Guatemalan Textile Industry: Working Conditions Investigation

CNN conducted a month-long investigation into the __________ industry in Guatemala, focusing on working conditions in garment factories called __________.

• textile, maquilas

• coffee, fincas

• banana, plantaciones

• sugar, ingenios

Answer explanation

CNN's investigation focused on the textile industry in Guatemala, specifically examining the working conditions in garment factories known as maquilas, which are key to the country's economy.

Majority of workers are __________.

• women

• children

• men

• robots

Answer explanation

The majority of workers are women, reflecting trends in workforce participation where women have increasingly taken on roles across various sectors, surpassing men in numbers in many areas.

Typical daily wage is less than __________ per day.

• $3

• $10

• $20

• $50

Answer explanation

The typical daily wage is often very low in many regions, and $3 is a common threshold indicating extreme poverty. Therefore, the correct answer is $3, as it is less than the other options provided.

Must produce approximately __________ t-shirts every minute.

• 18

• 5

• 50

• 100

Answer explanation

To meet production demands, approximately 18 t-shirts must be produced every minute. This figure balances efficiency and output, making it the correct choice compared to the other options.

Only __________ out of 800 factories tolerate workers' unions.

• 5

• 50

• 100

• 200

Answer explanation

Only 5 out of 800 factories tolerate workers' unions, indicating a very low acceptance rate. The other options (50, 100, 200) are significantly higher and do not reflect the correct statistic.

Many factories are owned by __________ companies.

• foreign

• local

• private

• public

Answer explanation

Many factories are owned by foreign companies, as they often invest in different countries for production. This choice reflects the global nature of manufacturing, where foreign investment plays a significant role.

Serve as part of a complex __________ chain.

• supply

• train

• music

• color

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'supply' because it fits the context of a 'chain' that involves the flow of goods and services. 'Train', 'music', and 'color' do not relate to a chain in this context.

Promised to __________ the situation.

• improve

• ignore

• delay

• complicate

Answer explanation

The phrase 'promised to' indicates a commitment to make something better. 'Improve' is the only choice that aligns with this intention, while 'ignore', 'delay', and 'complicate' suggest negative or neutral actions.

Some workers face: Denied __________ benefits.

• health

• vacation

• transportation

• housing

Answer explanation

Workers often face denial of health benefits, which are crucial for their well-being. Unlike vacation, transportation, or housing benefits, health benefits are essential for medical care and support.

Some workers face: Potential __________ for joining unions.

• retaliation

• promotion

• bonus

• recognition

Answer explanation

Some workers face potential retaliation for joining unions, as employers may respond negatively to union activities. This makes 'retaliation' the correct choice, while 'promotion', 'bonus', and 'recognition' do not fit this context.