Read the passage below, and select the best title from the following list.
A) The 2020s: a decade of challenges
B) Work in the 2020s: how to succeed
C) Essential skills in a changing job market
As the pace of digital transformation in the workplace accelerates, the next decade will pose challenges for employees as they are pushed more quickly into different types of jobs and teams. Skill demands are changing so rapidly, say futurists, that even when a company lays out what it requires now, by the end of the 2020s that will look very different.
Jason Wingard, dean of Columbia University School of Professional Studies, believes some skills will not be relevant. “You are going to have to look at the market and keep abreast of what are transferable skills,” he says. “You will need to measure yourself against that and ask yourself, ‘Do you have what it takes to be competitive?’”
So what are the five essential skills that workers will need to navigate a changing work environment — and flourish in the next decade?
(Source: Financial Times, 6th January 2020)
C
Posted by: Summer | January 13, 2020 at 16:32
Item C is correct.
Posted by: Arezoo | January 13, 2020 at 19:05
C
Posted by: lại huy nhật | January 13, 2020 at 20:43
A
I think the paragraph doesn't say anything about specific skill yet.
Posted by: Chris | January 13, 2020 at 23:58
c
Posted by: hamed | January 14, 2020 at 00:06
C is the correct answer. The paragraph is giving information about essential skills that are needed in changing work environment.
Posted by: Sarvar | January 14, 2020 at 01:02
I guess A is the correct answer.
This paragraph is just an introduction to the essential skills which will be detailed in the next paragraphs.
Posted by: James | January 14, 2020 at 03:58
A
Posted by: Hyeokki | January 14, 2020 at 05:21
Correct
A -> C
Posted by: Hyeokki | January 14, 2020 at 06:35
C
A is too wide
B no information
Posted by: Danila | January 14, 2020 at 06:54
C
Posted by: Orhan | January 14, 2020 at 07:13
A
Posted by: JILL | January 14, 2020 at 08:35
B
Posted by: Keiko | January 14, 2020 at 09:15
C
Posted by: BoXiangWang | January 14, 2020 at 09:24
A
Posted by: Turana | January 14, 2020 at 09:24
C
Posted by: Cagri | January 14, 2020 at 10:40
CORRECT ANSWER FROM SIMON:
The best answer is B.
Here's why:
Answer A is too general. 'Challenges' could mean anything, and the passage is specifically about work.
Answer B is good because the passage is about work in the 2020s, and "how to succeed" is also mentioned e.g. Do you have what it takes to be competitive?... flourish in the next decade.
Answer C doesn't mention the 2020s, which is a key theme in the passage. Also, the skills aren't mentioned yet - they are probably described in the rest of the passage, but we can only use what we have.
Posted by: Simon | January 14, 2020 at 11:29
C
Posted by: Kari | January 16, 2020 at 04:46
Thank you for correct answer.
Posted by: Yamone | January 16, 2020 at 17:01
B
Posted by: Sajan | January 16, 2020 at 20:41
as my understanding, it seems like if the paragraph is consisted all ideas, and has a few question. Then the headline should be a question as well? (I was thinking the headline A is the right anwser)
Posted by: Cindy | January 22, 2020 at 11:17
I think A is closer than B or C.
As it mentioned ‘the next decade will pose challenges for employees...’
The word ‘competitive ‘ is also similar to ‘challenge’?
Thank you!
Posted by: shally | February 06, 2020 at 19:15
Dear Siomon. Firstly i also think that, Answer c will be correct but when read through again that
time, i think, number -c is not correct answer. correct answer is B. For the reason that answer is specify the what we have to do and why?
Posted by: Nazmul Haque | April 30, 2020 at 18:53
Hi Mr. Simon
looking into the choices,
I'll pick letter B, As It defines the goal well,
however Letter A is quit similar to letter be but it has doesn't illustrate the goal perfectly,
Letter C is way far from the correct Answer,
Sincerely,
Posted by: xx | May 09, 2020 at 17:47
Hello Simon, thanks for question.
As you say true answer is B but there is nothing related with "succeed" in passage.
Doesn't C more relevant since all topic is about skills etc.
Posted by: mert | May 19, 2020 at 21:38
Hi Simon,
I agree that A is too general, however B and C are both equally applicable and relatable as the passage's heading.
Firstly, the 2020s is only mentioned once in the passage so that hardly qualifies as key theme of the passage, but more like a convenient example as we're all currently in the beginning of the 2020s, and secondly the passage ends with a question, so it's only natural for the readers to assume that this is a part of a longer body of work and the essential skills will be further detailed later. Indeed, I think most upper-intermediate students who consistently read much longer passages will instantly assume it is only a preamble of a longer essay and will deviate towards C rather than B.
Would love to hear your opinion on this.
Posted by: Rizky | July 02, 2020 at 11:25
B
Posted by: minh | July 08, 2020 at 14:45
Answer: C
A- "the next decade will pose challenges "; "by the end of the 2020s that will look very different" => 2020s only "are changing ", next decade is a actual challenge.
B- " some skills will not be relevant" and what you should do => do not clearly show meaning "to success"
C- is the answer, because of above explanations (2020s only "are changing " + " some skills will not be relevant" and what you should do )
Posted by: Sam | October 08, 2020 at 15:31