Research data indicate that there is a great deal of poverty in the Un

How you guys are coming to B for Q1:

Not on the basis on these lines:
As a solution, they challenge the government’s assumption that a family’s income should depend primarily on wages. How can we conclude from this that the United States government’s policy towards providing wage supplements to parents whose wages are low is based on assumptions about the appropriate sources of family income.

Question 1
E. applicable to single-parent families headed by women but not to single-parent families headed by men

Women make less than men so the government's policy of supplementing single family low wages would affect the woment who make less.

Question 2
E. A government provides large rent subsidies to single parents whose wages are less than half the average worker’s wage.

The analysts assert that even if women make what men make they will still be below poverty because men themselves are below poverty as well. They challenge the governments assumptions that family income should be based on wages and urge for housing allowances to all single families who's wages are low.

Question 3
A. equal pay laws were enforced more fully

'Some economists believe that rigorous
enforcement of existing equal pay
(10) laws would substantially decrease
this wage inequity.'

I think it should be E. The policy analysts suggest that solution because the single parent family with low income is headed by men too. So, it may be inferred that Govt. might have that policy, but only for women headed family. So E.

Hey guys, about the third question, why it is not C ?
It is quite clear with A, but I'm not satisfied.

In the passage:
"Some economists believe that rigorous enforcement of existing equal pay laws would substantially decrease this wage inequity.............................Since gender concentration exists......, other economists argue that a comparable worth standard , which..............., should be applied instead."

can anyone please explain question number 2?
regards,
Harsh Vardhan

It would be great Harsh if you can share your analysis of Q2 first. Also, it'd be great if you can tell us what choices are bothering you!
Thanks

Question is asking should these policy analysts were to create a action plan, what will it be?

policy analysts assert that, although comparable
worth would virtually equalize male and female wages, many single parent families headed by women would remain in poverty because many men earn wages that are below the poverty line. These policy analysts believe that the problem is not caused primarily by wage inequity but rather by low wages coupled with single parent hood, regardless of sex. As a
solution, they challenge the governent’s assumption that a family’s income should depend primarily on wages and urge the government to provide generous wage supplements
(child and housing allowances) to single parents whose wages are low.

They( Policy analysts) urge the government to provide supplements which complements Ans E

khv

Which of the following is most clearly an example of the policy ( regardless of sex, provide supplements so that they may not have to rely solely on wages) advocated by the policy analysts mentioned in the highlighted portion?

A. A government provides training to women who wish to move out of occupations in which women are concentrated
the policy has nothing to do with the desires of anyone … moreover it is for both men and women WHO are single parents
B. A government supports research that analyzes the connection between wage inequality and poverty among single-parent families headed by women
the policy in the passage has everything to do with implementation and little to do with research
C. A government surveys wages annually to make certain that women and men in the same jobs receive the same pay
the policy is more about supplements rather than addressing inequity
D. A government analyzes jobs in terms of the education and responsibility they require and publishes a list of jobs that should be considered equivalent for wage purposes
again the policy is more about supplements rather than doing away with inequity … education as a measure of judging jobs to be equivalent wage wise is not confirmed from the passage which mentions ‘training and responsibility'
E. A government provides large rent subsidies to single parents whose wages are less than half the average worker’s wage …
a supplement (additional source of income) to single parents regardless of sex … perfect match … CORRECT

I do not understand why Q1 isn't B. I ruled out E because they mention the potential of men being below the poverty line in the passage when suggesting a comparable worth standard being established.

Can someone please shed some light on this for me??

Thanks!!!

1. The passage suggests that the United States government’s policy towards providing wage supplements to parents whose wages are low is
A. considered ill advised by most economists who have studied the issue
No such mention in the passage
B. based on assumptions about the appropriate sources of family income
"As a solution, they challenge the government's assumption that a family’s income should depend primarily on wages and urge the government to provide generous wage supplements
(child and housing allowances) to single parents whose wages are low."
C. under revision in response to criticism from some policy analysts
The passage mentions that Analysts have urged government to provide wage supplements. No mention whether givernment has already accepted the proposal and revising the policy.
D. capable of eliminating wage inequality but not of raising incomes for both women and men
" These policy analysts believe that the problem is not caused primarily by wage inequity but rather by low wages coupled with single parent hood, regardless of sex. As a
solution, they challenge the government's assumption that a family’s income should depend primarily on wages and urge the government to provide generous wage supplements
(child and housing allowances) to single parents whose wages are low."
E. applicable to single-parent families headed by women but not to single-parent families headed by men
"urge the government to provide generous wage supplements (child and housing allowances) to single parents whose wages are low."

The answer to Question 3 is option B, I think, because according to the passage more "rigorous enforcement of equal pay laws" means more stringent (of regulations, requirements, or conditions) strict, precise, and exacting.

Could you please clarify this?

We don't need to pass new laws to decrease this wage difference. We already have laws requiring that women and men doing the same jobs be paid the same. Thus, some economists believe that rigorous enforcement of EXISTING laws would substantially decrease this wage inequity. New laws are not needed.

I hope that helps!

Got confused with this. I thought "appropriate sources of family income" was too generic and I didn't know what to infer from this

Lets breakdown the passage:
Research data says that single headed families led by women are poor.
women's wages << men's
Some eco believe : inequality can be sorted if men=women=same jobs
But, other PA's view: wages should be regardless of gender bcz sometimes, men also earn less, so single headed families led by those men are also poor.


1. The passage suggests that the United States government’s policy towards providing wage supplements to parents whose wages are low is

A. considered ill advised by most economists who have studied the issue
--> passage mentiones some economists. Eliminate

B. based on assumptions about the appropriate sources of family income
--> Correct. See last few lines on assumption.

C. under revision in response to criticism from some policy analysts
--> PA's are not critising anything

D. capable of eliminating wage inequality but not of raising incomes for both women and men
--> Extreme. This is no where discussed concretely.

E. applicable to single-parent families headed by women but not to single-parent families headed by men
--> Extreme.



2. Which of the following is most clearly an example of the policy advocated by the policy analysts mentioned in line 8 ?
---> As per PA's. the wages should be irrespective of gender.

A. A government provides training to women who wish to move out of occupations in which women are concentrated.
--> talks only about women. Also, what training will do ?

B. A government supports research that analyzes the connection between wage inequality and poverty among single-parent families headed by women.
--> same as A. What the research will do ?

C. A government surveys wages annually to make certain that women and men in the same jobs receive the same pay.
--> this is "Some economists" view. Anyways, surveys will do no better.

D. A government analyzes jobs in terms of the education and responsibility they require and publishes a list of jobs that should be considered equivalent for wage purposes.
--> what after analysing ? :p

E. A government provides large rent subsidies to single parents whose wages are less than half the average worker’s wage.
--> an action is described here. Also it talks about single parents in general, which supports PA's view. Correct.



3.According to the passage, some economists believe that, in the United States, there would be smaller differences between the wages of women and men who do the same jobs if
A. equal pay laws were enforced more fully
--> passage talks about enforcing existing equal pay laws. Correct.

B. more stringent equal pay laws were passed
--> reasons explained in A. This means that new stringent laws to be passed, which is wrong.

C. a more rigorous comparable worth standard were developed and applied
D. more men entered the occupations in which women are concentrated
E. women received the same kind and amount of job training that men receive

C,D,E are irrelevant.


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Experts,
In question 3, both A and C could be the answers. How do we decide?

keats has received a nice pile of kudos for this great breakdown of these two choices.

If that doesn't resolve your doubts, let us know?

GMATNinja GMATNinjaTwo

Hi GMATNinja,

Could you please explain what is the difference between option A and B for Q3? It took me a really long time to solve this question because I couldn't decide between A and B.