Some observers have attributed the dramatic growth in temporary employ

The first 3 lines summarise the passage for us:
Some observers have attributed the dramatic growth in temporary employment to increased participation in the workforce by certain groups, who supposedly prefer such arrangements.
However, statistical analyses reveal that demographic changes in the workforce did not correlate with variations in the total number of temporary workers.
Instead, these analyses suggest that factors affecting employers account for the rise in temporary employment.

Some observers say that because people of a certain type entered the workforce (these were the kind of people who wanted temp work) that is why the number of temp positions increased.
But analyses says that demographic changes are not responsible for changes in number of temp positions.

So observers feel that demographic changes lead to increase/decrease in temp positions but analyses reveals that it is not true. Employers decide how many positions are to be kept temporary.


5. The first sentence in the passage suggests that the “observers” mentioned in line 1 would be most likely to predict which of the following?

So what will "observers" predict?

(A) That the number of new temporary positions would decline as fewer workers who preferred temporary employment entered the workforce

Correct. Observers think that employees' preferences leads to increase/decrease in number of temp positions. They think that increase in temp positions happened because people of a certain type entered the workforce. So as per observers, if those people leave, we should see a decrease in the number of temp positions. This is what they are most likely to predict looking at what they have already said.

(E) That the number of workers taking temporary positions would increase as more workers in any given demographic group entered the workforce

Observers think that when workers from a CERTAIN demographic group enter (those who prefer temp employment), then number of temp positions increases. They do not think that when workers from ANY given demographic group enter, the number of temp positions increases.
Hence, they are not likely to predict this.

Answer (A)

Hi Experts

Please can you advise what this sentence from the passage means "However, statistical analyses reveal that demographic changes in the workforce did not correlate with variations in the total number of temporary workers."

Thanks

To figure out what a certain sentence is saying, first try to figure out why the author included that sentence. How does it fit into the bigger picture of the passage?

The first sentence of the passage tells us what "some observers" believe: they think that the growth in temporary jobs is caused by certain groups of people entering the workforce. These people "supposedly prefer" temporary jobs.

The sentence you've asked about starts with the word "however," which tells us that it goes against the thing in the first sentence. Here's the rest: "statistical analyses reveal that demographic changes in the workforce did not correlate with variations in the total number of temporary workers."

The "demographic changes" are the groups of people entering the workforce that are discussed in the first sentence. The second sentence tells us that these changes did NOT correlate with the changes in the numbers of temporary jobs.

That blows a big hole in the argument of the "observers." Remember, they thought that these new groups of people CAUSED the rise in temporary jobs. The second sentence provides evidence that this is not correct -- the demographic changes don't correspond with the increase in temporary employment.

I hope that helps!

1 - C
Main point question
Main point is - Author first discusses a trend and reasons of temporary employment and finally suggests some measures to control temporary employment.

2 - B
Specific question
In line no 10-12 "suggest that factors affecting employers account for the rise in temporary employment."

3 - E
Inference question
In line no 16 - "labor’s reduced bargaining strength"

4 - E
Inference question
Line no 17 - "Given the analyses, which reveal that growth in temporary employment now far exceeds the level explainable by recent workforce entry rates of groups said to prefer temporary jobs, firms should be discouraged from creating excessive numbers of temporary positions"

5 - A
Inference question
"Some analysts believed that worker chose temporary jobs voluntarily"
Hence if there are less temporary workers would decline if the workers are unwilling to work.

6 -A
Specific question
Line no. 17 - "Given the analyses, which reveal that growth in temporary employment now far exceeds the level explainable by recent workforce <b>entry rates of groups said to prefer temporary jobs</b>, firms should be discouraged from creating excessive numbers of temporary positions."

7 - D
Specific question
Clearly D is not stated in the last sentence of the passage

Need help with Q5. Why E is wrong and A is right?

Have you tried reading this post?

KarishmaB madam can you please help me in option B of Q4.

Q4. The passage suggests which of the following about the workers who took temporary jobs during the 1980s?

(B) They constituted a less demographically diverse group than has been suggested.

Doubt - This option is incorrect because of the last phrase of the sentence "than has been suggested". If the option were that 'They constituted a less demographically diverse group than "SOME OBSERVERS ATTRIBUTED"', then this would have been correct. Right? As it is stated in passage, However, statistical analyses reveal that demographic changes in the workforce did not correlate with variations in the total number of temporary workers.

Thanks in advance!