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The increased number entering the labor force has only serve

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huda
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The increased number entering the labor force has only serve [#permalink] New post   20 Jan 2020, 01:57
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The increased number entering the labor force has only served to ________ an already ailing job market.

Two Answers
diminish
strain
underscore
tax
bolster
trounce
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B,D
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Carcass
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Re: The increased number entering the labor force has only serve [#permalink] New post   20 Jan 2020, 06:12
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Poor question.

We do need a word to bold the fact that the job market goes worse.

However, b and d do not look two words alike in meaning.

At most f paired with b.

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Re: The increased number entering the labor force has only serve [#permalink] New post   20 Jan 2020, 18:11
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Carcass wrote:
Poor question.

We do need a word to bold the fact that the job market goes worse.

However, b and d do not look two words alike in meaning.

At most f paired with b.

Regards


are you saying b and d do not mean the same thing?
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Re: The increased number entering the labor force has only serve [#permalink] New post   21 Jan 2020, 02:58
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I do not see any relationship

https://www.thesaurus.com/browse/strain?s=t
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Re: The increased number entering the labor force has only serve [#permalink] New post   22 Jan 2020, 16:36
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Carcass wrote:
I do not see any relationship

https://www.thesaurus.com/browse/strain?s=t


To me, tax and strain do fit metaphorically. They mean that the job market was already in bad shape, and whatever good remained has been sucked up by the increased number of the labour force.

Does this make sense?
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Re: The increased number entering the labor force has only serve [#permalink] New post   25 Jan 2020, 07:09
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Yes. Sure.

But it is not the way ETS works in its questions.

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Re: The increased number entering the labor force has only serve [#permalink] New post   01 Feb 2020, 15:11
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I think they do sir!
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Re: The increased number entering the labor force has only serve [#permalink] New post   06 May 2020, 12:06
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My two cents: bolster has somewhat a positive connotation in its meaning like bolster job prospects. Strain and tax has a negative connotation, so could be the best choice
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Re: The increased number entering the labor force has only serve [#permalink] New post   07 May 2020, 07:42
i think bolster and tax make the best choice
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Re: The increased number entering the labor force has only serve [#permalink] New post   26 Oct 2020, 07:32
The sentence gives the idea that the labour market is already struggling and an increased number of entrants into the labour market is only making it _______. The word 'already' here tells us that the new entrants are likely to make the situation worse. Thus we choose words that fit this context. Only 'strain' and 'tax' work since they mean putting an extra burden which is what the existing labour force now has to face.
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Re: The increased number entering the labor force has only serve [#permalink] New post   24 Jul 2023, 14:05
Carcass wrote:
Poor question.

We do need a word to bold the fact that the job market goes worse.

However, b and d do not look two words alike in meaning.

At most f paired with b.

Regards



B and D sound perfectly correct.
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Re: The increased number entering the labor force has only serve [#permalink] New post   19 Apr 2026, 11:48
Hello from the GRE Prep Club VerbalBot!

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Re: The increased number entering the labor force has only serve [#permalink]
19 Apr 2026, 11:48
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