confusion of costs with rates per-

sists partly because labor rates are

a convenient target for managers who

want to make an impact on their com-

(25) pany’s budgets. Because labor rates

are highly visible, managers can easily

compare their company’s rates with

those of competitors. Furthermore,

labor rates often appear to be a

(30) company’s most malleable financial

variable: cutting wages appears an

easier way to control costs than such

options as reconfiguring work pro-

cesses or altering product design.

(35) The myth that labor rates and labor

costs are equivalent is supported by

business journalists, who frequently

confound the two. For example, prom-

inent business journals often remark on

(40) the “high” cost of German labor, citing

as evidence the average amount paid

to German workers. The myth is also

perpetuated by the compensation-

consulting industry, which has its own

(45) incentives to keep such myths alive.

First, although some of these con-

sulting firms have recently broadened

their practices beyond the area of

compensation, their mainstay con-

(50) tinues to be advising companies on

changing their compensation prac-

tices. Suggesting that a company’s

performance can be improved in

some other way than by altering its

(55) pay system may be empirically cor-

rect but contrary to the consultants’

interests. Furthermore, changes

to the compensation system may

appear to be simpler to implement

(60) than changes to other aspects of an

organization, so managers are more

likely to find such advice from con-

sultants palatable. 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.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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?

1. It often fails to bring about the intended changes in companies’ compensation systems.
2. It has highly influenced views that predominate in prominent business journals.
3. It tends to result in decreased labor rates but increased labor costs.
4. It leads to changes in companies’ compensation practices that are less visible than changes to work processes would be.
5. It might be different if the consulting firms were less narrowly specialized.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Q23:

The author of the passage mentions business journals (line 39) primarily in order to

1. demonstrate how a particular kind of evidence can be used to support two different conclusions
2. cast doubt on a particular view about the average amount paid to German workers
3. suggest that business journalists may have a vested interest in perpetuating a particular view
4. identify one source of support for a view common among business managers
5. indicate a way in which a particular myth could be dispelled

1）第22题：别的选项好像是不对，但是A说fail to bring changes，但是consulting firm主要改变 的不就是compensating system吗？

2）第23题：A说“。。。support two different conclusions"，请问是哪两个conclusions?是第一段中的吗？

谢谢指教。

confusion of costs with rates per-

sists partly because labor rates are

a convenient target for managers who

want to make an impact on their com-

(25) pany’s budgets. Because labor rates

are highly visible, managers can easily

compare their company’s rates with

those of competitors. Furthermore,

labor rates often appear to be a

(30) company’s most malleable financial

variable: cutting wages appears an

easier way to control costs than such

options as reconfiguring work pro-

cesses or altering product design.

(35) The myth that labor rates and labor

costs are equivalent is supported by

business journalists, who frequently

confound the two. For example, prom-

inent business journals often remark on

(40) the “high” cost of German labor, citing

as evidence the average amount paid

to German workers. The myth is also

perpetuated by the compensation-

consulting industry, which has its own

(45) incentives to keep such myths alive.

First, although some of these con-

sulting firms have recently broadened

their practices beyond the area of

compensation, their mainstay con-

(50) tinues to be advising companies on

changing their compensation prac-

tices. Suggesting that a company’s

performance can be improved in

some other way than by altering its

(55) pay system may be empirically cor-

rect but contrary to the consultants’

interests. Furthermore, changes

to the compensation system may

appear to be simpler to implement

(60) than changes to other aspects of an

organization, so managers are more

likely to find such advice from con-

sultants palatable. 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.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Q22:信息题－－可以定位

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?

1. It often fails to bring about the intended changes in companies’ compensation systems. 正确 不去改变

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. 是说不改变把，其他的方法都比改变pay system好

1. It has highly influenced views that predominate in prominent business journals.
   
2. It tends to result in decreased labor rates but increased labor costs.
   
3. It leads to changes in companies’ compensation practices that are less visible than changes to work processes would be.
   
4. It might be different if the consulting firms were less narrowly specialized.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Q23: in order to

The author of the passage mentions business journals (line 39) primarily in order to

1. demonstrate how a particular kind of evidence can be used to support two different conclusions 错， 不同的结论是不是指对于myth不同的看法？？我自己觉得，反正这个选项和问题没有什么关系把
   
2. cast doubt on a particular view about the average amount paid to German workers 错 german
   
3. suggest that business journalists may have a vested interest in perpetuating a particular view 没有提到vested interest
   
4. identify one source of support for a view common among business managers

view 应该就是myth把，所以正确

The myth that labor rates and labor costs are equivalent is supported ， 是这句话的同意改写。

1. indicate a way in which a particular myth could be dispelled 错 报社系统推崇

1）第22题：别的选项好像是不对，但是A说fail to bring changes，但是consulting firm主要改变 的不就是compensating system吗？

2）第23题：A说“。。。support two different conclusions"，请问是哪两个conclusions?是第一段中的吗？

谢谢指教。