Read the following passage about the power of images and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 31 to 40.
[I] On Sunday afternoon, food delivery rider Jim Adams, 18, was rushed to hospital with a suspected broken leg. [II] He’d been struck by a car while riding his bike. [III] Jim, like many young adults, is a gig worker and was delivering an order when the accident happened. [IV]
A ‘gig’ is a paid piece of work that people do, especially if they are self-employed. Unlike regular employees, gig workers do not have benefits such as paid sick leave and a minimum wage. They have no job security, so their workload, and therefore their pay, is unpredictable. This makes budgeting impossible and means that gig workers can be exploited – when there are bills to pay, any job for any fee will do.
You might think such work conditions would put people off, but it’s estimated that almost 25 percent of American workers are now employed in the gig economy and this is expected to rise. It’s difficult to wrap your head around such a statistic. So what’s the attraction? Well, there are plenty of people like Jim – a university student – whose circumstances don’t allow them to work normal hours. They’re not happy about their lack of rights, but they have no choice but to do this kind of job. Equally, there are students who choose gig work because of the freedom it gives them to make their own decisions about when to wake up, when to work and how much work to take on. For them, gig work is a great solution.
So is gig work worth it for young people? Well, it’s convenient for students trying to balance work and study. It also helps to develop self-discipline and a work ethic which will stand them in good stead later in life. But there’s a danger that, over time, the gig economy will normalize casual work and employment benefits will then become a thing of the past. And if you’re injured on the job, like Jim was bad luck… help won’t be at hand. You’ll be on your own.
(Adapted from Discovery 12 Workbook)
Question 31: Which of the following best summarises the passage?
A. Gig work offers flexibility and freedom attractive to many workers but raises concerns about instability, exploitation, and a lack of employment benefits, leaving individuals unsupported in emergencies.
B. Many workers choose gig employment primarily for its financial benefits despite unpredictable incomes, limited employment protections, and challenges related to long-term financial planning.
C. The growth of the gig economy highlights a trend toward flexible and dependable work favored by many despite significant drawbacks, including inadequate rights, job security, and vulnerability to exploitation.
D. Gig work ensures workers have stable incomes, comprehensive job security, and sufficient employment benefits, enabling individuals to work independently while remaining fully protected.
