Question

Which statement best summarizes the problem in the text?

There are often many paths you can take to pursue a career. For example, to become a nurse, you can pursue a 4-year degree in nursing or a 2-year degree. There are also many different paths to become a teacher or artist. When determining which option to pursue, it is important to consider both the costs and benefits of each path. One important data point to determine is the total lifetime earnings expected for people who complete each course of study.

Students hoping to work in the field of electrical engineering typically pursue one of three options: an apprenticeship to become an electrician, a bachelor’s in electrical engineering or a master’s in electrical engineering. The table shows the cost of each path and the average yearly salary (across the total lifetime of the career) of those who complete the training or degree.

Job Title

Electrician

Electrical Engineer

Electrical Engineer

Type of training or schooling

Apprenticeship

Bachelor’s

Master’s (Bachelor’s degree is also required.)

Cost per year of training or schooling

$0

$43,289

$45,600

Minimum # of years required in training or in school

4-5 years

4 years (Some students may take additional years to complete degree.)

2 years

Average yearly salary

$51,880

$73,220

A. Apprenticeships are becoming rare despite their effectiveness. B. It is impossible to determine which education option is most effective. C. Electricians and electrical engineers have similar salaries despite different education backgrounds. D. A person with an interest in electrical engineering needs to determine which education option to pursue.

Answer 1

The correct answer is B. It is impossible to determine which education option is most effective.

The paragraph given shows a number of options of careers to pursue. They give costs and benefits for each one as well as future salaries. This information would help someone make a decision about how they want to proceed in this career field.