Question

In recent years many countries have been faced with the problem of how to make their workers more productive. Some experts believe that the answer is to make jobs more varied. Do more varied jobs lead to greater productivity? There is something to suggest that while variety certainly makes the worker's life more enjoyable, it does not make him work harder. So variety is not important.

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 very little that can be done to achieve this.

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 said to be experimenting with having many small production lines rather than a large one, so that each worker contributes more to the production of the cars on his line. It would seem then that the degree of worker contribution is important

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 so boring. Money just lets them enjoy their spare time more. A similar argument may explain demands for shorter working hours. Perhaps if companies succeed in making workers' jobs more interesting, they will neither want more money, nor will shorter working hours be so important to them.

1. Which of the following things will not increase productivity?

A. Making jobs more varied.

B. Longer working hours.

C. Giving workers the freedom to do his jobs in their own way.

D. Increasing the workers' contribution to production.

2. The last sentence in this passage means that if companies manage to make workers' jobs more interesting, _________.

A. they will want more money

B. they will demand shorter working hours

C. more money and shorter working hours are important

D. more money and shorter working hours will not be so important to them

3. In this passage, the writer tells us _________.

A. how to make the workers more productive

B. possible factors leading to greater productivity

C. more money leads to greater productivity

D. how to make workers' jobs more interesting

4. The writer of this passage is probably a _____________.

A. teacher                  B. worker                        C. manager                D. physics

Answer 1

BDBC