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13 Dec 2012, 03:11
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Question 1
C
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
35%
(medium)
Question Stats:
63% (02:51) correct
37%
(02:58) wrong
based on 864
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Question 2
B
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
25%
(medium)
Question Stats:
68% (01:10) correct 32%
(01:20) wrong
based on 886
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Question 3
B
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
85%
(hard)
Question Stats:
35% (01:18) correct 65%
(01:25) wrong
based on 882
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Question 4
C
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
35%
(medium)
Question Stats:
66% (00:55) correct 34%
(01:11) wrong
based on 833
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
In the decades following World War II, American business had undisputed control of the world economy, producing goods of such high quality and low cost that foreign corporations were unable to compete. But in the mid-1960s the United States began to lose its advantage and by the 1980s American corporations lagged behind the competition in many industries. In the computer chip industry, for example, American corporations had lost most of both domestic and foreign markets by the early 1980s.
The first analysts to examine the decline of American business blamed the U.S. government. They argued that stringent governmental restrictions on the behaviour of American corporations, combined with the wholehearted support given to foreign firms by their governments, created and environment in which American products could not compete. Later analysts blamed predatory corporate raiders who bought corporations, not to make them more competitive in the face of foreign competition, but rather to sell off the most lucrative divisions for huge profits.
Still later analysts blamed the American workforce, citing labour demands and poor productivity as the reasons American corporations have been unable to compete with Japanese and European firms. Finally, a few analysts even censured American consumers for their unpatriotic purchases of foreign goods. The blame actually lies with corporate management, which has made serious errors based on misconceptions about what it takes to be successful in the marketplace. These missteps involve labour costs, production choices, and growth strategies.
Even though labour costs typically account for less than 15% of a product‘s total cost, management has been quick to blame the costs of workers‘ wages for driving up prices, making American goods uncompetitive. As a result of attempts to minimize the cost of wages, American corporations have had trouble recruiting and retaining skilled workers.
The emphasis on cost minimization has also led to another blunder: an over-concentration on high technology products. Many foreign firms began by specializing in the mass production and sale of low technology products, gaining valuable experience and earning tremendous profits. Later, these corporations were able to break into high technology markets without much trouble; they simply applied their previous manufacturing experience and ample financial resources to the production of higher quality goods. American business has consistently ignored this very sensible approach.
The recent rash of corporate mergers and acquisitions in the U.S. has not helped the situation either. While American firms have neglected long-range planning and production, preferring instead to reap fast profits through mergers and acquisitions, foreign firms have been quick
to exploit opportunities to ensure their domination over future markets by investing in the streamlining and modernization of their facilities
The first analysts to examine the decline of American business blamed the U.S. government. They argued that stringent governmental restrictions on the behaviour of American corporations, combined with the wholehearted support given to foreign firms by their governments, created and environment in which American products could not compete. Later analysts blamed predatory corporate raiders who bought corporations, not to make them more competitive in the face of foreign competition, but rather to sell off the most lucrative divisions for huge profits.
Still later analysts blamed the American workforce, citing labour demands and poor productivity as the reasons American corporations have been unable to compete with Japanese and European firms. Finally, a few analysts even censured American consumers for their unpatriotic purchases of foreign goods. The blame actually lies with corporate management, which has made serious errors based on misconceptions about what it takes to be successful in the marketplace. These missteps involve labour costs, production choices, and growth strategies.
Even though labour costs typically account for less than 15% of a product‘s total cost, management has been quick to blame the costs of workers‘ wages for driving up prices, making American goods uncompetitive. As a result of attempts to minimize the cost of wages, American corporations have had trouble recruiting and retaining skilled workers.
The emphasis on cost minimization has also led to another blunder: an over-concentration on high technology products. Many foreign firms began by specializing in the mass production and sale of low technology products, gaining valuable experience and earning tremendous profits. Later, these corporations were able to break into high technology markets without much trouble; they simply applied their previous manufacturing experience and ample financial resources to the production of higher quality goods. American business has consistently ignored this very sensible approach.
The recent rash of corporate mergers and acquisitions in the U.S. has not helped the situation either. While American firms have neglected long-range planning and production, preferring instead to reap fast profits through mergers and acquisitions, foreign firms have been quick
to exploit opportunities to ensure their domination over future markets by investing in the streamlining and modernization of their facilities
1. The passage suggests that compared to Japanese workers, American workers are often considered:
A. more content and more efficient.
B. more content but less efficient.
C. less content and less efficient.
D. less content but more efficient.
E. lazy and less hard working
2. With which of the following general statements would the author most likely NOT agree?
A. American business has been hurt by the inability to plan for the long-term.
B. Cutting production costs always leads to increased competitiveness.
C. American consumers are not the prime cause of the decline of American business.
D. Initial analysis of the decline of American business yielded only partially accurate conclusions.
E. Mergers and Acquisitions have not helped improve the situation
3. Which of the following would most weaken the author‘s argument about the over-concentration on high technology products?
A. Producing low tech products is not as profitable as producing high tech products.
B. Manufacturing high tech products is a completely different process than manufacturing low tech goods.
C. Most of the low tech products purchased by Americans are made by foreign firms.
D. Most of the high tech products purchased by Americans are made by foreign firms.
E. Most of the high tech products purchased by Americans are made by American firms.
4. The author of this passage would probably give his greatest support to which of the following actions by the corporate management of an American company?
A. Acquiring a smaller company in order to gain financial resources
B. Considering the option of paying the most highly skilled workers a higher wage
C. Trying to learn from the general management strategy of foreign firms
D. Paying for television advertisements that will win back American consumers
E. Flooding foreign markets with cheap goods
A. more content and more efficient.
B. more content but less efficient.
C. less content and less efficient.
D. less content but more efficient.
E. lazy and less hard working
2. With which of the following general statements would the author most likely NOT agree?
A. American business has been hurt by the inability to plan for the long-term.
B. Cutting production costs always leads to increased competitiveness.
C. American consumers are not the prime cause of the decline of American business.
D. Initial analysis of the decline of American business yielded only partially accurate conclusions.
E. Mergers and Acquisitions have not helped improve the situation
3. Which of the following would most weaken the author‘s argument about the over-concentration on high technology products?
A. Producing low tech products is not as profitable as producing high tech products.
B. Manufacturing high tech products is a completely different process than manufacturing low tech goods.
C. Most of the low tech products purchased by Americans are made by foreign firms.
D. Most of the high tech products purchased by Americans are made by foreign firms.
E. Most of the high tech products purchased by Americans are made by American firms.
4. The author of this passage would probably give his greatest support to which of the following actions by the corporate management of an American company?
A. Acquiring a smaller company in order to gain financial resources
B. Considering the option of paying the most highly skilled workers a higher wage
C. Trying to learn from the general management strategy of foreign firms
D. Paying for television advertisements that will win back American consumers
E. Flooding foreign markets with cheap goods
03 Jan 2013, 14:51
Kudos
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1. C. The answer to this question can be found in the third paragraph. It mentions "citing labour demands and poor productivity". One can infer from this that US workers are not content (which is why they would make demands) and inefficient (inefficient=poor productivity).
2. B. A is incorrect because of the last paragraph where it mentions how the US has focused only on the short term. C is incorrect because of the third paragraph. Several analysts blamed US consumers. Because the author mentioned this, one can infer that he would argue it. D and E are also incorrect. The author actually explicitly argues E in the last paragraph.
3. B. The author's argument relies on the assumption that to manufacture high-tech products requires the abandonment of manufacturing low-tech products. Saying that it does not weakens the argument.
4. C. This one is pretty easy. The author spends the entire passage talking about how foreign firms have no made the same mistakes as their American counterparts.
I hope that helps
2. B. A is incorrect because of the last paragraph where it mentions how the US has focused only on the short term. C is incorrect because of the third paragraph. Several analysts blamed US consumers. Because the author mentioned this, one can infer that he would argue it. D and E are also incorrect. The author actually explicitly argues E in the last paragraph.
3. B. The author's argument relies on the assumption that to manufacture high-tech products requires the abandonment of manufacturing low-tech products. Saying that it does not weakens the argument.
4. C. This one is pretty easy. The author spends the entire passage talking about how foreign firms have no made the same mistakes as their American counterparts.
I hope that helps
auradediligodo
Posts: 364
03 Aug 2019, 01:31
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Hi,
took 13 minutes and got3/4 correct. took 6 minutes to read the passage, write down paragraphs summaries and main point.
P1 Present a phenomenon: the decline of american business after ww2
P2: 2 possible reasons for the decline: government and raiders
P3: Present another possible reason along with the actual reason: corporate management
P4: A wrong measure taken for solving the situation
P5: A case in which a foreign strategy was successful
P6: CM&A are two other causes of the AB decline
MP: to discuss the reasons initially thought to be responsible for a situation along with the real reasons for it.
1. The passage suggests that compared to Japanese workers, American workers are often considered:
Pre-Thinking: refer to the first line of P3: "Still later analysts blamed the American workforce, citing labour demands and poor productivity as the reasons American corporations have been unable to compete with Japanese and European firms." From this we can infer #less-efficient and #less-content.
Now Even tough it is not clearly written that the us labor force was less satisfied than the Japanese one we can infer it through the association of satisfaction with higher productivity.
A. more content and more efficient. incorrect
B. more content but less efficient. less content actually. Incorrect
C. less content and less efficient. yes, correct as in line with our pre-thinking
D. less content but more efficient. not more efficient. hence incorrect
E. lazy and less hard working nowhere we can infer lazy from the passage. Hence incorrect
2. With which of the following general statements would the author most likely NOT agree?
Pre-thinking: Since we can not make much reasoning out of the question statement we need to evaluate the single answer choices
A. American business has been hurt by the inability to plan for the long-term. Refer to the last paragraph and especially to."While American firms have neglected long-range planning and production". Hence incorrect
B. Cutting production costs always leads to increased competitiveness. The problem here is the always which makes it not in line with the author's reasoning. Although the author is not in favor with the cost cutting techniques he says that they are responsible for a percentage of the problems.
C. American consumers are not the prime cause of the decline of American business. Refer to paragraph 3. "Finally, a few analysts even censured American consumers for their unpatriotic purchases of foreign goods." The author tone clearly disagrees with the analysts view. Hence incorrect
D. Initial analysis of the decline of American business yielded only partially accurate conclusions. In the first paragraphs there are possible explanations which are not really the main reason for the crisis. Hence incorrect
E. Mergers and Acquisitions have not helped improve the situation As per the last paragraph. Hence incorrect.
3. Which of the following would most weaken the author‘s argument about the over-concentration on high technology products?
Pre Thinking: refer to the 5th paragraph and focus on the author reasoning. The author says that companies FIRSTLY have experience in making low quality products on a large scale, SECONDLY they make huge profits and THIRDLY they use both experience and profits to manufacture high technological products.
Now to recap: Plan: 1&2
Goal: 3
You can now clearly weaken the argument by saying that either the gained experience is useless or that the huge profits are not enough (or both!)
A. Producing low tech products is not as profitable as producing high tech products. irrelevant. It may not be as profitable but it could be enough profitable to start
B. Manufacturing high tech products is a completely different process than manufacturing low tech goods. This suggests that the experience gained is useless and it weakens the argument. Correct
C. Most of the low tech products purchased by Americans are made by foreign firms. irrelevant since it does not relate to the entities discussed in our prethinking
D. Most of the high tech products purchased by Americans are made by foreign firms. same as for the previous answer choice
E. Most of the high tech products purchased by Americans are made by American firms. irrelevant again since 1&2 are not discussed
4. The author of this passage would probably give his greatest support to which of the following actions by the corporate management of an American company?
Prethinking: you can actually focus on more paragraphs here. I would suggest to keep in mind which are the useful measures mentioned in the passage but as well the useless measures described. These last ones could be turned into the correct answer choice.
A. Acquiring a smaller company in order to gain financial resources Nowhere it is written that this could e beneficial. Hence incorrect
B. Considering the option of paying the most highly skilled workers a higher wage This is tempting but it is incorrect. The reason is because wages are discussed in a general way for everyone and highly skilled operators make up only for a portion of them. Plus it would be unfair to increase the salary only of this category in order to retain it.
C. Trying to learn from the general management strategy of foreign firms Yes. Take the example mentioned in the 5th paragraph
D. Paying for television advertisements that will win back American consumers Nowhere mentioned. Hence incorrect
E. Flooding foreign markets with cheap goods Again not mentioned as a technique. Incorrect
took 13 minutes and got3/4 correct. took 6 minutes to read the passage, write down paragraphs summaries and main point.
P1 Present a phenomenon: the decline of american business after ww2
P2: 2 possible reasons for the decline: government and raiders
P3: Present another possible reason along with the actual reason: corporate management
P4: A wrong measure taken for solving the situation
P5: A case in which a foreign strategy was successful
P6: CM&A are two other causes of the AB decline
MP: to discuss the reasons initially thought to be responsible for a situation along with the real reasons for it.
1. The passage suggests that compared to Japanese workers, American workers are often considered:
Pre-Thinking: refer to the first line of P3: "Still later analysts blamed the American workforce, citing labour demands and poor productivity as the reasons American corporations have been unable to compete with Japanese and European firms." From this we can infer #less-efficient and #less-content.
Now Even tough it is not clearly written that the us labor force was less satisfied than the Japanese one we can infer it through the association of satisfaction with higher productivity.
A. more content and more efficient. incorrect
B. more content but less efficient. less content actually. Incorrect
C. less content and less efficient. yes, correct as in line with our pre-thinking
D. less content but more efficient. not more efficient. hence incorrect
E. lazy and less hard working nowhere we can infer lazy from the passage. Hence incorrect
2. With which of the following general statements would the author most likely NOT agree?
Pre-thinking: Since we can not make much reasoning out of the question statement we need to evaluate the single answer choices
A. American business has been hurt by the inability to plan for the long-term. Refer to the last paragraph and especially to."While American firms have neglected long-range planning and production". Hence incorrect
B. Cutting production costs always leads to increased competitiveness. The problem here is the always which makes it not in line with the author's reasoning. Although the author is not in favor with the cost cutting techniques he says that they are responsible for a percentage of the problems.
C. American consumers are not the prime cause of the decline of American business. Refer to paragraph 3. "Finally, a few analysts even censured American consumers for their unpatriotic purchases of foreign goods." The author tone clearly disagrees with the analysts view. Hence incorrect
D. Initial analysis of the decline of American business yielded only partially accurate conclusions. In the first paragraphs there are possible explanations which are not really the main reason for the crisis. Hence incorrect
E. Mergers and Acquisitions have not helped improve the situation As per the last paragraph. Hence incorrect.
3. Which of the following would most weaken the author‘s argument about the over-concentration on high technology products?
Pre Thinking: refer to the 5th paragraph and focus on the author reasoning. The author says that companies FIRSTLY have experience in making low quality products on a large scale, SECONDLY they make huge profits and THIRDLY they use both experience and profits to manufacture high technological products.
Now to recap: Plan: 1&2
Goal: 3
You can now clearly weaken the argument by saying that either the gained experience is useless or that the huge profits are not enough (or both!)
A. Producing low tech products is not as profitable as producing high tech products. irrelevant. It may not be as profitable but it could be enough profitable to start
B. Manufacturing high tech products is a completely different process than manufacturing low tech goods. This suggests that the experience gained is useless and it weakens the argument. Correct
C. Most of the low tech products purchased by Americans are made by foreign firms. irrelevant since it does not relate to the entities discussed in our prethinking
D. Most of the high tech products purchased by Americans are made by foreign firms. same as for the previous answer choice
E. Most of the high tech products purchased by Americans are made by American firms. irrelevant again since 1&2 are not discussed
4. The author of this passage would probably give his greatest support to which of the following actions by the corporate management of an American company?
Prethinking: you can actually focus on more paragraphs here. I would suggest to keep in mind which are the useful measures mentioned in the passage but as well the useless measures described. These last ones could be turned into the correct answer choice.
A. Acquiring a smaller company in order to gain financial resources Nowhere it is written that this could e beneficial. Hence incorrect
B. Considering the option of paying the most highly skilled workers a higher wage This is tempting but it is incorrect. The reason is because wages are discussed in a general way for everyone and highly skilled operators make up only for a portion of them. Plus it would be unfair to increase the salary only of this category in order to retain it.
C. Trying to learn from the general management strategy of foreign firms Yes. Take the example mentioned in the 5th paragraph
D. Paying for television advertisements that will win back American consumers Nowhere mentioned. Hence incorrect
E. Flooding foreign markets with cheap goods Again not mentioned as a technique. Incorrect
