Question

    Digital technology—email and smart phones especially—have vastly improved workers' ability to be productive outside of a traditional office. Even so, most white-collar work still happens in an office. One reason is that, according to findings of a new survey of office workers conducted by Wakefield Research for the IT company Citrix, most bosses are doubtful about remote working. Half of the workers say their boss doesn't accept it, and only 35 percent say it's tolerated.

Skeptical bosses will likely have their doubts reinforced by the same survey, which shows that 43 percent of workers say they've watched TV or a movie while “working” remotely, while 35 percent have done housework, and 28 percent have cooked dinner.

It is true, however, that working at home makes people much more efficient, because it allows workers to take care of annoying housework while still getting their jobs done. It's much faster, for example, to shop for groceries at a quarter to three than to stand in line during the after-work rush.

The fact that such practices remain officially unaccepted reflects how far we haven't come as a society from the days when we expected every full-time worker to be supported by a full-time homemaker.

More broadly the Wakefield survey suggests that employers may be missing a low-cost way to give workers something of value. Sixty-four percent of those survey participants who haven't worked remotely would rather give up some bonus in order to get even one day a week working from home. Under such circumstances, smart firms need to find ways to let their employees have enough flexibility to manage their time efficiently.

1.What does digital technology contribute to?

A.Promoting production． B.Hiring more white-collar workers．

C.Conducting a new research． D.Removing bosses' doubt．

2.What seems to be most workers' attitude toward remote working?

A.Doubtful. B.Favorable.

C.Reserved. D.Disapproving.

3.What does the author suggest smart firms do?

A.Shorten their office hours. B.Give employees a pay raise.

C.Adopt flexible work patterns. D.Reduce their staff’s workload.

Answer

1.A

2.B

3.C

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。本文介绍数字技术——电子邮件和智能手机大大提高了工人们的工作能力，使的他们可以在家办公。但老板们害怕失去对公认的控制，并不太赞成在家办公。但作者建议高科技可以采取灵活的工作模式。

1.

细节理解题。根据第一段中Digital technology—email and smart phones especially—have vastly improved workers' ability to be productive outside of a traditional office.可知数字技术——尤其是电子邮件和智能手机——极大地提高了员工在传统办公室之外的工作效率。由此可知，数字技术的贡献是可以促进生产。故选A。

2.

推理判断题。根据最后一段中Sixty-four percent of those survey participants who haven't worked remotely would rather give up some bonus in order to get even one day a week working from home.可知64%没有远程工作的受访者宁愿放弃一些奖金，也愿意每周有一天在家工作。由此可推知，大多数员工对远程工作的态度是支持的。故选B。

3.

推理判断题。根据最后一段中Under such circumstances, smart firms need to find ways to let their employees have enough flexibility to manage their time efficiently.可知在这种情况下，聪明的公司需要找到方法让他们的员工有足够的灵活性来有效地管理他们的时间。由此可推知，作者建议聪明的公司采取灵活的工作模式。故选C。