[我的筆記]GWD4-Q22~Q25

[piyo]

Q22:

The author of the passage suggests which of the following about the advice that the consulting firms discussed in the passage customarily give to companies attempting to control costs?


A)It often fails to bring about the intended changes in companies’ compensation systems.
E)It might be different if the consulting firms were less narrowly specialized.

我想問一下文章中以下這句話有沒有支持E的意思啊
有沒有按指如果它不是主要以compensation consulting為主的話
可能就不會這樣

我第一次也覺得這提非常簡單毫無疑問就是A
第二次就開始想
文章中有講到 often fails這麼嚴重嗎
雖然對consulting firm態度負面
但好像也沒有提到fail的頻率或是比例

是不是想太多啦
請大家幫忙指正一下喔

我也剛重做到這一題
同意E，因為A的選項太狹隘了

如果說"It often fails to bring about the intended changes."應該還OK
但是題目是"It often fails to bring about the intended changes in companies’ compensation systems."
反而把intended changes限制在 companies' compenstation systems上面了，剛好跟作者的文意不合。整篇文章作者都是認為管理階層、雜誌記者、以及這些顧問公司都太著注於公司的敘薪系統而忽略了其他因素。

我認為E較佳，原因和小馬兄相同∼

[fiona]

我還是覺得a比較妥當
e的話文章已經說了有些broaden的仍然還是走老路
要作者support說less specialize會有不同的結果的推論 有點困難

通篇都在講labor cost 所以我覺得a不會太狹隘
再討論囉~

[Vivian3020]

這題我也選E 除了小馬與Piyo的理由外 我的另一根據是這一句(L52-)

Suggesting that a company’s performance can be improved in some other way than by altering its pay system may be empirically correct but contrary to the consultants’interests.

公司的績效可藉由改變pay system之外的其他方式而獲得改善以經驗上來看是正確的, 然而這與顧問公司的興趣相左!

前面作者已以大篇幅說明labor cost不等於labor rate，說明這是個myth,言下之意，即E所說的It might be different if the consulting firms were less narrowly specialized.

和Pyio的意見相同，A)It often fails to bring about the intended changes in companies’ compensation systems. 句中用in而非via, 表示companies’ compensation systems是最終標的，而非手段。
根據下一句(L57-)Furthermore, changes to the compensation system may appear to be simpler to implement than changes to other aspects of an organization, so managers are more likely to find such advice from consultants palatable.

可以得知changes to the compensation system 是容易執行的，所以否定了(A)；作者覺得顧問公司的錯在於，要control cost光改變pay system太過狹隘，所以支持(E)~~~

個人的刁鑽看法，大家討論討論~~

PS 天啊! 考試時哪有閒工夫想這麼多.... ^^"

[chenfruit]

看了一大堆帖子之後,答案我還是比較傾向A

選E的人理由無非是 定位 L46-52

但這段意思是說,無論你是哪一種諮詢公司,不管你是大公司或小公司( 經營範圍)你都要建議公司調整 compensation practices, 無分大小! 結果不變!

從寫作技巧來說意思也是如此,although後面的主要子句才是重點!要寫一個通例給大家看(大小都一樣)才能support妳的論述,哪有可能寫一個公司大小不一,做法也不一的例子!(太容易被weaken!)

所以答案E認為,公司業務經營範圍不一,就會影響做法是不對的!

答案A 可以定位L52-67 有三理由支持
L52-57
經驗上來說, 使用其他方法來改善和調整公司薪資系統兩者比較起來,前者是比較正確的!但前者跟諮詢公司利益衝突...

推論:所以諮詢firms會向公司建議調整公司薪資系統

公司可能要調整薪資系統,結果因為諮詢公司覺得哪一種調整比較有利基
就建議他調整成哪一種;也可能本來不想要調整,諮詢公司建議他調整 言而總之, 建議公司做他不想要做的事

答案A 說 諮詢公司的建議往往沒辦法達到公司想要調整的薪資系統

L57- 63 理由同上,諮詢公司覺得哪一種調整比較有利基就建議他調整成哪一種

L63-67 建議會產生問題,產生惡性循環,諮詢公司繼續賺黑心錢

[FionaV]

我有兩個問題...

Q23.
The author of the passage mentions business journals (line 39) primarily in order to
A. demonstrate how a particular kind of evidence can be used to support two different conclusions
B. cast doubt on a particular view about the average amount paid to German workers
C. suggest that business journalists may have a vested interest in perpetuating a particular view
D. identifying one source of support for a view common among business managers
E. indicate a way in which a particular myth could be dispelled

Ans: D
為什麼C是錯的? jounalists不是為了自身的利益嗎?

Q25
According to the passage, which of the following is true about changes to a company's compensation system?

Ans: E
這個選項對我來說有點選不下去 因為看到"easy implement" 可是文章裡並沒有說compensation system is easy to implement (還是我太粗心 沒看到)

[bohemia]

[quote="FionaV"]我有兩個問題...

Q23.
The author of the passage mentions business journals (line 39) primarily in order to
A. demonstrate how a particular kind of evidence can be used to support two different conclusions
B. cast doubt on a particular view about the average amount paid to German workers
C. suggest that business journalists may have a vested interest in perpetuating a particular view
D. identifying one source of support for a view common among business managers
E. indicate a way in which a particular myth could be dispelled

Ans: D
為什麼C是錯的? jounalists不是為了自身的利益嗎?


文章裡面沒有提到jounalists是不是為了本身的利益
有提到為了本身利益的應該是後面的 consulting industry

[greenfox]

關於Q22我覺得答案應該是E,因為問句的目的是說advise...to control cost,但A選項的意思是說降低labor rate並不能降低labor cost,但文中並未如此顯示,作者只是認為labor cost不等於labor rate,因為labor cost下降可能來自於某些人的labor rate上升及某些人的labor rate下降,但若你全面性調降labor rate當然可以造成labor cost的下降(line30~34)

[stilalala]

關於Q22
很好奇究竟有沒有定論呢

看了咖啡店跟CD的討論稿
E並不能說服我
因為文章已經說表明Consulting firms 是出於self interest
就算less narrowly specialize了,也未必會make any difference阿

一開始是選A
就如同之前支持A的人思路一樣

但是在看了CD的一些討論稿之後
覺得C也不無道理耶

文章説明 MYTH : pay=cost
所以consulting firm 最常建議讓pay減少
這樣一來就可以減少cost
從文章中的推論又可以得知
通常會在產生新的問題
那是不事就可以推論出
要減少pay ,實際上導致cost的上升呢??


不知道大家怎麼看c這個答案
c是哪裡錯了呢

btw 我比較支持A

麻煩大家了
謝謝!

[michelle610]

對於Q22, 見到版上熱切的討論 實在是忍不住也來插一腳湊個熱鬧,其實也是因為剛好檢討到這一篇, 順道獻醜把自己的觀點放上來討論一下囉!!!

Q22:
The author of the passage suggests which of the following about the advice that the consulting firms discussed in the passage customarily give to companies attempting to control costs?
題目的關鍵在於:下列哪個選項是本文中顧問公司對於希望控制成本的企業一慣地建議??--->重點在於顧問公司的建議

我是選A的!!

以下三個選項中的it=consulting firms' advice

A.It often fails to bring about the intended changes in companies’ compensation systems.
根據文中自line46-67那三句以First, Furthermore,Finally開頭的句子
我認為是:

First: 表面上顧問公司是協助企業修正錯誤觀念 {第一段提到的rate=cost---->cut rate (rate=the rate per hour paid to workers) =cut cost},但實際上卻繼續去誤導企業去改變薪資結構 {這裡作者又插話說這樣的誤導舉動暗示著其實企業可以藉由選擇其他的改變來增進企業的成果而不是選擇改變薪資結構,但如果顧問公司這麼建議的話會危急顧問的利益(見line52-57)}

Furthermore: 顧問公司接著又說啦:改變薪資結構要比改變組織觀念要容易的多啦!!!---->這句話正好正中管理者的下懷(詳情請見第一段line31-34)
Finally: 經由上面的誤導,所以企業又會有新的問題出來,然後就又急著向顧問公司討救兵----->顧問公司就賺大錢啦!!!

所以說我覺得A是對的, 因為"intended changes in companies’ compensation systems."---->這根本就是顧問公司預期中的事情阿,如果顧問公司不這麼建議的話,他要賺什麼

C.It tends to result in decreased labor rates but increased labor costs.

個人以為,顧問公司的建議並沒有傾向於導致(result in) 降低 rate 卻提升cost這個結果
又第一段提到

"one company could pay its workers considerably more than another and yet have lower labor costs if that company’s productivity were higher due to the talent of its workforce, the efficiency of its work processes, or other factors." ----->企業可以多付員工薪資(即rate)但是同時也降低成本,假如生產力因為員工的才能,工作程序的效率,或是其他因素而提升---->但是並沒有說到降低rate會提升cost (注意could這個字)-----> 所以C個人以為過度推理了

E.It might be different if the consulting firms were less narrowly specialized.
這個答案我覺得真的有點令我匪夷所思,整篇文章沒有質疑顧問公司的專業能力吧!!!顧問公司之所以要這樣惡整企業,是因為有利可圖阿!!!就是因為企業有問題,又沒有太多時間去思考解決的方法,管理者又是一堆認為cut wage = cut cost的人, 那麼顧問公司為什麼不好好的去利用這個迷思來大發財呢!!!這也就是為什麼第二段要花這麼多的行數在說明顧問公司要讓這個迷思存活著的原因,其實從

"Suggesting that a company’s performance can be improved in some other way than by altering its pay system may be empirically correct but contrary to the consultants’interests."

這句話就可以看出來,顧問公司是很聰明狡猾又專業的啦!!!要不然她們怎麼會知道改變其他的組織策略比改變薪資結構對企業來說是更好的事呢!!!

[SELVICHY]

[quote="Clara"]:smile

Q24
It can be inferred from the passenge that the author would be most likely to agree with which of the following statements about compensation

B. High labor rates are [color=red]not [/color]necessarily [color=red]inconsistent [/color]with the goals of companies that want to reduce costs


關於b選項的解讀
記得徐老師說;遇到兩個"not" ->負負得正
所以是:high labor rates are necessarily consistent with the goals of companies that want to reduce costs

是嗎?
老師說的準則可以通用在所有文章上面嗎???
請指點

這題我選錯原因在於時間壓力與我對雙重否定的不熟悉[/quote]
-------------------------------------------------------
不可以.
負負得正要看會不會影響句意.
如果兩個負面屬性修飾的東西不一樣,就不能夠通用了.
自己想想,"不一定不符合"會等於"一定符合"嗎?
至多等於"不一定符合".
奇怪怎麼都沒有看到人提出正解?

[stilalala]

Q24:
The passage suggests that the “myth” mentioned in line 5 persists partly because
25
A. managers find it easier to compare their companies’ labor rates with those of
competitors than to compare labor costs
B. managers tend to assume that labor rates affect their companies’ budgets less than
they actually do
C. managers tend to believe that labor rates can have an impact on the efficiency of
their companies’ work processes
D. the average amount paid to workers differs significantly from one country to
another
E. many companies fail to rely on compensation consultants when making decisions
about labor rates
Answer:a

這題是天山4的
文章一樣,我就想說根gwd貼在一起吧

這題我總覺得每個答案都不對
雖然相較起來 a是比較合適的

但是a選項有一個問題
文章不是說myth 是labor rates= labor costs
為何a選項又拿這兩個出來比呢

麻煩各位大大幫忙解釋一下

感激不盡
先謝謝嚕

[jmyang]

覺得 A 的說法和 author 所想要表達的意思還是有點差距，E 感覺起來沒什麼不妥：

A)It often fails to bring about the intended changes in companies’ compensation systems.

原文：Suggesting (that a company's performance can be improved in some other way than by altering its pay system (整個子句才是主詞))may be empirically correct but contrary to the consultants’interests.
意思是要 improve performance，althering pay system or other way 都可以，並不表示 chance compensation system 的 advice "often fail"。兩個方法都可以(can be)，別的方法也可以的說法也對(empirically correct)，沒有說哪一個方法更好或更不好(fail)

另, passage 最後一句： to the extent that changes in compensation create new problems。我自己是覺得這是說「如果」產生新問題，而不是指一定會有 new problem。extent 有程度大小的差別，也許沒問題，也許有問題。


E)It might be different if the consulting firms were less narrowly specialized.

原文：First, although some of these consulting firms have recently broadened their practices beyond the area of compensation, their mainstay continues to be advising companies on changing their compensation practices.

只說雖然 consulting companies 有在擴增業務範圍，但 compensation system 還是主要收入來源。暗示：如果業務範圍改變，就會提出別的範圍內的建議。

[Francis]

Q24:
The passage suggests that the “myth” mentioned in line 5 persists partly because
25
A. managers find it easier to compare their companies’ labor rates with those of
competitors than to compare labor costs
B. managers tend to assume that labor rates affect their companies’ budgets less than
they actually do
C. managers tend to believe that labor rates can have an impact on the efficiency of
their companies’ work processes
D. the average amount paid to workers differs significantly from one country to
another
E. many companies fail to rely on compensation consultants when making decisions
about labor rates
Answer:a

這題是天山4的
文章一樣,我就想說根gwd貼在一起吧

這題我總覺得每個答案都不對
雖然相較起來 a是比較合適的
但是a選項有一個問題
文章不是說myth 是labor rates= labor costs
為何a選項又拿這兩個出來比呢

麻煩各位大大幫忙解釋一下

感激不盡
先謝謝嚕

個人想法
請看 Line 20~28 應該就很清楚

[superruby]

發現大家對25題都沒問題, 小妹我對25題不懂,請指教
Q25:
According to the passage, which of the following is true about changes to a company’s compensation system?

A. They are often implemented in conjunction with a company’s efforts to reconfigure its work processes.
B. They have been advocated by prominent business journals as the most direct way for a company to bring about changes in its labor costs.
C. They are more likely to result in an increase in labor costs than they are to bring about competitive advantages for the company.
D. They sometimes result in significant cost savings but are likely to create labor-relations problems for the company.
E. They may seem to managers to be relatively easy to implement compared with other kinds of changes managers might consider.

correct answer is E
My answer is C,
form line 63- 67
Finally, to the
extant that changes in compensation
(65) create new problems, the consultants
will continue to have work solving the
problems that result from their advice.

支持改變compensation system 改變會導致更多的問題, 所以選C

我是看到C感覺對就沒有繼續仔細讀下去, E選項我了解,可是不解為何C不對.
請大人指教

[shine_allen]

c應該是會decrease the labor cost 吧,
decrease labor cost,
就是changes 產生的阿