British people work some of the longest hours in Europe，but are among the least productive.Now some companies are shortening the working week to increase efficiency，health and happiness.
Rich Leigh has introduced a four-day week at his PR company.In fact，his entire company has Friday off，because his firm has adopted a four-day week.It is one of a handful of UK businesses that now operate like this：staff still get paid their previous five-day salary，but they work a day less.The company found that they achieved just as much—and there were even sighs of growth. "The key to the scheme's success，" Leigh says， "is how happy our employees now are."
The average British worker takes only a 34 minute lunch break and works 10 hours overtime each week（more often than not this is unpaid）.Yet UK productivity falls seriously behind their European neighbors，who tend to work fewer hours.
British working practices have caused loss and damage to the nation's health and happiness.More than half a million workers in the UK were signed off with work-related stress or anxiety last year.Moreover，the work landscape itself is changing.Automation and AI will have a significant impact on the labor market，where unsteady work becomes more common.
Britain is the only EU member that allows workers to ignore the EU working time limit and work longer hours.For campaigners，now is the time for a change.O'Grady，an advocate，argues that where businesses have increased their profits as a result of automation，success should be shared with workers in the form of reduced hours. "It's time to share the benefits from new technology，not allowing those at the top to grab them for themselves." she says.
（1）We can learn from the passage that CC.
A．British people are the least productive in the world
B．Most companies in Britain have conducted a four-day week
C．PR company has witnessed a rise in employees' happiness
D．British people work longer and get more payment than other countries
（2）Which is the proper description of British working practices？ DD
A．The working time of British workers is within the EU limit.
B．In terms of productivity，Britain is beaten by the United States.
C．Profits gained from new technology are on the decrease.
D．Automation and AI are likely to cause an instable work market.
（3）Which can be inferred from O'Grady's words in the last paragraph？ BB
A．It's time for employers to share the increased profits created by automation.
B．Workers should benefit from automation in the form of less working hours.
C．New technology should belong to both businesses and workers.
D．Businesses can't make more profits without new technology.
（4）What is the author's purpose of writing the passage？ AA
A．To introduce some British firms' switch to a four-day working week.
B．To explain the reasons why British workers suffer stress and anxiety.
C．To appeal for more reasonable working conditions.
D．To present the current productivity problem in Britain.
【答案】C；D；B；A
【解答】
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發(fā)布：2024/4/20 14:35:0組卷：0引用：1難度：0.5
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