题目内容
阅读理解。
Among rich countries, people in the United States work the longest hours. They work much longer than
in Europe. This difference is quite surprising because productivity per hour worked is the same in the United
States as it is in France, Spain and Germany, and it is growing at a similar speed.
In most countries and at most times in history, as people have become richer they have chosen to work
less. In other words they have decided to "spend" a part of their extra income on a fuller personal life. Over
the last fifty years Europeans have continued this pattern, and hours of work have fallen sharply. But not in
the United States. We do not fully know why this is. One reason may be more satisfying work, or less
satisfying personal lives.
Longer hours do of course increase the GDP (国内生产总值). So the United States has produced more
per worker than, say, France. The United States also has more of its people at work, while in France many
more mothers and older workers have decided to stay at home. The overall result is that American GDP per
head is 40% higher than in France, even though productivity per hour worked is the same.
It is not clear which of the two situations is better. As we have seen, work has to be compared with other
values like family life, which often get lost in interest. It is too early to explain the different trends (趋势) in
happiness over time in different countries. But it is a disappointing idea that in the United States happiness has
made no progress since 1975, while it has risen in Europe. Could this have anything to do with trends in the
work-life balance (平衡)?
in Europe. This difference is quite surprising because productivity per hour worked is the same in the United
States as it is in France, Spain and Germany, and it is growing at a similar speed.
In most countries and at most times in history, as people have become richer they have chosen to work
less. In other words they have decided to "spend" a part of their extra income on a fuller personal life. Over
the last fifty years Europeans have continued this pattern, and hours of work have fallen sharply. But not in
the United States. We do not fully know why this is. One reason may be more satisfying work, or less
satisfying personal lives.
Longer hours do of course increase the GDP (国内生产总值). So the United States has produced more
per worker than, say, France. The United States also has more of its people at work, while in France many
more mothers and older workers have decided to stay at home. The overall result is that American GDP per
head is 40% higher than in France, even though productivity per hour worked is the same.
It is not clear which of the two situations is better. As we have seen, work has to be compared with other
values like family life, which often get lost in interest. It is too early to explain the different trends (趋势) in
happiness over time in different countries. But it is a disappointing idea that in the United States happiness has
made no progress since 1975, while it has risen in Europe. Could this have anything to do with trends in the
work-life balance (平衡)?
1. From the text we know that the author _____.
A. believes that longer working hours is better
B. prefers shorter working hours to longer ones
C. says nothing certain about which pattern is better
D. thinks neither of the patterns is good
B. prefers shorter working hours to longer ones
C. says nothing certain about which pattern is better
D. thinks neither of the patterns is good
2. Which of the following countries has more of its people at work?
A. Spain
B. France
C. Germany
D. America.
B. France
C. Germany
D. America.
3. In the last paragraph, the underlined word "which"refers to _____.
A. family life
B. situations
C. other values
D. trends
B. situations
C. other values
D. trends
4. What message can we get from the text?
A. The GDP of Europe is higher than that of America.
B. Two possible reasons are given for working longer hours in the US.
C. People all over the world choose to work less when they are richer.
D. Americans are happier than Europeans.
B. Two possible reasons are given for working longer hours in the US.
C. People all over the world choose to work less when they are richer.
D. Americans are happier than Europeans.
5. Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
A. Americans and Europeans
B. Staying at Home
C. Work and Productivity
D. Work and Happiness
B. Staying at Home
C. Work and Productivity
D. Work and Happiness
1-5: CDBDB
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I am an English teacher, with over 15 years' experience of teaching in London. I started
the DailyStep audio email lesson service because I noticed that when I started their English
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writing skills. In my view, this is because education in school does not focus enough on
communication skills. DailyStep is designed to remedy this situation by offering more practice
in speaking, listening and vocabulary.
I am crazy about the English language and it is a real pleasure for me to see the
development of my students' language skills.
I majored in (以….为专业)law at university and then worked for three years as a
researcher and journalist for Sky television and BBC magazines. I decided to change to
English teaching because of my love of the English language and my wish to move into more
satisfying work.
Then I qualified (取得资格)as an English teacher in 1992. My first teaching job was at
a language school in Covent Garden, London, where I taught examination classes and
Business English . After two years, I moved to the Nippon Club where I taught General
English and Business English courses for 9 years. I also developed a unique course called
British Society & Culture, covering all areas of British life, such as politics, law, e
ducation & music. At the same time, taught Business, Financial& Law English in the financial
centre of London. My students included staff (工作人员)from banks and law firms.
As well as running the DailyStep website, I also provide in-company English speech
training for companies in London. If you have an important speech coming up and would like
some information about how I can help you, please email me at jane@dailystep.com.
the DailyStep audio email lesson service because I noticed that when I started their English
course, my students' speaking and listening skills were much weaker than their reading and
writing skills. In my view, this is because education in school does not focus enough on
communication skills. DailyStep is designed to remedy this situation by offering more practice
in speaking, listening and vocabulary.
I am crazy about the English language and it is a real pleasure for me to see the
development of my students' language skills.
I majored in (以….为专业)law at university and then worked for three years as a
researcher and journalist for Sky television and BBC magazines. I decided to change to
English teaching because of my love of the English language and my wish to move into more
satisfying work.
Then I qualified (取得资格)as an English teacher in 1992. My first teaching job was at
a language school in Covent Garden, London, where I taught examination classes and
Business English . After two years, I moved to the Nippon Club where I taught General
English and Business English courses for 9 years. I also developed a unique course called
British Society & Culture, covering all areas of British life, such as politics, law, e
ducation & music. At the same time, taught Business, Financial& Law English in the financial
centre of London. My students included staff (工作人员)from banks and law firms.
As well as running the DailyStep website, I also provide in-company English speech
training for companies in London. If you have an important speech coming up and would like
some information about how I can help you, please email me at jane@dailystep.com.
1.DailyStep audio email lesson service __________
A. is an in-company service
B. teaches English communication skills
C. is designed for working people
D. provides English training for free
B. teaches English communication skills
C. is designed for working people
D. provides English training for free
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A. report
B. judge
C. improve
D. practise
B. judge
C. improve
D. practise
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a. The author qualified as an English teacher
b. The author taught at a language school in Covent Garden
c. The author worked as a journalist for Sky television
d. The author taught in the Noppon Club.
A. cabd
B. cadb
C. cbad
D. cdab
b. The author taught at a language school in Covent Garden
c. The author worked as a journalist for Sky television
d. The author taught in the Noppon Club.
A. cabd
B. cadb
C. cbad
D. cdab
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A. the author enjoys teaching English
B. all of the author's students are adults
C. the author majored in English at university
D. the author knows little about how to make a speech
B. all of the author's students are adults
C. the author majored in English at university
D. the author knows little about how to make a speech