单选题 Telecommuting—substituting the computer for the trip to the job—has been hailed as a solution to all kinds of problems related to office work. For workers it promises freedom from the office, less time wasted in traffic, and help with performers on board, minimizes tardiness and absenteeism by eliminating commutes, allows periods of solitude for high-concentration tasks, and provides scheduling flexibility. In some areas, such as Southern California and Seattle, Washington, local governments are encouraging companies to start telecommuting programs in order to reduce rush-hour congestion and improve air quality. But these benefits do not come easily. Making a telecommuting program work requires careful planning and an understanding of the differences between telecommuting realities and popular images. Many workers are seduced by rosy illusions of life as a telecommuter. A computer programmer from New York City moves to the tranquil Adirondack Mountains and stays in contact with her office via computer. A manager comes into his office three days a week and works at home the other two. An accountant stays home to care for her sick child; she hooks up her telephone modem connections and does office work between calls to the doctor. These are powerful images, but they are a limited reflection of reality. Telecommuting workers soon learn that it is almost impossible to concentrate on work and care for a young child at the same time. Before a certain age, young children cannot recognize much less respect, the necessary boundaries between work and family. Additional child support is necessary if the parent is to get any work done. Management, too, must separate the myth from the reality. Although the media has paid a great deal of attention to telecommuting, in most cases it is the employee's situation, not the availability of technology, which precipitates a telecommuting arrangement. That is partly why, despite the widespread press coverage, the number of companies with work-at-home programs or policy guidelines remains small.

单选题 What is the main subject of the passage?

A. Business management policies
B. Driving to work
C. Extending the workplace by means of computers
D. Computers for child-care purposes

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】文章开宗明义“Telecommuting--substituting…related to office work.”因此，C项为正确答案。

单选题 Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a problem for office employees?

A. Being restricted to the office
B. Incurring expenses for lunches and Clothing
C. Taking care of sick children
D. Driving in heavy traffic

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】本文讲到了办公室人员所面临的问题，包括了A项“办公室的局限性”，C项“对生病孩子的照顾”，D项“在拥挤的道路上开车”等，只有B项未提及。

单选题 Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a problem for employers that is potentially solved by telecommuting?

A. Employees' lateness for work
B. Employees' absence from work
C. Employees' need for time alone to work intensively
D. Employees' conflicts with second jobs

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】其中A、B、C三项在文中都有明确提及，而D项雇员第二职业与工作的矛盾未提及，故选D项。

单选题 Which of the following does the author mention as a possible disadvantage of telecommuting?

A. Small children cannot understand the boundaries of work and play.
B. Computer technology is not advanced enough to accommodate the needs of every situation.
C. Electrical malfunctions can destroy a project.
D. The worker often does not have all the needed resources at home.

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】推理题。文章倒数第二句“in most cases it is…not the availability of technology, that precipitates a telecommuting arrangement”，换言之，技术可行性仍是主要问题。B项为正确答案。

单选题 Which of the following is an example of telecommuting as described in the passage?

A. A scientist in a laboratory developing plans for a space station
B. A technician sending via computer documents created at home
C. A computer technician repairing an office computer network
D. A teacher directing computer-assisted learning in a private school

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】文中有“A computer programmer…tays in contact with her office via computer”，而“a computer programmer”属于“technician”。由此可知B项符合原意。