Many companies have changed the way they hire. In the past, a single manager read all the applications alone and made the decision in a single afternoon. Today a whole 11 of people takes part in the process: a supervisor, a senior worker, and someone from the human resources 12. Each of them meets the candidate in a short 13 of about twenty minutes. Afterwards they sit down together, compare notes, and try to 14 what kind of worker the person will become. Supporters say the method is fairer, because one bad first impression can no longer 15 the outcome on its own.
Questions 11–15
11
Acolony
Bbait
Ccrew
Ddepth
✔ 正確答案：(C) crew
解析a whole ____ of people 指「一整組工作人員 crew」。colony 殖民地、bait 誘餌、depth 深度皆不合。
It is no longer unusual to change one's 16 at the age of fifty. Some workers leave a quiet office to become a 17 who repairs machines all day; others use their savings to open a small shop and become a 18 in their own neighborhood. Money is not always the reason for the move. Many of them say they simply want work that feels 19 to their own values. Career advisers add that older workers bring years of experience that younger staff cannot match, so the change is often 20 to employers as well.
Questions 16–20
16
Ainference
Bprosperity
Cfoundation
Dprofession
✔ 正確答案：(D) profession
解析change one's ____ at fifty 指換「職業 profession」。prosperity 繁榮、foundation 基礎皆不合；inference 是推論，是思考的結果，不能拿來指一個人的工作。
After twenty-two years here, I have decided to retire at the end of June. I joined this company as a junior employee with no experience at all, and I am leaving as the supervisor of a team I am proud of.
Please do not plan a big party. If you would like to mark the day, join me for coffee in the meeting room at 3 p.m. on 28 June. I would rather spend the hour talking with you than listening to speeches. If that hour does not suit you, send me a note and we will fix an appointment before I go.
My files have all been handed over to Ms. Lin, who will take over my duties from 1 July. Anything still unfinished is listed in the shared folder.
CTo announce that the writer is leaving the company
DTo introduce a new supervisor to the team
✔ 正確答案：(C) To announce that the writer is leaving the company
中譯這封電子郵件的主要目的為何？
解析開頭即說 I have decided to retire at the end of June，主旨是宣布退休離職。
22What does the writer ask his colleagues NOT to do?
AHold a big party
BSend him emails
CTalk to Ms. Lin
DVisit the meeting room
✔ 正確答案：(A) Hold a big party
中譯作者要求同事不要做什麼？
解析文中明說 Please do not plan a big party。
23What position did the writer hold when he first joined?
AA supervisor
BA junior employee
CA technician
DAn executive
✔ 正確答案：(B) A junior employee
中譯作者剛加入時擔任什麼職位？
解析I joined this company as a junior employee with no experience。
24When will Ms. Lin begin doing the writer's job?
AOn 28 June
BOn 30 June
CAt the end of July
DOn 1 July
✔ 正確答案：(D) On 1 July
中譯林小姐何時開始接手作者的工作？
解析who will take over my duties from 1 July。
AD
Riverside Bureau of Employment — Free Workshop
Get Ready for Your Next Interview
Session 1 (Sat 9:00–11:00) — Writing a one-page application that a busy manager will actually read
Session 2 (Sat 13:00–15:00) — Answering hard questions without sounding rehearsed
Session 3 (Sun 9:00–12:00) — Mock interviews with a professional career adviser
All three sessions are free. Session 3 is open only to those who have finished Sessions 1 and 2. Places are limited to 30 people; sign up at the front desk or call 04-2233-5566.
Bring a printed copy of your application. Laptops are not needed.
✔ 正確答案：(C) Only those who attended Sessions 1 and 2
中譯誰可以參加第三場？
解析Session 3 is open only to those who have finished Sessions 1 and 2。
26How long does Session 3 last?
ATwo hours
BTwo and a half hours
CThree hours
DFour hours
✔ 正確答案：(C) Three hours
中譯第三場持續多久？
解析週日 9:00–12:00，共三小時。
27What are participants told to bring?
AA laptop
BA printed application
CA photograph
DThirty dollars
✔ 正確答案：(B) A printed application
中譯參加者被告知要帶什麼？
解析Bring a printed copy of your application；並說明不需筆電。
28What is true about the cost of the workshop?
AAll sessions are free
BEach session costs a small fee
COnly Session 1 is free
DThe fee is paid at the front desk
✔ 正確答案：(A) All sessions are free
中譯關於工作坊的費用，何者正確？
解析All three sessions are free。
ARTICLE
The Quiet Rise of the Four-Day Week
Several firms in Europe have moved their staff to a four-day week without cutting pay. Early results are encouraging. In one study, a researcher found that output stayed the same while sick leave fell by almost a fifth.
Not every sector can adopt the idea. A hospital or a factory cannot simply close on Fridays. Still, offices where work is measured by results rather than by hours have found the change surprisingly easy.
The biggest problem is not productivity but meetings. The firms that succeeded had to cut the number of meetings sharply and give each remaining meeting a clear purpose. Many workers still associate long hours with loyalty, and that habit fades slowly.