Passage 5
Telecommuting(远程办公)
It’s 8:30, time for John to start work. So he turns on his radio. Then he eats breakfast. As he eats, he reads his e-mail and reviews his to-do list. Then he sits on the sofa and thinks about an article he needs to write…. Wait a minute! Radio? Breakfast? Sofa? What kind of workplace is this? Well, actually it is John’s house, and he is a telecommuter---he works at home, communicating with the workplace through the Internet.
Like John, millions of people---and their employers---are finding that telecommuting is a great way to work. Telecommuters can follow their own schedules. They work in the comfort of their homes, where they can also look after young children or elderly parents. They save time and money by not traveling to work. Their employers save, too, because they need less office space and furniture. Studies show that telecommuters change jobs less often. This saves employers even more money. Telecommuting helps society, too, by reducing pollution and traffic problems.
Jobs that are suited to telecommuting include writing, design work, computer programming and accounting(会计). If a job involves working with information, a telecommuter can probably do it.
1．From the passage we know that John does his job ___________.
A. by telephone B. in his office
C. away from home D. through the Internet
2. Which of the following is mentioned as one of the advantages of telecommuting?
A. One can get along well with co-workers.
B. One can work on one’s own schedule.
C. One can work for several employers.
D. One can enjoy a lot of traveling.
3. The passage tells us that telecommuters change jobs less often and so_____________.
A. they can get more work experience
B. they will have a longer paid holiday
C. their employers can save more money
D. their employers will give them a higher pay
4. The phrase “suited to” in the third paragraph means____________
A. acceptable for B. difficult for C. fit for D. bad for
5. The passage is mainly about___________.
A. a new way to work B. John’s working day
C. various workplaces D. the Internet
Passage 6
“What’s the matter, Bob?” asked his mother. “Why do you look so sad?”
“I don’t have anyone to play with,” Bob said. ”I wish we stayed in Salt City. I have friends there.”
“You will soon make friends here,” said his mother. “Wait and see!”
Just then there was a knock on the door. Mrs. Miller opened it. There was a woman with red hair. “Hello,” she said, “I’m Mrs. Craney. I lived next door. I came to ask for two eggs.” “You may have the eggs,” said Mrs. Miller. “But please sit down for a moment. Let’s have coffee and talk a little.”
That afternoon there was another knock on the door. It was a boy named Tom. “My mother told me to give you this cake and these two eggs,” he said. Bob asked him to come in and play with him. They played balls for an hour together happily and soon became friends.
“I’m glad your mother needed two eggs,” Bob said. “She just wanted to make friends with your mother!” Tom said and then laughed.
6. From the passage we learn that _________.
A. Bob had no friends
B. Bob’s mother had no friends
C. no one wanted to play with Bob
D. Bob’s family moved away from Salt Lake City
7. Bob’s mother knew that ___________.
A. her son would have friends soon
B. a woman with red hair would come to see her
C. someone would come to ask for eggs
D. someone would come to have a cup of tea
8. Tom came to Bob’s house_____________.
A. before his mother B. after his mother
C. to play balls D. to ask for cakes
9. When they heard the knock on the door, Mrs. Miller and Bob felt_________.
A. worried B. afraid C. tired D. happy
10. Which of the following is TRUE?
A. Mrs. Craney lived in Salt Lake City long ago
B. Mrs. Craney didn’t have eggs to make cakes
C. Mrs. Craney wanted to make new friends, too.
D. Tom and Bob didn’t like each other.
