Some observers have attributed the dramatic growth in temporary employ

Question

Some  observers  have attributed the dramatic growth in temporary employment that occurred in the United States during the 1980s to increased participation in the workforce by certain groups, such as first-time or reentering workers, 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. One factor is product demand: temporary employment is favored by employers who are adapting to fluctuating demand for products while at the same time seeking to reduce overall labor costs. Another factor is labor’s reduced bargaining strength, which allows employers more control over the terms of employment. 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. Government policymakers should consider mandating benefit coverage for temporary employees, promoting pay equity between temporary and permanent workers, assisting labor unions in organizing temporary workers, and encouraging firms to assign temporary jobs primarily to employees who explicitly indicate that preference.   1 
 C 
1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

(A) present the results of statistical analyses and propose further studies
(B) explain a recent development and predict its eventual consequences
(C) identify the reasons for a trend and recommend measures to address it
(D) outline several theories about a phenomenon and advocate one of them
(E) describe the potential consequences of implementing a new policy and argue in favor of that policy

2 
 B 
2. According to the passage, which of the following is true of the “factors affecting employers” that are mentioned in lines 10–19?

(A) Most experts cite them as having initiated the growth in temporary employment that occurred during the 1980s.
(B) They may account for the increase in the total number of temporary workers during the 1980s.
(C) They were less important than demographic change in accounting for the increase of temporary employment during the 1980s.
(D) They included a sharp increase in the cost of labor during the 1980s.
(E) They are more difficult to account for than are other factors involved in the growth of temporary employment during the 1980s.

3 
 E 
3. The passage suggests which of the following about the use of temporary employment by firms during the 1980s?

(A) It enabled firms to deal with fluctuating product demand far more efficiently than they did before the 1980s.
(B) It increased as a result of increased participation in the workforce by certain demographic groups.
(C) It was discouraged by government-mandated policies.
(D) It was a response to preferences indicated by certain employees for more flexible working arrangements.
(E) It increased partly as a result of workers’ reduced ability to control the terms of their employment.

4 
 E 
4. The passage suggests which of the following about the workers who took temporary jobs during the 1980s?

(A) Their jobs frequently led to permanent positions within firms.
(B) They constituted a less demographically diverse group than has been suggested.
(C) They were occasionally involved in actions organized by labor unions.
(D) Their pay declined during the decade in comparison with the pay of permanent employees.
(E) They did not necessarily prefer temporary employment to permanent employment.

5 
 A 
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?

(A) That the number of new temporary positions would decline as fewer workers who preferred temporary employment entered the workforce
(B) That the total number of temporary positions would increase as fewer workers were able to find permanent positions
(C) That employers would have less control over the terms of workers’ employment as workers increased their bargaining strength
(D) That more workers would be hired for temporary positions as product demand increased
(E) That the number of workers taking temporary positions would increase as more workers in any given demographic group entered the workforce

6 
 A 
6. In the context of the passage, the word “excessive” (line 23) most closely corresponds to which of the following phrases?

(A) Far more than can be justified by worker preferences
(B) Far more than can be explained by fluctuations in product demand
(C) Far more than can be beneficial to the success of the firms themselves
(D) Far more than can be accounted for by an expanding national economy
(E) Far more than can be attributed to increases in the total number of people in the workforce

7 
 D 
7. The passage mentions each of the following as an appropriate kind of governmental action EXCEPT

(A) getting firms to offer temporary employment primarily to a certain group of people
(B) encouraging equitable pay for temporary and permanent employees
(C) facilitating the organization of temporary workers by labor unions
(D) establishing guidelines on the proportion of temporary workers that firms should employ
(E) ensuring that temporary workers obtain benefits from their employers

GMATNinjaTwo · Accepted Answer

Question 5 
 joegchow ,

The passage states that the observers mentioned in line 1 "have attributed the dramatic growth in temporary employment that occurred in the United States during the 1980s to increased participation in the workforce by  certain  groups"; therefore, those observers would not, as stated in choice E, predict "that the number of workers taking temporary positions would increase as more workers in  any  given demographic group entered the workforce".

Those observers would only predict that the numbers of workers taking temporary positions would increase as more workers in those  certain  groups, "such as first-time or reentering workers," entered the workforce, not necessarily as more workers in  any  demographic group entered the workforce (ie if a large group of MBA graduates who do not prefer temporary work arrangements enters the workforce, the observers would not expect an increase in the number of workers taking temporary positions).

AndrewN · Answer

Hello,  tejanaraharisetti . This is a typical  highlight / boldface  question in that it requires the reader to bring in more contextual information. The first place you should look in such questions is the surrounding sentence. More often than not, that is good enough to locate the information you need. If that fails, then the sentences immediately surrounding the one in question, typically right before, but sometimes after, almost always allow you to find what you need instead. A look at the sentence in question reveals that this answer falls into the first category:

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.

The words  exceeds  and  excessive  go hand in hand, and the former phrase mentions  groups said to  prefer  temporary jobs . This information agrees with  worker preferences  in choice (A). Meanwhile, (E) mentions the  total number of people in the workforce , and this consideration does not enter the picture anywhere near the highlighted portion (even if it was mentioned earlier in the passage).

In short, these answers typically favor a close-to-home approach. If you stick to the area of the passage immediately surrounding the highlighted portion, you will almost always find your answer, and you will have a lot less thinking to do as well, thinking that allows doubt to creep in.

Good luck with your studies.

- Andrew

gautammalik · Answer

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 entry rates of groups said to prefer temporary jobs, 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.

joegchow · Answer

For question 54, I agree that choice A is correct, but I can't find a good reason to reject choice E. Please explain.

tejanaraharisetti · Answer

6. In the context of the passage, the word ???excessive??? (line 23) most closely corresponds to which of the following phrases?

(A) Far more than can be justified by worker preferences
(B) Far more than can be explained by fluctuations in product demand
(C) Far more than can be beneficial to the success of the firms themselves
(D) Far more than can be accounted for by an expanding national economy
(E) Far more than can be attributed to increases in the total number of people in the workforce.

Can someone please explain the approach for this question? Why OA is A instead of E?

Harsh2111s · Answer

GMATNinja   VeritasKarishma

I have read above explanations for this question. But I still think option E is better choice.
Some observers have attributed the dramatic growth in temporary employment that occurred in the United States during the 1980s to increased participation in the workforce by certain groups, such as first-time or reentering workers, 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 .

Thus earlier observers thought that due to increase in demographic group, temporary positions increased.
Kindly help

kornn · Answer

Dear  VeritasKarishma   GMATGuruNY   IanStewart   VeritasPrepHailey   AjiteshArun   GMATNinja ,
 
In Q5 choice A., what does "NEW temporary positions" mean? 
Does it refer to positions that are newly open/available but are NOT yet fulfilled/taken? Or it refers only to already fulfilled positions?

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?

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

AjiteshArun · Answer

Hi  Harsh2111s ,

We should ignore that  however...  bit, as it has nothing to do with what the "observers" believe (keep in mind that the question is focused on what the "observers" would be most likely to predict). The observers feel that:
1. ... the dramatic growth in temporary employment that occurred in the United States during the 1980s was the result of increased participation in the workforce by  certain  groups... who supposedly prefer such arrangements.

Option E is:
2. ... the number of workers taking temporary positions would increase as more workers in  any  given demographic group entered the workforce

Therefore, there is a clear difference between what the  observers  think and what E says.

AjiteshArun · Answer

Hi  varotkorn ,

I would think that it's a reference to any temporary positions that were not there earlier. I don't see why we would need to also look at whether those positions have been filled. You may have to explain your thinking a little bit here.

kornn · Answer

Dear  AjiteshArun   VeritasKarishma ,

According to the passage,

I interpret the above that certain groups lead to high temporary EMPLOYMENT. In other words, those groups  TAKE or ARE EMPLOYED by  the temporary jobs offered

According to choice A,

I interpret the above that there is correlation between certain groups and the new temporary positions OPEN or OFFERED by employers. 
Employers may very well  OFFER  or seek many many new positions by advertising on newspaper or radio for example, but very few workers who prefer temporary employment are interested to enter the workforce.
This could mean that the demand may well exceed the supply for temporary labor.

Note that fewer workers who preferred temporary employment still mean few temporary ACTUAL EMPLOYMENT (but high temporary POSITION OFFERED)

Choice A. says nothing about employment, just the positions (open/offered).

AjiteshArun · Answer

Hi  varotkorn ,

I think you're focusing on the end result of the entire process. We could instead look at the content of the correct option as a step towards the end result, and not the end result itself. To see why we should not (or more accurately, don't need to) consider the creation of open positions as the end result, let's look at what happens when we get an  increase  in the number of jobs as the "end result" (all of this is from the perspective of the "observers"):

X ( N certain groups  ↑) --------------------------------------------------> Z ( N filled positions  ↑)

I think this is what you are trying to get at in your post, that the observers would, given X, expect Z. However, there is an  intermediate  step as well:

X ( N certain groups  ↑) -------> Y ( N open positions  ↑) -------> Z ( N filled positions  ↑)

That is, before we can get to "filled positions", someone must first create "open positions". Now, that X is expected to lead to Z does not mean that Y is not expected.  Both are expected  (by the observers). Therefore, the correct option does not need to go all the way to filled positions. It is fine if it stops at open positions, because the observers are very likely to expect the number of open positions to increase (before some or all of those positions are filled).

warrior1991 · Answer

AndrewN

It would be really helpful if you tell me how is option A correct for question#5

AndrewN · Answer

Hello,  warrior1991 . I am pleased that you asked about option (A) specifically, since I think  GMATNinjaTwo  has done an excellent job  explaining the pitfalls of (E) . How about we look at that opening line again?

That  who  clause is easy to miss, but it lies at the crux of question 5. Ask yourself the following series of questions, and you will see the justification for (A):

1) Q: According to the observers, what led to  the growth mentioned in temporary employment ?
A:  Increased participation in the workforce  by certain groups.

2) Q: According to the observers, why did those groups increase their participation in temporary working arrangements?
A: Because they  prefer such arrangements .

3) Q: Does option (A) follow the same thought process, only with negations?

It is not an easy answer choice to qualify on first glance, but you can disprove each of the others and spend more time with this one to see that all the pieces align. This is GMAT™ trickery at its best.

I hope that helps. If you have further questions, feel free to ask. Thank you for thinking to bring me into the dialogue on a different question from the one I had answered before.

- Andrew

warrior1991 · Answer

AndrewN . Thanks for chipping in.

My point is that if fewer workers who prefer such arrangements entered the workforce, the existing positions would remain empty. Therefore, since the existing positions would remain empty, no NEW positions will be created. Is my understanding correct ??

AndrewN · Answer

I think you are getting into associative reasoning, and that may be causing confusion. The real issue here is that the observers mentioned in the opening line apparently believe that a supply/demand relationship in temporary positions hinges upon the demand, the preferences, of the people entering the workforce, not that the supply, the number of temporary jobs available, will further dictate the same. By this logic, if people suddenly shifted their preferences to different (non-temporary) work arrangements, the market for temporary positions would collapse. (The author of the passage seems not to agree, but that is not what the question is asking.)

Does that make sense?

- Andrew

CrackverbalGMAT · Answer

Question 1

The primary purpose of the passage is to

(A) present the results of statistical analyses and propose further studies  Further studies have not been recommended.

(B) explain a recent development and predict its eventual consequences  No predictions have been made.

(C) identify the reasons for a trend and recommend measures to address it   The author identifies the reason for the rise in temporary employment and recommends that “firms should be discouraged from creating  excessive  numbers of temporary positions”

(D) outline several theories about a phenomenon and advocate one of them  The author has only advocated one theory that dramatic growth in temporary employment that occurred in the United States during the 1980s.

(E) describe the potential consequences of implementing a new policy and argue in favor of that policy  He has not done this.

Question 2

According to the passage, which of the following is true of the “factors affecting employers” that are mentioned in lines 10–19?

(A) Most experts cite them as having initiated the growth in temporary employment that occurred during the 1980s.  No reference to indicate that these factors initiated the growth in temporary employment

(B) They may account for the increase in the total number of temporary workers during the 1980s.   The passage clearly states that analyses suggest that factors affecting employers account for the rise in temporary employment

(C) They were less important than demographic change in accounting for the increase of temporary employment during the 1980s.  No reference to indicate that these factors were less important than demographic change

(D) They included a sharp increase in the cost of labor during the 1980s.  No reference to indicate that these factors included a sharp increase in the cost of labor

(E) They are more difficult to account for than are other factors involved in the growth of temporary employment during the 1980s.  No reference to indicate that these factors are more difficult to account for than are other factors

Question 3

The passage suggests which of the following about the use of temporary employment by firms during the 1980s?

(A) It enabled firms to deal with fluctuating product demand far more efficiently than they did before the 1980s.  We cannot infer if it enabled firms to efficiently deal with fluctuating product demand

(B) It increased as a result of increased participation in the workforce by certain demographic groups.  It increased as a result of increased participation in the workforce by certain groups that preferred temporary employment

(C) It was discouraged by government-mandated policies.  This cannot be inferred.

(D) It was a response to preferences indicated by certain employees for more flexible working arrangements.  It may have dramatically increased due to the preference of certain employees in the workforce. But we can’t infer that it was a response to such preferences.

(E) It increased partly as a result of workers’ reduced ability to control the terms of their employment.   The phrase “labor’s reduced bargaining strength” implies that temporary employment gave the workers more control the terms of their employment

Question 4

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

(A) Their jobs frequently led to permanent positions within firms.  This cannot be inferred.

(B) They constituted a less demographically diverse group than has been suggested.  The demographic diversity of the group can’t be inferred.

(C) They were occasionally involved in actions organized by labor unions.  Labor unions have only been mentioned when referring to government policymakers

(D) Their pay declined during the decade in comparison with the pay of permanent employees.  This cannot be inferred.

(E) They did not necessarily prefer temporary employment to permanent employment.   The line "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" implies that not all the people who had temporary employment preferred it.

Question 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?

(A) That the number of new temporary positions would decline as fewer workers who preferred temporary employment entered the workforce   The first line implies that the temporary positions increased because more people who preferred temporary employment entered the work force. This implies that if fewer people who preferred temporary employment entered the work force then the number of new temporary positions would reduce since here would not be as many takers.

(B) That the total number of temporary positions would increase as fewer workers were able to find permanent positions  The first line implies that the temporary positions increased because more people who preferred temporary employment entered the work force. It is not suggesting anything about workers who are not able to find permanent positions

(C) That employers would have less control over the terms of workers’ employment as workers increased their bargaining strength  The passage talks of the fact that temporary employment would lead the employers to have less control over the terms of workers’ employment. It this has not been suggested by the first line

(D) That more workers would be hired for temporary positions as product demand increased  The first line implies that the temporary positions increased because more people who preferred temporary employment entered the work force. That product demand increase will lead to more workers being hired as not been implied by the first line

(E) That the number of workers taking temporary positions would increase as more workers in any given demographic group entered the workforce  The first line is not talking of the increase in the number of workers taking temporary positions but about the increase in temporary positions.

Question 6

In the context of the passage, the word “excessive” (line 23) most closely corresponds to which of the following phrases?

(A) Far more than can be justified by worker preferences   The line “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” indicates that “excessive” refers to more jobs is needed based on the preference

(B) Far more than can be explained by fluctuations in product demand  “Excessive” has not been used to refer to fluctuations in product demand

(C) Far more than can be beneficial to the success of the firms themselves  “Excessive” has not been used to refer to success of the firms

(D) Far more than can be accounted for by an expanding national economy  “Excessive” has not been used to refer to the expanding national economy

(E) Far more than can be attributed to increases in the total number of people in the workforce  “Excessive” has not been used to refer to the increases in the total number of people in the workforce

Question 7

The passage mentions each of the following as an appropriate kind of governmental action EXCEPT

(A) getting firms to offer temporary employment primarily to a certain group of people  This option has been stated

(B) encouraging equitable pay for temporary and permanent employees  This option has been stated

(C) facilitating the organization of temporary workers by labor unions  This option has been stated

(D) establishing guidelines on the proportion of temporary workers that firms should employ   This is the only option that has not been stated in the last line.

(E) ensuring that temporary workers obtain benefits from their employers  This option has been stated

-Nitha Jay

saby1410 · Answer

AjiteshArun 
However, statistical analyses reveal that demographic changes in the workforce did not correlate with variations in the total number of temporary workers.

sir can u explain this line and also how this line connects with previous lines.

AjiteshArun · Answer

Hi  saby1410 ,

The passage starts by introducing the opinion of "some observers":
1. Some observers say that  X  (increased participation in the workforce by certain groups, such as first-time or reentering workers, who supposedly prefer such arrangements)  caused   Z  (the dramatic growth in temporary employment that occurred in the United States during the 1980s).

Then the author introduces information that undermines (1):
2. Statistical analyses reveal that  ~X  (demographic* changes in the workforce)  did not correlate with   ~Z  (variations in the total number of temporary workers).

*  Demographic  is just a way to refer to the  structure  or  composition  of a population, so "demographic changes in the workforce" includes "increased participation in the workforce by certain groups".

The author then introduces the "real" reason, the one he or she considers correct:
3. Instead, these analyses suggest that  Y  (factors affecting employers)  account for   Z  (the rise in temporary employment).

desertEagle · Answer

Question 5
why not E?

"Some observers have attributed the dramatic growth in temporary employment that occurred in the United States during the 1980s to increased participation in the workforce by certain groups, such as first-time or reentering workers, who supposedly prefer such arrangements"

A=> B means not B => not A . It does not mean B => A
Let 
A = Increase in participation of workforce by certain groups
B = Dramatic growth in temporary employement

(A) That the number of new temporary positions would decline as fewer workers who preferred temporary employment entered the workforce - Option A asks whether decrease in Workforce leads to decrease in Temporary employment. Which is same as negative A => negative B. This might not be true

(E) That the number of workers taking temporary positions would increase as more workers in any given demographic group entered the workforce - This option says exactly the same thing as above statement

KarishmaB   AndrewN   sajjad

Some observers have attributed the dramatic growth in temporary employ

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Some observers have attributed the dramatic growth in temporary employ

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