English Comprehension PYQs

Read the passage and answer the following questions.

Americans love to contemplate - and legislatively promote, to whatever degree possible - the virtue of hard work. Here in the United States, people already work more hours per year than their English- speaking counterparts in Britain, Canada and Australia - not to mention those enviable denizens of European social democracies, who enjoy the kind of leisure time only their highest-paid workers can afford. So perhaps it's not surprising that several new pro-work policy ideas are enjoying attention on the left and the right. On the right, work requirements for Medicaid, food stamps and housing assistance represent the latest conservative effort to make sure Americans work for any benefits they receive. Work-life balance. It has been the professional it-phrase for the past few years. From how-to books to meditation apps and even company-sponsored initiatives like unlimited vacation, employers and employees alike have been trying to strike a balance between their personal and professional lives. And it seems to be working. Or is it? According to employee reviews on Glassdoor, work-life balance is not what it used to be. Despite the best efforts of executives and an upgraded nomenclature (“work-life fit”), American workers continue to struggle with stress. But why? What’s missing from our jobs, or rather, is it in our personal lives? Since we live in the digital age, it’s easy for employees to be connected to their work 24/7. All day every day we receive e-mails from our boss, notifications from our work chats and use our calendars for reminders and scheduling–all on our smartphones. So thanks to technology, employees often check their e-mail every few minutes and constantly put in extra hours on nights, weekends and even when they’re out on vacation. If you need help maintaining a healthy work-life balance, remember that it’s all about setting goals and expectations between you and your manager. By having a good, open communication process with your boss, you’ll better understand what they expect of you, which makes it easier to manage your work life with your personal life. The more clear your boss is to you, and the more clear you are to them, the healthier that work life balance is going to feel. But, unfortunately, not every job works this way. Inevitably, there are some roles that may require more attention during and out of normal office hours. If you’re not the type who can and wants this kind of schedule, that’s something to consider before accepting a job. So before accepting an offer, research the position and make sure you fully understand the hours that are expected in the role, where and how you can get their work done, and the overall nature of the job.There's a balance to be struck where it comes to work and rest, but in the United States, values and laws are already slanted drastically in favor of work. I would advise those concerned about Americans' dignity, freedom and independence to not focus on compelling work for benefits or otherwise trying to marshal people into jobs when what they really need are health care, housing assistance, unemployment benefits and so forth. Instead, we should focus more of our political energies on making sure that American workers have the dignity of rest, the freedom to enjoy their lives outside of labor and independence from the whims of their employers.

Read the passage and answer the following questions.

Americans love to contemplate - and legislatively promote, to whatever degree possible - the virtue of hard work. Here in the United States, people already work more hours per year than their English- speaking counterparts in Britain, Canada and Australia - not to mention those enviable denizens of European social democracies, who enjoy the kind of leisure time only their highest-paid workers can afford. So perhaps it's not surprising that several new pro-work policy ideas are enjoying attention on the left and the right. On the right, work requirements for Medicaid, food stamps and housing assistance represent the latest conservative effort to make sure Americans work for any benefits they receive. Work-life balance. It has been the professional it-phrase for the past few years. From how-to books to meditation apps and even company-sponsored initiatives like unlimited vacation, employers and employees alike have been trying to strike a balance between their personal and professional lives. And it seems to be working. Or is it? According to employee reviews on Glassdoor, work-life balance is not what it used to be. Despite the best efforts of executives and an upgraded nomenclature (“work-life fit”), American workers continue to struggle with stress. But why? What’s missing from our jobs, or rather, is it in our personal lives? Since we live in the digital age, it’s easy for employees to be connected to their work 24/7. All day every day we receive e-mails from our boss, notifications from our work chats and use our calendars for reminders and scheduling–all on our smartphones. So thanks to technology, employees often check their e-mail every few minutes and constantly put in extra hours on nights, weekends and even when they’re out on vacation. If you need help maintaining a healthy work-life balance, remember that it’s all about setting goals and expectations between you and your manager. By having a good, open communication process with your boss, you’ll better understand what they expect of you, which makes it easier to manage your work life with your personal life. The more clear your boss is to you, and the more clear you are to them, the healthier that work life balance is going to feel. But, unfortunately, not every job works this way. Inevitably, there are some roles that may require more attention during and out of normal office hours. If you’re not the type who can and wants this kind of schedule, that’s something to consider before accepting a job. So before accepting an offer, research the position and make sure you fully understand the hours that are expected in the role, where and how you can get their work done, and the overall nature of the job.There's a balance to be struck where it comes to work and rest, but in the United States, values and laws are already slanted drastically in favor of work. I would advise those concerned about Americans' dignity, freedom and independence to not focus on compelling work for benefits or otherwise trying to marshal people into jobs when what they really need are health care, housing assistance, unemployment benefits and so forth. Instead, we should focus more of our political energies on making sure that American workers have the dignity of rest, the freedom to enjoy their lives outside of labor and independence from the whims of their employers.

Read the passage and answer the following questions.

Americans love to contemplate - and legislatively promote, to whatever degree possible - the virtue of hard work. Here in the United States, people already work more hours per year than their English- speaking counterparts in Britain, Canada and Australia - not to mention those enviable denizens of European social democracies, who enjoy the kind of leisure time only their highest-paid workers can afford. So perhaps it's not surprising that several new pro-work policy ideas are enjoying attention on the left and the right. On the right, work requirements for Medicaid, food stamps and housing assistance represent the latest conservative effort to make sure Americans work for any benefits they receive. Work-life balance. It has been the professional it-phrase for the past few years. From how-to books to meditation apps and even company-sponsored initiatives like unlimited vacation, employers and employees alike have been trying to strike a balance between their personal and professional lives. And it seems to be working. Or is it? According to employee reviews on Glassdoor, work-life balance is not what it used to be. Despite the best efforts of executives and an upgraded nomenclature (“work-life fit”), American workers continue to struggle with stress. But why? What’s missing from our jobs, or rather, is it in our personal lives? Since we live in the digital age, it’s easy for employees to be connected to their work 24/7. All day every day we receive e-mails from our boss, notifications from our work chats and use our calendars for reminders and scheduling–all on our smartphones. So thanks to technology, employees often check their e-mail every few minutes and constantly put in extra hours on nights, weekends and even when they’re out on vacation. If you need help maintaining a healthy work-life balance, remember that it’s all about setting goals and expectations between you and your manager. By having a good, open communication process with your boss, you’ll better understand what they expect of you, which makes it easier to manage your work life with your personal life. The more clear your boss is to you, and the more clear you are to them, the healthier that work life balance is going to feel. But, unfortunately, not every job works this way. Inevitably, there are some roles that may require more attention during and out of normal office hours. If you’re not the type who can and wants this kind of schedule, that’s something to consider before accepting a job. So before accepting an offer, research the position and make sure you fully understand the hours that are expected in the role, where and how you can get their work done, and the overall nature of the job.There's a balance to be struck where it comes to work and rest, but in the United States, values and laws are already slanted drastically in favor of work. I would advise those concerned about Americans' dignity, freedom and independence to not focus on compelling work for benefits or otherwise trying to marshal people into jobs when what they really need are health care, housing assistance, unemployment benefits and so forth. Instead, we should focus more of our political energies on making sure that American workers have the dignity of rest, the freedom to enjoy their lives outside of labor and independence from the whims of their employers.

Read the passage and answer the following questions.

Americans love to contemplate - and legislatively promote, to whatever degree possible - the virtue of hard work. Here in the United States, people already work more hours per year than their English- speaking counterparts in Britain, Canada and Australia - not to mention those enviable denizens of European social democracies, who enjoy the kind of leisure time only their highest-paid workers can afford. So perhaps it's not surprising that several new pro-work policy ideas are enjoying attention on the left and the right. On the right, work requirements for Medicaid, food stamps and housing assistance represent the latest conservative effort to make sure Americans work for any benefits they receive. Work-life balance. It has been the professional it-phrase for the past few years. From how-to books to meditation apps and even company-sponsored initiatives like unlimited vacation, employers and employees alike have been trying to strike a balance between their personal and professional lives. And it seems to be working. Or is it? According to employee reviews on Glassdoor, work-life balance is not what it used to be. Despite the best efforts of executives and an upgraded nomenclature (“work-life fit”), American workers continue to struggle with stress. But why? What’s missing from our jobs, or rather, is it in our personal lives? Since we live in the digital age, it’s easy for employees to be connected to their work 24/7. All day every day we receive e-mails from our boss, notifications from our work chats and use our calendars for reminders and scheduling–all on our smartphones. So thanks to technology, employees often check their e-mail every few minutes and constantly put in extra hours on nights, weekends and even when they’re out on vacation. If you need help maintaining a healthy work-life balance, remember that it’s all about setting goals and expectations between you and your manager. By having a good, open communication process with your boss, you’ll better understand what they expect of you, which makes it easier to manage your work life with your personal life. The more clear your boss is to you, and the more clear you are to them, the healthier that work life balance is going to feel. But, unfortunately, not every job works this way. Inevitably, there are some roles that may require more attention during and out of normal office hours. If you’re not the type who can and wants this kind of schedule, that’s something to consider before accepting a job. So before accepting an offer, research the position and make sure you fully understand the hours that are expected in the role, where and how you can get their work done, and the overall nature of the job.There's a balance to be struck where it comes to work and rest, but in the United States, values and laws are already slanted drastically in favor of work. I would advise those concerned about Americans' dignity, freedom and independence to not focus on compelling work for benefits or otherwise trying to marshal people into jobs when what they really need are health care, housing assistance, unemployment benefits and so forth. Instead, we should focus more of our political energies on making sure that American workers have the dignity of rest, the freedom to enjoy their lives outside of labor and independence from the whims of their employers.

Read the passage and answer the following questions.

Americans love to contemplate - and legislatively promote, to whatever degree possible - the virtue of hard work. Here in the United States, people already work more hours per year than their English- speaking counterparts in Britain, Canada and Australia - not to mention those enviable denizens of European social democracies, who enjoy the kind of leisure time only their highest-paid workers can afford. So perhaps it's not surprising that several new pro-work policy ideas are enjoying attention on the left and the right. On the right, work requirements for Medicaid, food stamps and housing assistance represent the latest conservative effort to make sure Americans work for any benefits they receive. Work-life balance. It has been the professional it-phrase for the past few years. From how-to books to meditation apps and even company-sponsored initiatives like unlimited vacation, employers and employees alike have been trying to strike a balance between their personal and professional lives. And it seems to be working. Or is it? According to employee reviews on Glassdoor, work-life balance is not what it used to be. Despite the best efforts of executives and an upgraded nomenclature (“work-life fit”), American workers continue to struggle with stress. But why? What’s missing from our jobs, or rather, is it in our personal lives? Since we live in the digital age, it’s easy for employees to be connected to their work 24/7. All day every day we receive e-mails from our boss, notifications from our work chats and use our calendars for reminders and scheduling–all on our smartphones. So thanks to technology, employees often check their e-mail every few minutes and constantly put in extra hours on nights, weekends and even when they’re out on vacation. If you need help maintaining a healthy work-life balance, remember that it’s all about setting goals and expectations between you and your manager. By having a good, open communication process with your boss, you’ll better understand what they expect of you, which makes it easier to manage your work life with your personal life. The more clear your boss is to you, and the more clear you are to them, the healthier that work life balance is going to feel. But, unfortunately, not every job works this way. Inevitably, there are some roles that may require more attention during and out of normal office hours. If you’re not the type who can and wants this kind of schedule, that’s something to consider before accepting a job. So before accepting an offer, research the position and make sure you fully understand the hours that are expected in the role, where and how you can get their work done, and the overall nature of the job.There's a balance to be struck where it comes to work and rest, but in the United States, values and laws are already slanted drastically in favor of work. I would advise those concerned about Americans' dignity, freedom and independence to not focus on compelling work for benefits or otherwise trying to marshal people into jobs when what they really need are health care, housing assistance, unemployment benefits and so forth. Instead, we should focus more of our political energies on making sure that American workers have the dignity of rest, the freedom to enjoy their lives outside of labor and independence from the whims of their employers.

Direction: Read the passage and answer the following questions.

Beyond the hype and glamor synonymous with the fashion industry are challenges that business owners face when trying to establish themselves in the sector. Competition in the fashion industry makes it difficult for small businesses to get the attention of the market since the media mainly covers established fashion houses. However, passionate entrepreneurs who choose to venture into fashion can succeed by dedicating time, resources and persistence. Investing in the fashion industry requires a lot of capital for startup and the initial running of the business. Obtaining additional financing from investors and banks may prove especially difficult when you do not have sufficient records to demonstrate your ability to repay. Operating within a limited budget would force you to cut down your expenditure on crucial items such as marketing and publicity for your brand. Hiring the right personnel to work for your fashion business plays an important role in its success. However, the right personnel comes at a price that may be too high for your business. Your budget can force you to compromise on the qualification and experience of the staff you need. In addition, talented individuals in the fashion industry may only commit to an established fashion business and only agree to work for your firm on a part-time or freelance basis. Such people may also need more money to convince them to come on board. The competition in the fashion industry is a disadvantage to small and upcoming businesses. For example, startup ventures may not have enough money to poach personnel but may lose personnel through that approach. Such businesses, despite their limited budget, need to invest more time and resources in marketing and creating visibility for their brand. Additionally, small businesses may have a higher running cost given that they make smaller orders compared to established brands. For example, established brands will make large orders in China while unestablished players have to rely on local manufacturers whose price is much higher. New businesses also face a higher risk of failing to take off. The fashion industry demands long hours to network, market, design and exhibit your work. In the initial stages, you have to work longer hours as you often take on multiple responsibilities. The long hours you spend may also limit your creative input especially if you design. You also have to sacrifice time away from your family, friends and social life.

Direction: Read the passage and answer the following questions.

Beyond the hype and glamor synonymous with the fashion industry are challenges that business owners face when trying to establish themselves in the sector. Competition in the fashion industry makes it difficult for small businesses to get the attention of the market since the media mainly covers established fashion houses. However, passionate entrepreneurs who choose to venture into fashion can succeed by dedicating time, resources and persistence. Investing in the fashion industry requires a lot of capital for startup and the initial running of the business. Obtaining additional financing from investors and banks may prove especially difficult when you do not have sufficient records to demonstrate your ability to repay. Operating within a limited budget would force you to cut down your expenditure on crucial items such as marketing and publicity for your brand. Hiring the right personnel to work for your fashion business plays an important role in its success. However, the right personnel comes at a price that may be too high for your business. Your budget can force you to compromise on the qualification and experience of the staff you need. In addition, talented individuals in the fashion industry may only commit to an established fashion business and only agree to work for your firm on a part-time or freelance basis. Such people may also need more money to convince them to come on board. The competition in the fashion industry is a disadvantage to small and upcoming businesses. For example, startup ventures may not have enough money to poach personnel but may lose personnel through that approach. Such businesses, despite their limited budget, need to invest more time and resources in marketing and creating visibility for their brand. Additionally, small businesses may have a higher running cost given that they make smaller orders compared to established brands. For example, established brands will make large orders in China while unestablished players have to rely on local manufacturers whose price is much higher. New businesses also face a higher risk of failing to take off. The fashion industry demands long hours to network, market, design and exhibit your work. In the initial stages, you have to work longer hours as you often take on multiple responsibilities. The long hours you spend may also limit your creative input especially if you design. You also have to sacrifice time away from your family, friends and social life.

Direction: Read the passage and answer the following questions.

Beyond the hype and glamor synonymous with the fashion industry are challenges that business owners face when trying to establish themselves in the sector. Competition in the fashion industry makes it difficult for small businesses to get the attention of the market since the media mainly covers established fashion houses. However, passionate entrepreneurs who choose to venture into fashion can succeed by dedicating time, resources and persistence. Investing in the fashion industry requires a lot of capital for startup and the initial running of the business. Obtaining additional financing from investors and banks may prove especially difficult when you do not have sufficient records to demonstrate your ability to repay. Operating within a limited budget would force you to cut down your expenditure on crucial items such as marketing and publicity for your brand. Hiring the right personnel to work for your fashion business plays an important role in its success. However, the right personnel comes at a price that may be too high for your business. Your budget can force you to compromise on the qualification and experience of the staff you need. In addition, talented individuals in the fashion industry may only commit to an established fashion business and only agree to work for your firm on a part-time or freelance basis. Such people may also need more money to convince them to come on board. The competition in the fashion industry is a disadvantage to small and upcoming businesses. For example, startup ventures may not have enough money to poach personnel but may lose personnel through that approach. Such businesses, despite their limited budget, need to invest more time and resources in marketing and creating visibility for their brand. Additionally, small businesses may have a higher running cost given that they make smaller orders compared to established brands. For example, established brands will make large orders in China while unestablished players have to rely on local manufacturers whose price is much higher. New businesses also face a higher risk of failing to take off. The fashion industry demands long hours to network, market, design and exhibit your work. In the initial stages, you have to work longer hours as you often take on multiple responsibilities. The long hours you spend may also limit your creative input especially if you design. You also have to sacrifice time away from your family, friends and social life.

Direction: Read the passage and answer the following questions.

Beyond the hype and glamor synonymous with the fashion industry are challenges that business owners face when trying to establish themselves in the sector. Competition in the fashion industry makes it difficult for small businesses to get the attention of the market since the media mainly covers established fashion houses. However, passionate entrepreneurs who choose to venture into fashion can succeed by dedicating time, resources and persistence. Investing in the fashion industry requires a lot of capital for startup and the initial running of the business. Obtaining additional financing from investors and banks may prove especially difficult when you do not have sufficient records to demonstrate your ability to repay. Operating within a limited budget would force you to cut down your expenditure on crucial items such as marketing and publicity for your brand. Hiring the right personnel to work for your fashion business plays an important role in its success. However, the right personnel comes at a price that may be too high for your business. Your budget can force you to compromise on the qualification and experience of the staff you need. In addition, talented individuals in the fashion industry may only commit to an established fashion business and only agree to work for your firm on a part-time or freelance basis. Such people may also need more money to convince them to come on board. The competition in the fashion industry is a disadvantage to small and upcoming businesses. For example, startup ventures may not have enough money to poach personnel but may lose personnel through that approach. Such businesses, despite their limited budget, need to invest more time and resources in marketing and creating visibility for their brand. Additionally, small businesses may have a higher running cost given that they make smaller orders compared to established brands. For example, established brands will make large orders in China while unestablished players have to rely on local manufacturers whose price is much higher. New businesses also face a higher risk of failing to take off. The fashion industry demands long hours to network, market, design and exhibit your work. In the initial stages, you have to work longer hours as you often take on multiple responsibilities. The long hours you spend may also limit your creative input especially if you design. You also have to sacrifice time away from your family, friends and social life.

Direction: Read the passage and answer the following questions.

Beyond the hype and glamor synonymous with the fashion industry are challenges that business owners face when trying to establish themselves in the sector. Competition in the fashion industry makes it difficult for small businesses to get the attention of the market since the media mainly covers established fashion houses. However, passionate entrepreneurs who choose to venture into fashion can succeed by dedicating time, resources and persistence. Investing in the fashion industry requires a lot of capital for startup and the initial running of the business. Obtaining additional financing from investors and banks may prove especially difficult when you do not have sufficient records to demonstrate your ability to repay. Operating within a limited budget would force you to cut down your expenditure on crucial items such as marketing and publicity for your brand. Hiring the right personnel to work for your fashion business plays an important role in its success. However, the right personnel comes at a price that may be too high for your business. Your budget can force you to compromise on the qualification and experience of the staff you need. In addition, talented individuals in the fashion industry may only commit to an established fashion business and only agree to work for your firm on a part-time or freelance basis. Such people may also need more money to convince them to come on board. The competition in the fashion industry is a disadvantage to small and upcoming businesses. For example, startup ventures may not have enough money to poach personnel but may lose personnel through that approach. Such businesses, despite their limited budget, need to invest more time and resources in marketing and creating visibility for their brand. Additionally, small businesses may have a higher running cost given that they make smaller orders compared to established brands. For example, established brands will make large orders in China while unestablished players have to rely on local manufacturers whose price is much higher. New businesses also face a higher risk of failing to take off. The fashion industry demands long hours to network, market, design and exhibit your work. In the initial stages, you have to work longer hours as you often take on multiple responsibilities. The long hours you spend may also limit your creative input especially if you design. You also have to sacrifice time away from your family, friends and social life.