23. (A)evolve (B)evolved (C)evolving (D)evolution IV. Reading Comprehension: Choose the best answer to each question. Passage ( A ) Read the article on remote working. Working remotely—is it really that productive? During the 20th century, cities around the world witnessed a movement of workers from city centers out to the suburbs. Better cars and transportation meant they were prepared to endure a longer commute to enjoy a better quality of life. The rise of the home PC meant that from the 1980s, an increasing number of companies enabled staff to drop the commute and work from home. Recently, some organizations have started to reverse the trend. Why is this? The advantages of working from home are many for both the company and the employee. There are huge savings from not renting office space, and salaries can be lower as staff have no travel costs and spend less on lunches and coffee. It can boost productivity, as studies show that remote workers log more hours since they spend the commute time working. Remote workers often enjoy the freedom and flexibility to choose not only where they work but also when they work, how they work, and what they wear while they work. They appreciate a better work/life balance, so they have less stress and take fewer sick days. There is less staff turnover because employees like the arrangements, so the organization retains skills and reduces recruitment costs. Employers not requiring proximity to a specific office can hire new staff more quickly from a wider selection pool without geographic limits. While remote working is ideal for people who only require interaction with customers (e.g., sales staff, customer support workers) or no interaction at all (e.g., journalists, designers), there is a growing realization that communication among people who work collaboratively is best achieved in an office. E-mail exchanges can be slow when many people are involved. Working together, people see things simultaneously and can respond instantly. Proximity can boost productivity as colleagues trade tips and ideas, often when “off duty” in break-time chats. Scheduled meetings are effective at including remote staff, but these workers miss out on spontaneous conversations and unscheduled discussions that their office colleagues have. Companies have found that it is harder to cultivate a unified company culture when staff meet infrequently. Some remote workers discover that they miss work-related social life, colleague bonding, and the sense of community. Further, they have less career and management support, as managers prioritize support and promotion for those whose faces they are familiar with. What are the solutions? Increased use of technology, such as video meetings, keeps remote staff visible, and business communication apps such as Slack and HipChat can improve rapid communication, including “water cooler”–type chats. For some, a combination of home and office work, a few days a week of each, is the ideal solution. Choose the correct alternatives to complete the sentences.
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