Question

In recent years many countries have been faced with the problem of how to make their workers more productive. Some experts claim the answer is to make jobs more varied. But do more varied jobs lead to greater productivity? There is evidence to suggest that while variety certainly makes the worker's life more enjoyable, it doesn't actually make him work harder. As far as increasing productivity is concerned, then, variety is not an important factor.

Other experts feel that giving the worker freedom to do his job in his own way is important.  The problem is that this kind of freedom cannot easily be given in the modern factory with its complicated(复杂的) machinery. Thus while freedom of choice may be important, there is usually very little that can be done to create it.

Another important consideration is how much each worker contributes to the product he is making.  In most factories the worker sees only one small part of the product. Some car factories are now experimenting with having many small production lines so that each worker contributes more to the production of the cars on his line. It would seem that not only is degree of worker contribution an important factor, but it is also one we can do something about.

To what degree does more money lead to great productivity? The workers themselves certainly think this is important. But perhaps they want more money only because the work they do is so boring. Money just lets them enjoy their spare time more. A similar argument may explain demands for shorter working hours.  Perhaps if we succeed in making their jobs more interesting, they will neither want more money, nor will shorter working hours be so important to them.

1.According to the author, what advantage do varied jobs bring?

A. They increase productivity enormously.

B. They reduce boredom among workers.

C. They bring out the best in workers.

D. They relieve workers' difficulties.

2.What can we clearly see from the passage?

A. It’s practical to allow more freedom in a modern factory.

B. It's necessary to have a large number of workers.

C. It's important to raise workers’ sense of contribution.

D. It’s difficult to have more production lines.

3.The passage seems to suggest that ________.

A. more money leads to demands for shorter working hours

B. more money does not automatically create higher productivity

C. workers like more money better than more interesting jobs

D. workers expect to have both more money and more interesting jobs

4.What does the passage mainly discuss?

A. How to enrich workers'1ife.

B. How to make workers more productive.

C. How to shorten working hours.

D. How to decrease dullness in a factory.

Answer

1. B

2. C

3. B

4. B

【解析】

这是一篇议论文。文章主要介绍了专家们就如何提高工人劳动生产率的问题所提出的不同观点。

1.细节理解题。答案定位在第一段There is evidence to suggest that while variety certainly makes the worker's life more enjoyable, it doesn't actually make him work harder.可知多样化的工作带来的好处是它们可以在工人中减少厌倦，故选B。

2.细节理解题。答案定位在第三段Another important consideration is how much each worker contributes to the product he is making. 可知从这篇文章中，我们可以清楚地看到提高工人的贡献感很重要，故选C。

3.推理判断题。答案定位在最后一段Money just lets them enjoy their spare time more.（钱只是让他们更多地享受业余时间），可推知更多的钱并不能自动创造更多的生产率，故选B。

4.主旨大意题。答案定位在第一段the problem of how to make their workers more productive(如何使工人的工作更有效)，即如何提高劳动生产率。这是全文的主题句，故选B。