READING: There has been a lot of negativity recently about the idea of working for a multinational conglomerate, with the stereotype of huge, airless, open-plan offices, a 24/7 culture where employees are expected to put their careers ahead of their families and their health, and a rat-race mentality where you only scramble to the top of the heap by putting your co-workers down. Of course, such unpleasant situations are regrettably far too common, but I would argue that they are no more a feature of corporate culture than any other model of employment, be it subcontractors on zero-hour contracts, fighting for scraps of work, or start-ups that demand 200% commitment without even a hint of job security or long-term career planning. In contrast to those alternative models, corporations offer employees opportunities that are unavailable elsewhere, such as rapid career development, world-class training and support, and a professional system for dealing with discipline and grievance issues. `1.` What is the main argument of the passage? A. Multinational conglomerates are the only type of employer that offers opportunities for rapid career development and world-class training. B. Working for a multinational conglomerate is neither more pleasant nor more unpleasant than working for any other type of employer. C. The stereotype of a multinational conglomerate as a soulless and demanding employer is often true. D. The benefits of working for a multinational conglomerate outweigh the drawbacks. `2.` The writer uses the phrase "regrettably far too common" to infer that A. there are a lot of unpleasant working environments in the world. B. most people who work for multinational conglomerates are unhappy. C. most employers do not offer their employees opportunities for career development and training. D. most multinational conglomerates have a rat-race mentality. `3.` According to the last sentence, the phrase "a hint of job security or long-term career planning" is used to: A. emphasize the benefits of working for a multinational conglomerate. B. suggest that start-ups are not a viable option for long-term employment. C. highlight the importance of job security and long-term career planning. D. criticize the lack of opportunities for career development and training in start-ups.