Passage: Youth unemployment remains a pressing challenge, with many graduates struggling to find jobs that match their qualifications. Employers often cite a mismatch between academic curricula and the practical skills needed in the modern job market. Vocational training programs and internships are increasingly seen as ways to bridge this gap, though such opportunities remain limited relative to the number of job seekers. Question: In the passage, the word ‘bridge’ (as used with ‘this gap’) most nearly means:

Question

Passage: Youth unemployment remains a pressing challenge, with many graduates struggling to find jobs that match their qualifications. Employers often cite a mismatch between academic curricula and the practical skills needed in the modern job market. Vocational training programs and internships are increasingly seen as ways to bridge this gap, though such opportunities remain limited relative to the number of job seekers. Question: In the passage, the word &#8216;bridge&#8217; (as used with &#8216;this gap&#8217;) most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

To connect or close a divide. 'Bridge this gap' is used figuratively to mean closing the skills gap, not building a physical structure

Explanation