The given sentence is missing in the paragraph below. Decide where it best fits among the options 1, 2, 3, or 4 indicated in the paragraph.
Sentence: Technological advances, once expected to shorten the working week, now primarily serve to intensify the demands of labour.
Paragraph: Sociologists now argue that burnout is no longer a by-product of overwork but a condition of it. (1). Unlike physical exhaustion, burnout reflects not just hours logged but also access to autonomy, favourable workplace conditions - such as flexible schedules - and corporate policies like unlimited leave and remote work. (2). In other words, burnout depends on organizational culture in ways that sheer fatigue currently does not. It's not just the exhaustion itself that is the issue but the erosion of boundaries that once protected it. (3). Work and personal life are linked, but where wages have stagnated and collective bargaining has weakened, digital connectivity - derived from smartphones, laptops and cloud networks - has been weaponized by design. (4).
Sentence: Technological advances, once expected to shorten the working week, now primarily serve to intensify the demands of labour.
Paragraph: Sociologists now argue that burnout is no longer a by-product of overwork but a condition of it. (1). Unlike physical exhaustion, burnout reflects not just hours logged but also access to autonomy, favourable workplace conditions - such as flexible schedules - and corporate policies like unlimited leave and remote work. (2). In other words, burnout depends on organizational culture in ways that sheer fatigue currently does not. It's not just the exhaustion itself that is the issue but the erosion of boundaries that once protected it. (3). Work and personal life are linked, but where wages have stagnated and collective bargaining has weakened, digital connectivity - derived from smartphones, laptops and cloud networks - has been weaponized by design. (4).
Answer and solution
Correct answer: D
Solution
The paragraph argues that burnout is a feature of modern work, shaped by autonomy, institutions and policy, and shows how digital connectivity has been "weaponized by design" while protective boundaries eroded. The sentence states the result of that: technology now intensifies labour rather than shortening the week. It works as the conclusion at blank 4.