26. The author of the passage is primarily concerned with
(A) discussing research data underlying several definitions
(B) arguing for the adoption of a particular definition
(C) exploring definitions of a concept
(D) comparing the advantages of several definitions
(E) clarifying some ambiguous definitions
Main idea
The author's primary concern is found by considering the passage as a whole. In
the first paragraph, the author raises the central question regarding the meaning of
services and then examines two definitions. The second paragraph analyzes the
United States government's definition of services in more detail. The author is
primarily interested in exploring different definitions of services.
A No research data are presented.
B The author points out the weakness of several definitions rather than
giving reasons to adopt a particular one.
C Correct. The author considers several definitions of services.
D The author largely analyzes the disadvantages of the definitions.
E The author points out problems in the definitions rather than providing
clarifications of the definitions themselves.
The correct answer is C.
27. In comparing the United States government's definition of services with the
classical definition, the author suggests that the classical definition is
(A) more pragmatic
(B) more difficult to apply
(C) less ambiguous
(D) more widely used
(E) more arbitrary
Inference
This question asks the reader to find information that is suggested but not directly
stated in the passage. The author discusses the classical definition at the end of the
first paragraph, pointing out two examples in which it does not apply and
concluding that this definition is hard to sustain. By comparison, the government's
definition is more practical because it is easy to apply; everything that is not
agriculture or industry is defined as a service. An examination of the analysis of
both definitions reveals that, according to the author, the classical definition is
harder to apply.
A The author describes the United States government's definition as more
practical or pragmatic.
B Correct. Citing two cases in which the classical definition does not apply,
the author implies that this definition is harder to apply than the
government's.
C Although the United States government's definition is said to lead to
ambiguities, the examples given to suggest difficulties with the classical
definition indicate that it may be at least as ambiguous.
D The author does not say that the classical definition is more widely used.
E The author calls the government's definition arbitrary.
The correct answer is B.
28. The passage suggests which of the following about service workers in the United
States?
(A) The number of service workers may be underestimated by the definition
of services used by the government.
(B) There were fewer service workers than agricultural workers before 1988.
(C) The number of service workers was almost equal to the number of
workers employed in manufacturing until 1988.
(D) Most service workers are employed in service occupations rather than in
service industries.
(E) Most service workers are employed in occupations where they provide
services that do not fall under the classical definition of services.
Inference
The question's use of the word suggests means that the answer depends on making
an inference. According to the author, one of the failures of the government's
definition of services is that the many service workers employed by manufacturers
—bookkeepers or janitors, for example—would fall under the industrial rather
than the services category (lines 22–26). This example shows that the number of
service workers is likely to be underestimated.
A Correct. Because some service workers are included in the industrial
category, it is possible that the total number of service workers may be
underestimated.
B The passage does not provide the information to support this statement.
C The author says that services moved ahead of manufacturing as the main
product in 1988 but does not discuss the number of workers in either area.
D The passage does not provide the information to support this statement.
E The passage does not provide the information to support this statement.
The correct answer is A.
29. The author of the passage mentions which of the following as one disadvantage of
the United States government's definition of services?
(A) It is less useful than the other definitions mentioned in the passage.
(B) It is narrower in scope than the other definitions mentioned in the
passage.
(C) It is based on the final product produced rather than on the type of work
performed.
(D) It does not recognize the diversity of occupations within the service
industries.
(E) It misclassifies many workers who are employed in service industries.
Supporting ideas
This question is based on specific information explicitly stated in the passage.
According to the author, the government's definition fails because it categorizes
workers based on their company's final product rather than on the actual work
the employees perform (lines 20–22).
A The author calls this definition practical for government purposes, so for
the government it is more useful than other definitions.
B The definition includes everything that is not agriculture or industry,
while the classical definition does not include occupations that are clearly
services; the government's definition is thus not narrower.
C Correct. Workers are categorized by the final product of their company
rather than by the type of work they perform at that company.
D Diversity of occupations within the service industries is not discussed.
E The definition misclassifies service workers employed in manufacturing,
not service industries.
The correct answer is C.
30. The author refers to "service workers employed by manufacturers" (line 23)
primarily in order to point out
(A) a type of worker not covered by the United States government's system
of classifying occupations
(B) a flaw in the United States government's definition of services
(C) a factor that has influenced the growth of the service economy in the
United States
(D) a type of worker who is classified on the basis of work performed rather
than on the basis of the company's final product
(E) the diversity of the workers who are referred to as service workers
Logical structure
The author discusses the many service workers employed by manufacturers to
illustrate the failure of the government's definition to distinguish between service
industries and service occupations. The resulting ambiguities, in the author's view,
reveal the arbitrariness of the definition and its inaccuracy in reflecting the
composition of the economy.
A The worker is covered but misclassified.
B Correct. The author uses this example to point out a serious
shortcoming in the government's definition.
C The author mentions the growth of services at the beginning of the
passage but does not explore the reasons for it.
D The situation of service workers employed by manufacturers is just the
reverse; they are categorized by the company's final product, not by the
work they do.
E The author had earlier cited and illustrated the diversity of service
activities that are included in the government's residual category of services;
the focus here is instead the arbitrariness and inaccuracy, in the author's
view, of the government's definition.
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