C
On May 1, 1926, Ford Motor Company became one of the first American companies to adopt a five-day, 40-hour week. It was something workers and labor unions had been calling for. However, the five-day workweek was to increase productivity. With more time and money, workers were expected to buy and use the products they were making. Manufacturers soon followed Ford’s lead, and the Monday-to-Friday workweek became standard practice.
Since then, everything has changed but the hours. Many people worked longer, which severely influenced health and well-being, as well as the environment. Until the Second World War, it was common for one person in a family, usually the oldest male, to work full-time. Women gradually made up 42 percent of the world’s full-time workforce. Later, technology made lots of work unnecessary, with computers and robots doing many tasks previously performed by humans.
Well into the 21st century, we continue to work the same long hours as 20th century laborers, using up more of Earth’s supply to produce more goods that we must keep working to buy, use and replace in a seemingly endless cycle of hard work and consumption. It’s time to pause and consider better ways to live like shifting from fossil-fueled lifestyles with which our consumer-based workweeks are connected.
The UK New Economics Foundation argues that a standard 21-hour workweek would address a number of interconnected problems: overwork, unemployment, over-consumption, high carbon emissions, low well-being, and the lack of time to live sustainably, to care for each other, and simply to enjoy life. Economic systems that require constant growth on a finite (有限的) planet make no sense. It’s time for a change in our economic thinking.
28. Why did Henry Ford shorten the workweek?
A. To increase efficiency.
B. To cut workers’ salaries.
C. To end conflicts with workers.
D. To create more job opportunities.
29. What happened in the workforce after World War II?
A. The oldest male had to work longer.
B. Technology let people work more flexibly.
C. Job positions were created due to technology.
D. Full-time vacancies were filled by more women.
30. What can we infer from the last two paragraphs?
A. Companies shouldn’t produce more than people can use.
B. The 21st century has witnessed the longest working hours.
C. The cycle of longer workweek and consumption should be changed.
D. Longer workweek definitely leads to stronger consumption capability.
31. Which would be possible if a 21-hour workweek should be adopted?
A. Companies would be closed down. B. Economic growth would be stopped.
C. Economic systems would break down. D. People would be encouraged to enjoy life.
28-31 ADCD
On May 1, 1926, Ford Motor Company became one of the first American companies to adopt a five-day, 40-hour week. It was something workers and labor unions had been calling for. However, the five-day workweek was to increase productivity. With more time and money, workers were expected to buy and use the products they were making. Manufacturers soon followed Ford’s lead, and the Monday-to-Friday workweek became standard practice.
Since then, everything has changed but the hours. Many people worked longer, which severely influenced health and well-being, as well as the environment. Until the Second World War, it was common for one person in a family, usually the oldest male, to work full-time. Women gradually made up 42 percent of the world’s full-time workforce. Later, technology made lots of work unnecessary, with computers and robots doing many tasks previously performed by humans.
Well into the 21st century, we continue to work the same long hours as 20th century laborers, using up more of Earth’s supply to produce more goods that we must keep working to buy, use and replace in a seemingly endless cycle of hard work and consumption. It’s time to pause and consider better ways to live like shifting from fossil-fueled lifestyles with which our consumer-based workweeks are connected.
The UK New Economics Foundation argues that a standard 21-hour workweek would address a number of interconnected problems: overwork, unemployment, over-consumption, high carbon emissions, low well-being, and the lack of time to live sustainably, to care for each other, and simply to enjoy life. Economic systems that require constant growth on a finite (有限的) planet make no sense. It’s time for a change in our economic thinking.
28. Why did Henry Ford shorten the workweek?
A. To increase efficiency.
B. To cut workers’ salaries.
C. To end conflicts with workers.
D. To create more job opportunities.
29. What happened in the workforce after World War II?
A. The oldest male had to work longer.
B. Technology let people work more flexibly.
C. Job positions were created due to technology.
D. Full-time vacancies were filled by more women.
30. What can we infer from the last two paragraphs?
A. Companies shouldn’t produce more than people can use.
B. The 21st century has witnessed the longest working hours.
C. The cycle of longer workweek and consumption should be changed.
D. Longer workweek definitely leads to stronger consumption capability.
31. Which would be possible if a 21-hour workweek should be adopted?
A. Companies would be closed down. B. Economic growth would be stopped.
C. Economic systems would break down. D. People would be encouraged to enjoy life.
28-31 ADCD
