2. The primary purpose of the passage is toExplanationTo me, major portion of the passage literally discusses circumstances in which an increase in wages in developing countries expected. Have a look at the bolded circumstances in the below excerpt.
Quote:
Many people believe that because wages are lower in developing countries than in developed countries, competition from developing countries in goods traded internationally will soon eliminate large numbers of jobs in developed countries. Currently, developed countries' advanced technology results in higher productivity, which accounts for their higher wages. Advanced technology is being transferred ever more speedily across borders, but even with the latest technology, productivity and wages in developing countries will remain lower than in developed countries for many years because developed countries have better infrastructure and better-educated workers. When productivity in a developing country does catch up, experience suggests that wages there will rise. Some individual firms in developing countries have raised their productivity but kept their wages (which are influenced by average productivity in the country's economy) low. However, in a developing country's economy as a whole, productivity improvements in goods traded internationally are likely to cause an increase in wages. Furthermore, if wages are not allowed to rise, the value of the country's currency will appreciate, which (from the developed countries' point of view) is the equivalent of increased wages in the developing country. And although in the past a few countries have deliberately kept their currencies undervalued, that is now much harder to do in a world where capital moves more freely.
To understand why C is correct, could you please emphasize the evaluation of a commonly held belief in the passage?[/quote]
When picking out the primary purpose of a passage, it is more important to understand
why the author includes certain information, not just
what they discuss in a "major portion" of the passage.
Here's a breakdown of the passage:
1) First, the author introduces a commonly held belief (lower wages in developing countries will lead to the loss jobs in developed countries)
2) Then, the author examines why wages are currently higher in developed countries, and says that they will remain so "for many years"
3) Finally, the author argues that wages will eventually rise in developing countries as well
So,
why did the author write this passage? He/she introduced a commonly held belief and then weighed in on some factors underpinning that belief. Namely, the author thinks that developing countries will not maintain low wages in the long run. Because this wage disparity is a key component of the belief, the author implies that the belief may not come to pass, or at least will not have a permanent effect.
(C) captures this purpose well:
Quote:
(C) present information relevant in evaluating a commonly held belief
Take another look at (E):
Quote:
(E) explain under what circumstances a well-known phenomenon occurs
There are a couple of issues with this answer choice. First, the passage doesn't deal with a "well-known phenomenon" -- that would imply that this loss of jobs definitely DOES happen. A "belief" is just something that people THINK happens.
In addition, the author doesn't say that the scenario that many people believe in actually
occurs, as stated in (E). If anything, the author implies that the belief is not entirely well-founded, because wages will eventually rise in developing countries.
(B) runs into a similar issue as (E): can we say that something that "many people believe" is a "generally accepted principle"? Maybe, but it's not great. Many people these days believe that the world is flat, but that's hardly a "generally accepted principle." (B) is already in thin ice.
The other issue with (B) is that the passage doesn't focus on the implications of low wages in developing countries leading to the elimination of jobs in developed countries. Will the elimination of jobs lead to widespread poverty in developed countries? Or will it lead to an economic depression? Or some other outcome? We have no idea, because the author never touches on the potential implications of the "belief" defined at the beginning of the passage.
Instead, the author focuses on the facts and assumptions underlying the belief, and uses these to evaluate whether the belief is actually well-supported.
For these reasons, (B) is out and (C) is the answer to question 2.
Apr 25
Apr 26
24 Aug 2022, 06:46
69% (02:22) correct
