13. The passage implies that the decision to implement a 35-hour workweek in France was based on which of the following assumptions?
Answer: B
Reducing the hours of existing workers will increase the number of available jobs.
The passage suggests that the decision to implement a 35-hour workweek in France was based on the assumption that reducing the hours of existing workers could lead to an increase in employment opportunities. This aligns with the focus on ameliorating unemployment through workweek reductions.
A) Firms will not reduce the wages of the workers who move to a reduced workweek.
While this option addresses wage stability, the extract does not imply that firms will maintain wages if hours are reduced. Instead, the focus is on the broader implications of reducing work hours for employment, making this option incorrect.
B) Reducing the hours of existing workers will increase the number of available jobs.
This option directly reflects the passage's emphasis on the intention behind the 35-hour workweek decision, which aims to alleviate unemployment by redistributing work among more workers, thereby increasing job availability.
C) Unemployment is more readily subject to amelioration than are other social problems.
The passage does not make a comparative statement regarding unemployment and other social issues. Therefore, while unemployment is a focus, this option does not capture the specific rationale behind the 35-hour workweek decision.
D) A reduction in the workweek is a more effective means of lowering per-unit labor costs than is an increase in wages.
This option suggests a direct economic comparison between workweek reductions and wage increases. However, the passage indicates that while both strategies can lower labor costs, it does not assert that one is more effective than the other, making this option incorrect.
E) Reducing the workweek will have a number of social and economic benefits, of which a reduction in unemployment is the most important.
Although the passage mentions various benefits of a reduced workweek, it does not assert that unemployment is the most important among them. Thus, this option is misleading in its implication.
Conclusion
The assumption behind the implementation of the 35-hour workweek in France is best captured by Option B, which highlights the link between reduced working hours and increased job availability. Other options either misinterpret the passage's implications or focus on unrelated aspects, underscoring why B is the most accurate interpretation of the text.