In recent years many countries of the world 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 various jobs lead to greater productivity?There is evidence to suggest that while variety certainly makes the worker’s life more enjoyable, it does not 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, and there is no doubt that this is true.The problem is that this kind of freedom cannot easily be given in the modern factory with its complicated machinery which must be used in a fixed way.Thus while freedom of choice may be important, there is usually very little that can be done to create it.
Another very important consideration is how each worker contributes to the product he is making.In most factories the worker sees only one part of the product.Some car factories are now experimenting with having many small production lines rather than one large one, so that each worker contributes more to the production of the cars on his line.It would seem that not only is degree of the worker contribution an important factor, therefore, but it is also one we can do something about.
To what extent does more money lead to greater productivity?The workers themselves certainly think this is important.But perhaps they want more money only because the work they do is 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)
Which of the following is the best way to make workers work harder according to the author?________.
[ ]
A.
Increasing their pay
B.
Giving them more spare time
C.
Making the work itself meaningful
D.
Replacing large production lines with small ones
(2)
The reason why a worker cannot have freedom in doing the job in his own way is that ________.
[ ]
A.
the machinery is so complex that it should be fixed
B.
the production lines are too large in modern factories
C.
the bosses can create very little freedom of choices for workers
D.
the machines must be operated strictly according to instructions and rules
(3)
For a worker on an assembly line(生产线)in a car factory, the job is not enjoyable because ________.
[ ]
A.
he can only make a part of a car
B.
he does not know what he is doing
C.
his life in spare time is more interesting
D.
the importance of his job is not clear to him
(4)
In the article, the word “ productivity ” means ________.
Michael Jackson has been on the road of performing since he was five years old.For anyone who wants to know, the road to fame and fortune is a long, hard one to travel.
Michael remembers those early years when he was young.“My father was a machine operator.”he explained,“and he worked at a steel plant.My mother worked at Sears, a big department store.But they were both musicians.”
Mr.Jackson realized that his sons had a lot of talent(才能),and he knew he could train them to become fine musicians.In those days there were plenty of music groups and some of them were very good.He knew if his sons were to stand out, they would have to be the best.
Practice makes perfect.And the Jackson boys practised! Gradually the group took shape.When the Jacksons took their first professional jobs, their total pay was only five dollars!They kept on working.They played at parties.They entered any bigger contests.
They worked at clubs.Then word of this group began to get around.All of a sudden, the Jackson Five became popular in the country:their first album(歌曲集)sold a million copies!Michael, 11 years old then, was the star.It just didn't seem possible that so much talent could come from such a young performer.
Then Michael got a chance to do some solo(独唱)songs.For the following years Michael has always been on the top.One million records of his were sold in New Zealand, which has only a total population of three million!
When Michael was eighteen, he entered another field of his career(生涯):acting.“I plan to star in movies,”he told his friends,“but of course, my first love is music.”
Michael wrote a lot of his own songs.“Songs came about in the strangest ways,”he said.“I'll just wake up from sleeping and there is a whole song coming into my head.And then I put it down on the paper.”Whatever he is doing, it works!
Still, with all his success, Michael manages to keep his head calm.“I just do a different job from other people,”he said,“but it doesn't make me think I'm better than other people.”
To be quite honest, his fans just love to hear and watch him!
(1)
Michael Jackson began performing with ________.
[ ]
A.
his father
B.
his mother
C.
his parents
D.
his brothers
(2)
Mr.Jackson knew only when his sons were the best musicians could they ________.
[ ]
A.
make a lot of money
B.
go out of their hometown
C.
be famous
D.
support themselves
(3)
Which of the following is not mentioned in this passage?
[ ]
A.
When the group began to go around t he world.
B.
The songs sung by this group were very popular.
C.
The Jacksons shocked the country.
D.
People could hardly believe that young Michael was so talented.
(4)
Michael Jackson wants to be ________.
[ ]
A.
a solo singer and musician rather than a film star and actor
B.
not only a film star and actor but a solo singer and musician
C.
a solo singer as well as a musician
D.
a film star as well as an actor
(5)
Michael means that he does something different from others, ________.
[ ]
A.
so he is a different from others
B.
so he is better than others
C.
still he is not better than others
D.
he is as well as others
阅读理解
In recent years many countries of the world 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 various jobs lead to greater productivity?There is evidence to suggest that while variety certainly makes the worker’s life more enjoyable, it does not 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, and there is no doubt that this is true.The problem is that this kind of freedom cannot easily be given in the modern factory with its complicated machinery, which must be used in a fixed way.Thus while freedom of choice may be important, there is usually very little that can be done to create it.
Another very important consideration is how each worker contributes to the product he is making.In most factories the worker sees only one part of the product.Some car factories are now experimenting with having many small production lines rather than one large one, so that each worker contributes more to the production of cars on his line.It would seem that not only is degree of the worker contribution an important factor, therefore, but it is also one we can do something about.
To what extent does more money lead to greater productivity?The workers themselves certainly think this is important.But perhaps they want more money only because the work they do is 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)
Which of the following is the best way to make workers work harder according to the author?
[ ]
A.
Making the work itself meaningful.
B.
Giving them more spare time.
C.
Increasing their pay.
D.
Replacing large production lines with small ones.
(2)
The reason why a worker cannot have freedom in doing the job in his own way is that ________.
[ ]
A.
the machinery is so complex that it should be fixed
B.
the production lines are too large in modern factories
C.
the machines must be operated strictly according to instructions and rules
D.
the bosses can create very little freedom of choices for workers
(3)
For a worker on an assembly line in a car factory, the job is not enjoyable because ________.
[ ]
A.
he can only make a part of a car
B.
he does not know what he is doing
C.
his life in spare time is more interesting
D.
the importance of his job is not clear to him
(4)
In the article, the word“productivity”means ________.