阅读理解
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 (加深)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 (高效的), 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.
答案: A
B
C