Question

 

Old Computers Make for Unhappy Workers — Survey

LONDON (Reuters) — Dealing with the dissatisfaction of ageing and unreliable office computers leads to workers’ unhappiness and more sick-leave, a survey (调查) showed on Wednesday.

A survey carried out by care4free.net of over 2,700 European office workers from the UK, France and Germany found that workplace dissatisfaction increased greatly with the age of computer equipment.

“We do know that job satisfaction is falling in Britain and in most advanced nations,”said Stephen White, a researcher from the Work Foundation. “The actual reasons for this are the subject of very heated discussion. It’s certainly one interesting theory that technology may be the cause of this in some way,” White added.

A quarter of those using outdated computers in Britain said they were “quite” or “very dissatisfied” with their everyday job compared to 16 percent of those who had enjoyed an advantage from up-to-date technology.

The survey also said that among workers dealing with outdated equipment, there was a 35 percent greater probability they would take six or mort days of sick-leave per year compared with the average worker. In France, where more workers use older computers, the probability jumped to 55 percent.

Results also showed that women in the three countries were more likely to be using outdated equipment. In the UK, where more workers have up-to-date computers than in the other counties surveyed, the number of women using old equipment doubled that of men.

White pointed out that there were two sides to this problem, saying that continually having to deal with new technology and new equipment can also be a source of worry. “Old and faulty equipment is a major cause of office dissatisfaction, there’s no question about it, but you also have to say that the frequent change of equipment is also, or could be, a main cause of dissatisfaction.”

1.The underlined word “this” (paragraph 3) refers to      .

A．workplace dissatisfaction           B．computer use in most jobs

C．the ageing of office computers       D．the survey by care4free.net

2.How many office workers using old computers in Britain expressed their dissatisfaction?

A．16%                           B．25%

C．35%                           D．55%

3.According to White, why were the women surveyed more likely to use old computers?

A． Most office workers use old computers.      

B． They do some of their work with computers.

C． Dealing with new equipment can cause anxiety

D．They are easier to be satisfied with new technology.

4.What is the subject of this news story?

A． Poor working conditions in offices.

B． Research work of the Work Foundation

C． Influence of technology in the workplace.

D． Different attitudes to old computers.

 

Answer 1

【答案】

1.A

【解析】从第2段的最后一句可知下文的this指workplace dissatisfaction。

【考点】词义猜测题 

2.B

【解析】从第4段的A quarter of those即可得知25%。

【考点】细节理解题

3.C

【解析】从最后一段前2行可知。

【考点】事实细节题 

4.C

【解析】从文章的标题以及对文章的叙述可以高度概括出文章的主旨大意。

【考点】主旨大意题

本文是一篇夹叙夹议的文章。通过新闻调查得知办公设备可以对人们的工作带来一定的影响。