1. The author’s primary concern is to
(A) defend the system of unemployment compensation against criticism- opposite.
(B) advocate expanding the benefits and scope of coverage of unemployment compensation - opposite.
(C) point to weaknesses inherent in government programs that subsidize individuals - out of scope
(D) suggest reforms to eliminate inefficiencies in unemployment compensation - whole summary of the passage.
(E) propose methods of increasing the effectiveness of government programs to reduce unemployment- out of scope. no methods are discussed.
2. The author cites the example of a worker earning $500 per month in order to
(A) show the disincentive created by unemployment compensation for that worker to return to work - given in the last lines of 1st para how the income gets reduced by UC.
(B) demonstrate that employers do not bear the full cost of worker compensation - out of scope
(C) prove that unemployed workers would not be able to survive without unemployment compensation - out of scope
(D) explain why employers prefer to hire seasonal workers instead of permanent workers for short-term jobs - out of scope.
(E) condemn workers who prefer to live on unemployment compensation to taking a job - out of scope
3. The author recommends which of the following changes be made to the unemployment compensation system?
(A) Eliminating taxes on benefits paid to workers - opposite
(B) Shortening the time during which a worker can draw benefits - out of scope
(C) Removing any cap on the maximum rate of employer contribution - given in the last para
(D) Providing workers with job retraining as a condition of benefits - out of scope
(E) Requiring unemployed workers to accept public works positions - out of scope
4. The author mentions all of the following as ways by which employers might reduce seasonal and cyclical unemployment EXCEPT
(A) developing new techniques of production not affected by weather - given in 2nd para
(B) slowing delivery schedules to provide work during slow seasons- given in 2nd para
(C) adopting a system of supplementary benefits for workers laid off in slow periods - inconsistent
(D) manipulating inventory supplies to require year-round rather than short-term employment- given in 2nd para
(E) finding new jobs to be done by workers during the off-season- given in 2nd para
5. With which of the following statements about experience rating would the author most likely agree?
(A) Experience rating is theoretically sound, but its effectiveness in practice is undermined by maximum contribution ceilings. - "The challenge at this time is to restructure the unemployment system in a way that strengthens its good features while reducing the harmful disincentive effects. Some gains can be achieved by removing the ceiling on the employer’s rate of contribution and by lowering the minimum rate to zero." this states that the EP is theoretically correct.
(B) Experience rating is an inefficient method of computing employer contribution because an employer has no control over the length of an employee’s unemployment. - inconsistent
(C) Experience rating is theoretically invalid and should be replaced by a system in which the employee contributes the full amount of benefits he will later receive.
- inconsistent
(D) Experience rating is basically fair, but its performance could be improved by requiring large firms to pay more than small firms. - inconsistent
(E) Experience rating requires an employer to pay a contribution that is completely unrelated to the amount his employees draw in unemployment compensation benefits. - opposite
6. The author makes which of the following criticisms of the unemployment compensation system?
(A) It places an unfair burden on firms whose production is cyclical or seasonal. - inconsistent
(B) It encourages out-of-work employees to extend the length of time they are unemployed. "The overall effect is to increase the duration of a typical spell of unemployment and to increase the frequency with which individuals lose jobs and become unemployed. The more general effect of unemployment compensation is to increase the seasonal and cyclical fluctuations in the demand for labor and the relative number of short-lived casual jobs." this gives the answer
(C) It constitutes a drain on state treasuries, which must subsidize unemployment compensation funds. - out of scope
(D) It provides a source of income for employees who have no income or have only reduced income from employment. - inconsistent. we need to find the criticism not benefits
(E) The experience rating system means that employers responsible for higher than-average turnover in staff pay higher-than-average premiums. - out of scope