Those who suggest that higher education should be offered to all for

Question

Which of the following best completes the passage below?

Those who suggest that higher education should be offered to all for free are wrong. The cost of providing higher education will most likely be more than its benefits. Many vocational jobs require apprenticeships and in-house training, rather than a college degree. In fact, this would likely further exacerbate the unemployment issue, since ___________________.

(A) there would be no way for government to recover the extra money that it has spent on providing free higher education

(B) there are more vocational jobs available currently than jobs requiring higher education

(C) there would simply be more qualified candidates vying for the same number of jobs

(D) the sole purpose of higher education should not be to get jobs

(E) the population of people in the working age group is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years

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Oandrla · Answer

Imo B is the correct answer as free higher edu will make them more qualified for the vocational jobs hence many of them won't apply for these jobs and would be more focused for getting through the jobs that needs college degree

Bunuel · Answer

Official Explanation

Answer: C

Since the leading word into the blank is since, we need to strengthen the conclusion that offering higher education for free will worsen the problem of unemployment. C does this by suggesting that since many of the available jobs do not require a higher education degree (they instead require some vocational knowledge), those who receive higher education for free will only add to the number of people who were competing for the jobs available to that applicant pool. Thus, the unemployment problem will get worsened because the number of people seeking jobs will increase but the number of jobs available will remain the same.

(A) Even if the government cannot recover the extra money it has spent, there is no reason why the unemployment situation should get worsened.

(B) This is already stated in the argument but we need to explain how this fact will lead to a worsening of the unemployment situation.

(C) The correct answer.

(D) The argument is limited to getting jobs so this option is outside the scope of the argument.

(E) This fact has no connection with the worsening of the unemployment problem because of the availability of free higher education.

bestreturn · Answer

Hmmm... i dont see how B is already stated in the passage. All the passage is saying is that many of the vocational jobs require apprenticeship, nothing about vocational jobs existing more than higher education job.

Also if B is true then it would mean that if more people will take more higher education job it would create even more imbalance in unemployment between the two kinds of jobs

Andrew89 · Answer

Honeslty I see B should be the correct answer as it logically completes the passge after giving the example of the vocational jobs. Otherwise, why the exmaple was stated in first place?

Okaychalobye · Answer

B is present tense. C is in past tense like the line which has fill in the blank. Notice the word “would”

catcun · Answer

egmat  why is b wrong? where in the passage has it already been mentioned?

guddo · Answer

Which of the following best completes the passage below?

Those who suggest that higher education should be offered to all for free are wrong. The cost of providing higher education will most likely be more than its benefits. Many vocational jobs require apprenticeships and in-house training, rather than a college degree. In fact, this would likely further exacerbate the unemployment issue, since ___________________.

The author argues free higher education for everyone is a bad idea because it costs more than it benefits, many jobs do not need a degree, and it could worsen unemployment.

(A) there would be no way for government to recover the extra money that it has spent on providing free higher education

This supports the “cost” complaint, but it does not explain how unemployment would get worse.

(B) there are more vocational jobs available currently than jobs requiring higher education

This supports “many jobs do not need a degree,” but it does not show why unemployment would rise.

(C) there would simply be more qualified candidates vying for the same number of jobs

This directly fits the unemployment claim: if degrees become widespread but the number of jobs does not increase, competition increases and more people end up jobless.  This best completes the logic.

(D) the sole purpose of higher education should not be to get jobs

This is a value statement and does not connect to worsening unemployment.

(E) the population of people in the working age group is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years

This could affect unemployment, but it is not tied specifically to free higher education.

Answer: (C)

guddo · Answer

(B) is wrong because it does not create the “ since unemployment would worsen ” link.

Where it’s already covered: the passage already says many jobs are vocational and rely on apprenticeships or in house training rather than a degree.  That already makes the point  that lots of work does not require higher education, which is the same general idea as (B).

But even if (B) is true, it doesn’t explain higher unemployment. You still need the step that free college creates  more degree holders competing for the same limited jobs , which is what (C) provides.

egmat · Answer

First, what does the blank need to do? 
Read the sentence: "this would likely further exacerbate the unemployment issue,  since  ___"

That  "since"  is asking:  Give me a REASON why free education makes unemployment WORSE.

Now test B: 
 "there are more vocational jobs available currently than jobs requiring higher education"

Okay - so vocational jobs outnumber degree-requiring jobs. That's a fact about  today's  job market. But here's the problem:  nothing in this changes just because education becomes free . The job numbers stay the same, the situation stays the same. There's no reason here for unemployment to get  worse .

Now test C: 
 "there would simply be more qualified candidates vying for the same number of jobs"

Picture it:

Today:  100  jobs,  100  qualified candidates → everyone gets a job.
After free education:  100  jobs,  200  qualified candidates →  100  people are now unemployed.

That's  why unemployment gets worse. C gives you the  exact mechanism  - more graduates, same jobs, bigger problem.

Answer: C

Those who suggest that higher education should be offered to all for

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Those who suggest that higher education should be offered to all for

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

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