Part ⅡReading Comprehension(Skimming and Scanning)(15 minutes)
Directions:In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1.For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C)and D).For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.
Bosses Say ‘Yes’ to Home Work
Rising costs of office space, time lost to stressful commuting, and a slow recognition that workers have lives beyond the office-all are strong arguments for letting staff work from home.
For the small business, there are additional benefits too-staff are more productive, and happier, enabling firms to keep their headcounts(员工数) and their recruitment costs to a minimum.It can also provide a competitive advantage, especially when small businesses want to attract new staff but don't have the budget to offer huge salaries.
While company managers have known about the benefits for a long time, many have done little about it, skeptical of whether they could trust their employees to work to full capacity without supervision, or concerned about the additional expenses teleworking policies might incur as staff start charging their home phone bills to the business.
Yet this is now changing.When communications provider Inter-Tel researched the use of remote working solutions among small and medium-sized UK businesses in April this year, it found that 28% more companies claimed to have introduced flexible working practices than a year ago.
The UK network of Business Links confirms that it too has seen a growing interest in remote working solutions from small businesses seeking its advice, and claims that as many as 60-70% of the businesses that come through its doors now offer some form of remote working support to their workforces.
Technology advances, including the widespread availability of broadband, are making the introduction of remote working a piece of cake.
"If systems are set up properly, staff can have access to all the resources they have in the office wherever they have an internet connection," says Andy Poulton, a business advisor at Business Link for Berkshire and Wiltshire."There are some very exciting developments which have enabled this."
One is the availability of broadband everywhere, which now covers almost all of the country (BT claims that, by July, 99.8% of its exchanges will be broadband enabled, with alternative plans in place for even the most remote exchanges)."This is the enabler," Poulton says.
Yet while broadband has come down in price too, those service providers targeting the business market warn against consumer services masquerading(伪装) as business friendly broadband.
"Broadband is available for as little as little as ￡15 a month, but many businesses fail to appreciate the hidden costs of such a service," say Neil Stephenson, sales and marketing director at Onyx Internet, an internet service provider based in the northeast of England."Providers offering broadband for rock bottom prices are notorious for poor service, with regular breakdowns and heavily congested(拥堵的) networks.It is always advisable for businesses to look beyond the price tag and look for a business-only provider that can offer more reliability, with good support." Such services don't cost too much-quality services can be found for upwards of ￡30 a month.
The benefits of broadband to the occasional home worker are that they can access email in real time, and take full advantage of services such as internet-based backup or even internet-based phone services.
Internet-based telecoms, or VoIP (Voice over IP) to give it its technical title, is an interesting tool to any business supporting remote working, not necessarily because of the promise of free or reduced price phone calls (which experts point out is misleading for the average business), but because of the sophisticated voice services that can be exploited by the remote worker-facilities such as voicemail and call forwarding, which provide a continuity of the company image for customers and business partners.
By law, companies must "consider seriously" requests to work flexibly made by a parent with a child under the age of six, or a disabled child under 18.It was the need to accommodate employees with young children that motivated accountancy firm Wright Vigar to begin promoting teleworking recently.The company, which needed to upgrade its IT infrastructure(基础设施) to provide connectivity with a new, second office, decided to introduce support for remote working at the same time.
Marketing director Jack O'Hern explains that the company has a relatively young workforce, many of whom are parents: "One of the triggers was when one of our tax managers returned from maternity leave.She was intending to work part time, but could only manage one day a week in the office due to childcare.By offering her the ability to work from home, we have doubled her capacity-now she works a day a week from home and a day in the office.This is great for her, and for us as we retain someone highly qualified."
For Wright Vigar, which has now equipped all of its fee-earners to be able to work at maximum productivity when away from the offices (whether that's from home, or while on the road), this strategy is not just about saving on commute time or cutting them loose from the office, but enabling them to work more flexible hours that fit around their home life.
O'Hern says: "Although most of our work is client-based and must fit around this, we can't see any reason why a parent can't be on hand to deal with something important at home, if they have the ability to complete a project late in the day."
Supporting this new way of working came with a price, though.Although the firm was updating its systems anyway, the company spent 10-15% more per user to equip them with a laptop rather than a PC, and about the same to upgrade to a server that would enable remote staff to connect to the company networks and access all their usual resources.
Although Wright Vigar hasn't yet quantified the business benefits, it claims that, in addition to being able to retain key staff with young families, it is able to save fee-earners a substantial amount of "dead" time in their working days.
That staff can do this without needing a fixed telephone line provides even more efficiency savings."With Wi-Fi (fast, wireless internet connections) popping up all over the place, even on trains, our fee-earners can be productive as they travel, and between meetings, instead of having to kill time at the shops," he adds.
The company will also be able to avoid the expense of having to relocate staff to temporary offices for several weeks when it begins disruptive office renovations(翻新) soon.
Financial recruitment specialist Lynne Hargreaves knows exactly how much her firm has saved by adopting a teleworking strategy, which has involved handing her company's data management over to a remote hosting company, Datanet, so it can be accessible by all the company's consultants over broadband internet connections.
It has enabled the company to dispense with its business premises altogether, following the realisation that it just didn't need them any more."The main motivation behind adopting home working was to increase my own productivity, as a single mum to an 11-year-old," says Hargreaves."But I soon realised that, as most of our business is done on the phone, email and at off-site meetings, we didn't need our offices at all.We're now saving ￡16,000 a year on rent, plus the cost of utilities, not to mention what would have been spent on commuting."
注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
1.What is the main topic of this passage?
A)How business managers view hi-tech.
B)Benefits of the practice of teleworking.
C)How to cut down the costs of small businesses.
D)Relations between employers and employees.
2.From the research conducted by the communications provider Inter-Tel, we learn that.
A)attitudes toward IT technology have changed.
B)more employees work to full capacity at home
C)more businesses have adopted remote working solutions
D)employees show a growing interest in small businesses
3.What development has made flexible working practices possible according to Andy Poulton?
A)Reduced cost of telecommunications.
B)Improved reliability of internet service.
C)Access to broadband everywhere.
D)Availability of the VoIP service.
4.What is Neil Stephenson's advice to firms contracting internet services?
A)They contract the cheapest provider.
B)They look for reliable business-only providers.
C)The contact providers located nearest to them.
D)They carefully examine the contract.
5.Internet-based telecoms facilitates remote working by.
A)offering sophisticated voice services
B)providing calls completely free of charge
C)helping clients discuss business at home
D)giving access to emailing in real time
6.The accountancy firm Wright Vigar promoted teleworking initially in order to.
A)attract young people with IT expertise to work for it
B)present a positive image to prospective customers
C)reduce operational expenses of a second office
D)support its employees with children to take care of
7.According to marketing director Jack O'Hern, teleworking enabled the company to.
A)minimise its office spacep
B)keep highly qualified staff
C)enhance its market image
D)reduce recruitment costs
8.Wright Vigar's practice of allowing for more flexible working hours not only benefits the company but helps improve employees' ______________.
9.With fast, wireless internet connections, employees can still be ______________ while traveling.
10.Single mother Lynne Hargreaves decided to work at home mainly to _____________________________.
【指点迷津】在做快速阅读时，考生需要很熟练地找到关键点，不止要找到相应的句子还要看上下句，同时要注意有些题在解题时需要转换，也就是改写原文，改写最常见的手段是词性的变化，里面是形容词答案当中可能会变成副词或者是名词，这就需要了解基本的构词法，如动词加上ment就变成了名词。
【试题精讲】
【原题】1.What is the main topic of this passage?
A)How business managers view hi-tech.
B)Benefits of the practice of teleworking.
C)How to cut down the costs of small businesses.
D)Relations between employers and employees.
【快速解题】1.B)。这是一道主旨题，解答这道题的关键是定位，文章的主题往往都会出现在开头的段落中，第一段讲的是支撑远程办公的理由，考生再往下看第二段就会发现：For the small business, there are additional benefits too，接着列举了很多远程办公的好处，所以，正确答案为B。而且，题目"老板同意在家工作"也告诉我们这篇文章的主题是远程办公。
【原题】2.From the research conducted by the communications provider Inter-Tel, we learn that.
A)attitudes toward IT technology have changed
B)more employees work to full capacity at home
C)more businesses have adopted remote working solutions
D)employees show a growing interest in small businesses
【快速解题】2.C)。考生可根据关键词Inter-Tel把答案迅速锁定在原文第4段 "...it found that 28% more companies claimed to have introduced flexible working practices than a year ago"，选项C和这句话意义一致，是正确答案。
【原题】3.What development has made flexible working practices possible according to Andy Poulton?
A)Reduced cost of telecommunications.
B)Improved reliability of internet service.
C)Access to broadband everywhere.
D)Availability of the VoIP service.
【快速解题】3.C)。考生要根据关键词Andy Poulton找到相应的段落，他首先指出"There are some very exciting developments which have enabled this."，接着下一段就说One is the availability of broadband everywhere，很显然选项C与这句话是一致的。
【原题】4.What is Neil Stephenson's advice to firms contracting internet services?
A)They contract the cheapest provider.
B)They look for reliable business-only providers.
C)The contact providers located nearest to them.
D)They carefully examine the contract.
【快速解题】4.B)。这道题的关键词是Neil Stephenson，考生要根据它进行准确定位，这一段中讲到 "It is always advisable for businesses to look beyond the price tag and look for a business-only provider that can offer more reliability, with good support." 比较一下四个选项，只有B符合题意。
【原题】5.Internet-based telecoms facilitates remote working by.
A)offering sophisticated voice services
B)providing calls completely free of charge
C)helping clients discuss business at home
D)giving access to emailing in real time
【快速解题】5.A)。关键词Internet-based telecoms可以让考生把答案迅速锁定到相应段落，其中提到VOIP的好处不是因为它的免费服务，but because of the sophisticated voice services that can be exploited by the remote worker，因此判断A是正确答案。
【原题】6.The accountancy firm Wright Vigar promoted teleworking initially in order to.
A)attract young people with IT expertise to work for it
B)present a positive image to prospective customers
C)reduce operational expenses of a second office
D)support its employees with children to take care of
【快速解题】6.D)。考生可根据关键词accountancy firm Wright Vigar 定位到 "It was the need to accommodate employees with young children that motivated accountancy firm Wright Vigar to begin promoting teleworking recently."，据此考生很容易就可以排除A、B、C三个选项了。
【原题】7.According to marketing director Jack O'Hern, teleworking enabled the company to.
A)minimise its office space
B)keep highly qualified staff
C)enhance its market image
D)reduce recruitment costs
【快速解题】7.B)。关键词marketing director Jack O'Hern可以帮助考生迅速定位到相应段落，这一段中说远程办公能让员工效率加倍， "This is great for her, and for us as we retain someone highly qualified."，也就是说，此举的目的是留住人才，正确答案为B。
【原题】8.Wright Vigar's practice of allowing for more flexible working hours not only benefits the company but helps improve employees' ______________.
【快速解题】8.home life关键词Wright Vigar紧接着把考生带入到下一段中，"...this strategy is not just about saving on commute time or cutting them loose from the office, but enabling them to work more flexible hours that fit around their home life." 考生要判断出这道题要填写的是什么词性，题目中employees'要接名词或名词性短语，很显然home life是正确答案。
【原题】9.With fast, wireless internet connections, employees can still be ______________ while traveling.
【快速解题】9.productive考生可在关键词With fast, wireless internet connections的指引下找到原文"With Wi-Fi (fast, wireless internet connections) popping up all over the place, even on trains, our fee-earners can be productive as they travel..."， 题目中的employees与原文中的fee-earners意思是一样的，考生便很容易判断出productive就是正确答案了。
【原题】10.Single mother Lynne Hargreaves decided to work at home mainly to _____________________________.
【快速解题】10.increase her own productivity人名Hargreaves 是解答这道题的钥匙，考生要据此定位到"The main motivation behind adopting home working was to increase my own productivity, as a single mum to an 11-year-old," 不定式to后面即为答案的所在，考生可把my改成her，答案为improve her own productivity，当然，也可以把her own省略不写。
【全文精译】
老板同意在家办公
强烈支持员工大家办公的论据有很多，比如，办公场地费用不断增加，花在拥堵的交通上的时间太长，还有，人们慢慢意识到员工的生活不仅仅局限于办公室。
对小型企业来说，这样做还有另外的好处：员工更高兴，工作效率更高，公司能把员工数和薪酬降到最低。它还可以提供非常具有竞争力的优势，尤其是在小型企业想招聘新员工却无法提供高薪的时候。
尽管公司经理很久以前就了解这些好处，但他们很少付诸行动。他们或者怀疑是否能够信任员工没有人监管也能尽全力工作，或者担心远程工作政策带来的额外支出，因为员工会把自己家的电话费交由公司支付。
不过，现在这种情况正在改变。通讯服务供应商Intel-Tel调查了本年度四月份英国中小型企业
使用远程工作策略的情况，发现声称采用弹性工作制度的公司比一年前多了28%。
英国的Business Links网确认，它发现前来寻求建议的小型企业对远程工作策略越来越感兴趣，声称多达60%～70%登门求助的公司现在为自己的劳动力大军提供了某种形式的远程工作服务。
科技的进步，包括宽带的普及，让远程工作的实现变得轻而易举。
"如果系统设置合理，不管员工在哪里，只要他们有网络连接，他们都可以使用在办公室才能看到的资源"，Berkshire and Wiltshire 事业网的电子商务咨询师Andy Poulton说，"现在发展形势喜人，此事正在变为可能"。
一个是宽带的普及，现在基本可以覆盖全国各地（BT声称，到7月份，99.8%的电话局都将提供宽带，即使在最偏远的地方也有其他可替换的方案）。Poulton说，"这是一个推动因素"。
但是在宽带的价格下降的同时，以商业市场为目标的供应商警告说，要提防为个体消费者提供服务的供应商有可能伪装成商业友好型（businessfriendly）宽带。
"一个月只要花15英镑就可以使用宽带，很多企业并没有看到这项服务后的隐形成本"，Onyx 网市场销售主管Nail Stephenson说。Onyx网是以英国东北部为基点的供应商。"价格最低的宽带供应商以糟糕的服务而臭名昭著，经常发生网络故障和网络拥挤。明智的做法是，企业不能只看价签，他们需要寻找只为企业服务的更可靠的、能够提供支持的供应商。"这样的服务并不会花费太多，优质服务价格稍高一些，一个月30多英镑。
对于偶尔在家工作的员工来讲，宽带的好处是，他们可以实时处理邮件，同时可充分利用网络服务，比如基于网络的资料备份和电话服务。
基于网络的远程电信服务，科技术语叫做VoIP（Voice over IP），对任何支持远程工作的企业来讲，都是很有趣的工具，并非因为它是免费或低价的电话服务（专家指出，对一般的企业来讲这是个误导），而是因为其可被远程工作者充分利用的复杂的语音服务，比如语音邮件、呼叫转移等设施，这让消费者和商业伙伴感到公司形象的持续性。
根据法律，公司必须严肃考虑，孩子不足六岁的单亲母亲或父亲，或不足十八岁的残疾少年对弹性工作的要求。促使会计公司Wright Vigar最近开始采用远程工作制度的是，要为带着幼童的员工提供方便。这个公司需要升级自己的IT基础设施为新建的第二个办公室提供连接，同时决定采用远程工作。
市场主管Jack O'Hern解释道，公司的劳动力结构相对来说比较年轻，其中很多人都为人父母，"导火索之一是，其中一位刚休完产假的税务经理想要辞职。她想做兼职，但因为要照顾孩子一周只能呆在办公室一天。给她提供在家工作的便利，我们使她的才能得到了加倍的施展空间。现在她一周一天在家工作，一天在办公室，这对她来讲棒极了，对我们来讲，我们留住了高素质的人才"。
对Wright Vigar来讲，现在它让所有赚钱的员工能够在办公室外以最大的效率来工作（不管在家里，还是在路上），这样的策略不仅仅是节省交通时间，让他们直接进入工作状态（cut loose），还让他们能够给他们更灵活的工作时间，兼顾工作和家庭生活。
O'Hern说，"我们大部分工作以客户为基础，必须以此为中心。如果单亲父亲或母亲有能力稍晚一点完成项目的话，我们找不到任何理由不让他们在家里处理重要的事情。"
然而，支持这种新的工作方式是需要付出代价的。尽管公司无论如何要更新它的系统，但公司要在每个员工身上多花10-15%来给他们配备笔记本电脑，而非PC；并且还要花费10-15%的钱来升级服务器，使远程工作的员工能与公司网络相连接，能使用公司的常见资源。
尽管Wright Vigar还没有算出商业利益有多大，但它声称，除了能留住有孩子的重要员工，还能让挣钱的人从他们的工作日中节省出一大把"死"时间。
能做到这个且不需要固定电话的员工工作效率更高。"随着Wi-Fi（快速的无线网路连接）的突然出现，我们挣钱的人即使在火车上也能在他们旅游的同时以及会议间隙时也能够富有成效的工作，而不是在商店消磨时间。"他补充道。
在不久要开始翻新破旧的办公室时，公司将同样能够避免把员工安置到临时办公室工作几周的开销。
金融业招聘专家Lynne Hargreaves知道远程工作的做法能为自己的公司节省开支的确切数额，其中包括把自己工资的资料管理移交给名叫Datanet的远程公司，这样，公司所有的咨询师可通过宽带连接使用所有数据。
公司在意识到不再需要办公场所后，就可以省掉这部分开销了。"对于像我这样带着11岁小孩的单身妈妈来说，在家工作的主要动机是提高自己的工作效率，" Hargreaves说，"但我很快意识到，由于我们大部分工作可通过电话、邮件、视频会议完成，所以根本就不需要办公室。现在一年在租费上就省掉16，000英镑，再加上公共设施，更不用说花在交通上面的费用了。"