Question

【题目】Four ways the increasingly mobile workforce is transforming office design

As more and more office employees start working from home full-time or only come into work on certain days of the week, it no longer makes sense for employers to keep the office in the old fashion.【1】 So, be ready to say goodbye to the days of cubicles (隔间) and fixed desk stations and welcome the following changes in modern offices.

Including more resting spaces and leisure areas

While some people tend to work more productively in traditional desk-and-chair environment, others feel better when they’re working from a sofa or bean-bag chair. 【2】 These could range from joined tables for those who want to work in a more relaxed manner and socialize with co-workers, to sound-proof spaces for those who prefer to work alone or in silence.

【3】

Traditional board rooms and conference rooms with tables big enough to host 20 people also fall victim to the remote workforce movement. In the new mobile climate, many employees are starting to come into the physical office merely for face-to-face meetings with co-workers or to bring in clients for presentations. This means that employees are specifically coming into the office for access to these meeting rooms, so these rooms should be sized accordingly.

Using high-tech methods that narrow the gap between office and home

【4】 To do this, some offices are using VoIP phones, which make phone calls through the internet rather than regular landlines, to help employees around the world appear as though they’re calling from the office.

Creating smaller carbon footprint

There are huge benefits, both financially and environmentally, to offices employing more mote workers. Fewer people in the office equal less needed space. 【5】 For employees, the ability to work remotely means an erased commute, which in turn will reduce air pollution and help create a smaller carbon footprint.

A. Building smaller conference rooms.

B. Providing more places for face-to-face communication.

C. In this way, employees can find the spot that best suits them on a given day.

D. Instead, offices are transforming in order to better serve employees floating in and out.

E. Huge amount of money can be saved for employers by using less energy and water, lowering their utility bills.

F. That’s why offices are creating a new mixture of furniture zones that offer both relaxing and traditional seating options.

G. With more employees working from home, it’s critical to have the proper technology to connect people together easily.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】D

【2】F

【3】A

【4】G

【5】E

【解析】

本文是说明文。文章介绍现代办公室发展的四个趋势。

【1】根据上文As more and more office employees start working from home full-time or only come into work on certain days of the week, it no longer makes sense for employers to keep the office in the old fashion.（随着越来越多的办公室职员开始全职在家工作，或者只在一周中的特定几天上班，雇主们不再有必要保持办公室的老样子）可知，随着越来越多的办公室职员工作方式的转变，办公室需要进行改变了。由此可知，D项Instead, offices are transforming in order to better serve employees floating in and out.（相反，为了更好地服务于进出的员工，办公室正在进行变革）符合文意。故选D。

【2】根据上文While some people tend to work more productively in traditional desk-and-chair environment, others feel better when they’re working from a sofa or bean-bag chair.（虽然有些人在传统的办公环境中工作效率更高，但有些人在沙发或豆袋椅上工作时感觉更好）可知，人们需要的工作环境不同。由此可知，F项That’s why offices are creating a new mixture of furniture zones that offer both relaxing and traditional seating options.（这就是为什么办公室正在创造一个新的混合家具区，提供放松和传统的座位选择）符合文意。故选F。

【3】根据下文This means that employees are specifically coming into the office for access to these meeting rooms, so these rooms should be sized accordingly.（这意味着员工是专门为进入这些会议室而进入办公室的，因此这些会议室的大小应该相应调整）可知，会议室的大小应该相应调整，很多情况下不再需要大的办公室了。由此可知，A项Building smaller conference rooms.（建造更小的会议室）符合文意。故选A。

【4】根据下文To do this, some offices are using VoIP phones, which make phone calls through the internet rather than regular landlines, to help employees around the world appear as though they’re calling from the office.（为了做到这一点，一些办公室正在使用VoIP电话，通过互联网而不是常规的固定电话来打电话，以帮助世界各地的员工看起来好像他们是在办公室打电话）可知，高科技手段是非常重要。由此可知，G项With more employees working from home, it’s critical to have the proper technology to connect people together easily.（随着越来越多的员工在家办公，拥有合适的技术来方便地将人们联系在一起是至关重要的）符合文意。故选G。

【5】根据下文For employees, the ability to work remotely means an erased commute, which in turn will reduce air pollution and help create a smaller carbon footprint.（对雇员来说，远程工作意味着消除通勤，从而减少空气污染，帮助减少碳足迹）可知，此处在讲这样做会给雇主和雇员带来很多好处。由此可知，E项Huge amount of money can be saved for employers by using less energy and water, lowering their utility bills.（通过减少能源和水的使用，可以为雇主节省大量的钱，降低他们的水电费）符合文意。故选E。

七选五题型主要考查上下文的理解与推断，虽然文章整体难度一般低于阅读理解，但是却给很多同学造成了很大的心理障碍。七个选项中选五个，比四个选项中选一个，感觉干扰性更大，很大同学在做这个题目时，总有一种眼花缭乱、心烦气躁的感觉，致使往往正确率不高。在这里提醒同学们，首先要克服心理障碍，同时要注意方式方法。其次，注意设空前后的句子，因为这些句子之间是顺承和联系的，所有一定要联系和理解上下文的语境。例如第5小题，根据下文For employees, the ability to work remotely means an erased commute, which in turn will reduce air pollution and help create a smaller carbon footprint.（对雇员来说，远程工作意味着消除通勤，从而减少空气污染，帮助减少碳足迹）可知，此处在讲这样做会给雇主和雇员带来很多好处。由此可知，E项Huge amount of money can be saved for employers by using less energy and water, lowering their utility bills.（通过减少能源和水的使用，可以为雇主节省大量的钱，降低他们的水电费）符合文意。故选E。