Last summer one out of every five teenagers who sought employment failed to find it. This is hard to understand since during this same time employers were searching for teen-agers to fill an abundance of summer jobs. Many employers had been offering good pay and, in some cases, medical benefits.

Which of the following, if true, most helps to explain why teenage unemployment was high when there were many job openings?

If there was a reason that would discourage teenagers to find a job, despite the availability, then it must be the answer.

(A) Most summer jobs are located in suburban areas that are inaccessible to the high proportion of teenagers who live in cities.

This sounds plausible, because there are jobs available, but they are inaccessible for teenagers as they would be unable to commute to suburban areas if they lived in cities.

(B) During the summer, some teen-agers continue to work at jobs that they have held during the school year.

The argument is concerned with the teenagers who are seeking a job. It doesn't matter what other teenagers that already have a job are up to.

(C) Many summer jobs offer training that will help the teen-ager secure a full-time position after graduation.

This doesn't help in answering the telling discrepancy as it is failed to provide reasoning of why teenagers are unable to find jobs.

(D) A small percentage of teen-agers either attend summer school or go away to camp and thus have no time for a job.

"A small percentage" is a fraction of teenagers who may not fall in "one out of five teenagers" category. This option can be discarded.

(E) Many state programs that have been developed to help teen-agers find summer employment have recently had their budgets increased.

if the budgets have increased, then it would help teenagers to find jobs instead.

The answer is A.