Question

【題目】Four ways the increasingly mobile workforce is transforming office design

As more and more office employees start working from home full-time or only come into work on certain days of the week, it no longer makes sense for employers to keep the office in the old fashion.【1】 So, be ready to say goodbye to the days of cubicles (隔間) and fixed desk stations and welcome the following changes in modern offices.

Including more resting spaces and leisure areas

While some people tend to work more productively in traditional desk-and-chair environment, others feel better when they’re working from a sofa or bean-bag chair. 【2】 These could range from joined tables for those who want to work in a more relaxed manner and socialize with co-workers, to sound-proof spaces for those who prefer to work alone or in silence.

【3】

Traditional board rooms and conference rooms with tables big enough to host 20 people also fall victim to the remote workforce movement. In the new mobile climate, many employees are starting to come into the physical office merely for face-to-face meetings with co-workers or to bring in clients for presentations. This means that employees are specifically coming into the office for access to these meeting rooms, so these rooms should be sized accordingly.

Using high-tech methods that narrow the gap between office and home

【4】 To do this, some offices are using VoIP phones, which make phone calls through the internet rather than regular landlines, to help employees around the world appear as though they’re calling from the office.

Creating smaller carbon footprint

There are huge benefits, both financially and environmentally, to offices employing more mote workers. Fewer people in the office equal less needed space. 【5】 For employees, the ability to work remotely means an erased commute, which in turn will reduce air pollution and help create a smaller carbon footprint.

A. Building smaller conference rooms.

B. Providing more places for face-to-face communication.

C. In this way, employees can find the spot that best suits them on a given day.

D. Instead, offices are transforming in order to better serve employees floating in and out.

E. Huge amount of money can be saved for employers by using less energy and water, lowering their utility bills.

F. That’s why offices are creating a new mixture of furniture zones that offer both relaxing and traditional seating options.

G. With more employees working from home, it’s critical to have the proper technology to connect people together easily.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】D

【2】F

【3】A

【4】G

【5】E

【解析】

本文是說明文。文章介紹現(xiàn)代辦公室發(fā)展的四個趨勢。

【1】根據(jù)上文As more and more office employees start working from home full-time or only come into work on certain days of the week, it no longer makes sense for employers to keep the office in the old fashion.（隨著越來越多的辦公室職員開始全職在家工作，或者只在一周中的特定幾天上班，雇主們不再有必要保持辦公室的老樣子）可知，隨著越來越多的辦公室職員工作方式的轉變，辦公室需要進行改變了。由此可知，D項Instead, offices are transforming in order to better serve employees floating in and out.（相反，為了更好地服務于進出的員工，辦公室正在進行變革）符合文意。故選D。

【2】根據(jù)上文While some people tend to work more productively in traditional desk-and-chair environment, others feel better when they’re working from a sofa or bean-bag chair.（雖然有些人在傳統(tǒng)的辦公環(huán)境中工作效率更高，但有些人在沙發(fā)或豆袋椅上工作時感覺更好）可知，人們需要的工作環(huán)境不同。由此可知，F項That’s why offices are creating a new mixture of furniture zones that offer both relaxing and traditional seating options.（這就是為什么辦公室正在創(chuàng)造一個新的混合家具區(qū)，提供放松和傳統(tǒng)的座位選擇）符合文意。故選F。

【3】根據(jù)下文This means that employees are specifically coming into the office for access to these meeting rooms, so these rooms should be sized accordingly.（這意味著員工是專門為進入這些會議室而進入辦公室的，因此這些會議室的大小應該相應調整）可知，會議室的大小應該相應調整，很多情況下不再需要大的辦公室了。由此可知，A項Building smaller conference rooms.（建造更小的會議室）符合文意。故選A。

【4】根據(jù)下文To do this, some offices are using VoIP phones, which make phone calls through the internet rather than regular landlines, to help employees around the world appear as though they’re calling from the office.（為了做到這一點，一些辦公室正在使用VoIP電話，通過互聯(lián)網(wǎng)而不是常規(guī)的固定電話來打電話，以幫助世界各地的員工看起來好像他們是在辦公室打電話）可知，高科技手段是非常重要。由此可知，G項With more employees working from home, it’s critical to have the proper technology to connect people together easily.（隨著越來越多的員工在家辦公，擁有合適的技術來方便地將人們聯(lián)系在一起是至關重要的）符合文意。故選G。

【5】根據(jù)下文For employees, the ability to work remotely means an erased commute, which in turn will reduce air pollution and help create a smaller carbon footprint.（對雇員來說，遠程工作意味著消除通勤，從而減少空氣污染，幫助減少碳足跡）可知，此處在講這樣做會給雇主和雇員帶來很多好處。由此可知，E項Huge amount of money can be saved for employers by using less energy and water, lowering their utility bills.（通過減少能源和水的使用，可以為雇主節(jié)省大量的錢，降低他們的水電費）符合文意。故選E。

七選五題型主要考查上下文的理解與推斷，雖然文章整體難度一般低于閱讀理解，但是卻給很多同學造成了很大的心理障礙。七個選項中選五個，比四個選項中選一個，感覺干擾性更大，很大同學在做這個題目時，總有一種眼花繚亂、心煩氣躁的感覺，致使往往正確率不高。在這里提醒同學們，首先要克服心理障礙，同時要注意方式方法。其次，注意設空前后的句子，因為這些句子之間是順承和聯(lián)系的，所有一定要聯(lián)系和理解上下文的語境。例如第5小題，根據(jù)下文For employees, the ability to work remotely means an erased commute, which in turn will reduce air pollution and help create a smaller carbon footprint.（對雇員來說，遠程工作意味著消除通勤，從而減少空氣污染，幫助減少碳足跡）可知，此處在講這樣做會給雇主和雇員帶來很多好處。由此可知，E項Huge amount of money can be saved for employers by using less energy and water, lowering their utility bills.（通過減少能源和水的使用，可以為雇主節(jié)省大量的錢，降低他們的水電費）符合文意。故選E。