单选题 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 varied jobs lead to greater productivity? There is evidence to suggest that while variety certainly makes the workers" life more enjoyable, it does not actually make them work harder. As far as increasing productivity is concerned, then variety is not an important factor.
Other experts feel that giving the workers freedom to do their jobs in their 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 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 worker contribution an important factor, 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 important. But perhaps they want more 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 we succeed in making their jobs more interesting, they will neither want more, nor will shorter working hours be so important to them.
单选题 Which of these possible factors leading to greater productivity is NOT true?
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】[解析] 从文中内容可知,D项(延长工作时间)在第三段最后提到,但文中提到的是缩短工作时间,与D项相反,因此D项为正确答案。
单选题 Why do workers want more money?
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】[解析] 本题的依据句是第三段的第三句“But perhaps they want more only because the work they do is so boring(工人们想得到更多的报酬也许正是因为他们的工作太单调)”,因此A项为正确答案。
单选题 The last sentence in this passage means that if we succeed in making workers" jobs more interesting ______.
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】[解析] 本题的依据句是“Perhaps if we succeed in making their jobs more interesting, they will neither want more, nor will shorter working hours be so important to them(或许如果我们能够让他们的工作更加有趣,他们不仅不会要更多的薪水,而且缩短工作时间对他们也不是那么重要了)”,从中可知D项为正确答案。短语neither...nor的意思是“既不……也不……”。
单选题 In this passage, the author tells us ______.
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】[解析] 综观全文,这是一篇讨论如何使工人更加有效地工作的文章,因此A项为正确答案。B项明显是错误的。而C和D两项仅是文章部分段落的中心思想,不是全文的中心思想。