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. 1.

   Which of the following is the best way to make workers work harder according to the author?

   1. A.
      Increasing their pay.
   2. B.
      Giving them more spare time.
   3. C.
      Making the work itself meaningful.
   4. D.
      Replacing large production lines with small ones.
2. 2.

   The reason why a worker cannot have freedom in doing the job in his own way is that _______.

   1. A.
      the machinery is so complex that it should be fixed
   2. B.
      the production lines are too large in modern factories
   3. C.
      the bosses can create very little freedom of choices for workers
   4. D.
      the machines must be operated strictly according to instructions and rules
3. 3.

   For a worker on an assembly line in a car factory, the job is not enjoyable because _______.

   1. A.
      he can only make a part of a car
   2. B.
      he does not know what he is doing
   3. C.
      his life in spare time is more interesting
   4. D.
      the importance of his job is not clear to him
4. 4.

   In the article, the word “productivity” means _______.

   1. A.
      the activity of producing something
   2. B.
      the production volume in a time unit
   3. C.
      the plan and the method of production
   4. D.
      both the quantity and quality of a product
5. 5.

   The best title for this passage may be _______.

   1. A.
      Problems of Modern Workers
   2. B.
      Making Jobs More Interesting
   3. C.
      Pushing Workers to Produce More
   4. D.
      How to Improve Labor Conditions

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.

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.

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

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

In the article, the word “productivity” means _______.

A. the activity of producing something

B. the production volume in a time unit

C. the plan and the method of production

D. both the quantity and quality of a product

The best title for this passage may be _______.

A. Problems of Modern Workers

B. Making Jobs More Interesting

C. Pushing Workers to Produce More

D. How to Improve Labor Conditions