversity of nontraditional industries that financial managers have entered -
Correct - for the reasons stated above
B. describe the industries
most significantly harmed by this exodus of talent -
Incorrect - Quite the opposite. The industries have benefited from this shift "those (profits) of
small businesses in nontraditional industries have risen a whopping thirty-eight percent"
C. illustrate the
variety of problems associated with the
financial industry's corporate downsizing - Incorrect - This is not even related to the highlighted text. All the highlighted text does is talk about the nontraditional industries
D. provide examples of industries with a higher level of job satisfaction than that found in the financial services industry - Incorrect - Yes, these COULD be the industries that provide a higher level of job satisfaction BUT that is not why the highlighted text is given. (read the explanation of option A)
E.
explain the reasons for contemporary profit increases in smaller, more nontraditional industries -
Incorrect - The highlighted text merely illustrates the nontraditional industries to which the financial advisors have shifted. There aren't "reasons" that are mentioned.
Correct Answer: (A)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Which of the following is an assumption underlying the information presented in the first paragraph of the passage?"
The amount of bonus money that managers take home
has declined through the 1990s,
causing an exodus of experienced financial services advisors to a variety of nontraditional industries."
Clearly the author has assumed that the drop in bonuses is the cause of the managerial exodus. At this point, our SC concepts would be of great help. We have a clause modifier "causing" modifying the previous clause thus stating the RESULT for a particular action. What is the result? Managerial exodus. What is the cause? drop in bonus
A. There was no cause for the managerial exodus more significant than the decrease in bonus levels. -
Correct - If there was a cause more significant then the author could not have arrived at the result (managerial exodus) based solely on the drop in bonus.
B. Nontraditional industries provide more comprehensive benefits than does the financial services industry.
C. The rise in profits at nontraditional industries is due to the influx of financial managers.
D. A longer tenure at a given company leads to greater managerial and experiential efficiencies.
E. Prior to 1990, bonus levels in the financial services industry were consistently rising.
Correct Answer: (A) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. The author believes that the “corporate culture" described in line 24 is best characterized by which of the following?
"the cutthroat
politicking found in the corporate culture of the financial services industry"
I have no idea what politicking means but since it begins with "poli" I believe it has something to do with "politics" moreover with "office politics" (since we are talking about corporate culture). At the least what I could say (after reading the passage) is that the financial industry (to put it simply) is not good for financial advisors. So "politicking" will be some negative word for the corporate culture of the financial industry.
A. A massive exodus of financial managers to nontraditional businesses
B. A creative method employed by nontraditional businesses of remunerating managers
C. A mental stress associated with the long hours of an all-consuming occupation
D. A deteriorating effect of the demands of certain jobs on time and family
E. A competitive and unsupportive environment fostered in the financial services industry -
Correct - Again, when I look at the words "competitive" and "unsupportive environment" all I can think of is "unhealthy work environment for financial advisors" a.k.a office politics!
Correct Answer: (E)