题目
As many office workers adapt to remote work，cities may undergo fundamental change if offices remain under-utilized.Who will benefit if working from home becomes the norm？ Employers argue they make considerable savings on real estate when workers shift from office to home work.However，these savings result from passing costs on to workers. Unless employees are fully compensated，this could become a variant of parasitic （变异的） capitalism，whereby corporate profits increasingly rely on extracting value from the public- and now personal- realm，rather than on generating new value. Though employers are backed by a chorus of remote work advocates，others note the loneliness，reduced productivity and inefficiencies of extended remote work. If working from home becomes permanent，employees will have to dedicate part of their private space to work.This requires purchasing desks，chairs and office equipment. It also means having private space dedicated to work：the space must be heated，cleaned，maintained and paid for.That depends on many things，but for purposes of illustration，I have run some estimates for Montreal.The exercise is simple but important，since it brings these costs out of the realm of speculation into the realm of meaningful discussion. Rough calculations show that the savings made by employers when their staff works from home are of similar value to the compensation workers should receive for setting up offices at home. What does this mean for offices in cities？One of two things may happen：Employers pass these costs onto employees.This would be a form of expropriation （侵占），with employees absorbing production costs that have traditionally been paid by the employer.This represents a considerable transfer of value from employees to employers. When employees are properly compensated，employers' real estate savings will be modest.If savings are modest，then the many advantages of working in offices-such as lively atmosphere，rapidity of communication，team-building and acclimatization （适应环境） of new employees-will encourage employers to shelve the idea of remote work and，like Yahoo in 2013，encourage employees to work most of the time from corporate office space.（1）What does the author say about working from home？ ____ A.It will become the norm sooner or later.B.It requires employees to adapt promptly.C.It benefits employers at the expense of employees.D.It will force cities to transform their infrastructure.（2）Why do some people oppose working from home？ ____ A.It discourages team spirit.B.It undermines traditional values.C.It invades employees' privacy.D.It negatively impacts productivity.（3）Why did the author run the estimates for Montreal？ ____ A.To provide convincing data for serious discussion.B.To illustrate the ongoing change in working patterns.C.To show the impact of remote working on productivity.D.To exemplify how remote working affects the economy.（4）What is the author's opinion on working from home？ ____ A.It should be avoided if possible.B.It is only a temporary measure.C.It can reduce companies' real estate costs.D.It may affect employees' corporate loyalty.
As many office workers adapt to remote work，cities may undergo fundamental change if offices remain under-utilized.Who will benefit if working from home becomes the norm？
Employers argue they make considerable savings on real estate when workers shift from office to home work.However，these savings result from passing costs on to workers.
Unless employees are fully compensated，this could become a variant of parasitic （变异的） capitalism，whereby corporate profits increasingly rely on extracting value from the public- and now personal- realm，rather than on generating new value.
Though employers are backed by a chorus of remote work advocates，others note the loneliness，reduced productivity and inefficiencies of extended remote work.
If working from home becomes permanent，employees will have to dedicate part of their private space to work.This requires purchasing desks，chairs and office equipment.
It also means having private space dedicated to work：the space must be heated，cleaned，maintained and paid for.That depends on many things，but for purposes of illustration，I have run some estimates for Montreal.The exercise is simple but important，since it brings these costs out of the realm of speculation into the realm of meaningful discussion.
Rough calculations show that the savings made by employers when their staff works from home are of similar value to the compensation workers should receive for setting up offices at home.
What does this mean for offices in cities？One of two things may happen：Employers pass these costs onto employees.This would be a form of expropriation （侵占），with employees absorbing production costs that have traditionally been paid by the employer.This represents a considerable transfer of value from employees to employers.
When employees are properly compensated，employers' real estate savings will be modest.If savings are modest，then the many advantages of working in offices-such as lively atmosphere，rapidity of communication，team-building and acclimatization （适应环境） of new employees-will encourage employers to shelve the idea of remote work and，like Yahoo in 2013，encourage employees to work most of the time from corporate office space.
（1）What does the author say about working from home？ ____
A.It will become the norm sooner or later.
B.It requires employees to adapt promptly.
C.It benefits employers at the expense of employees.
D.It will force cities to transform their infrastructure.
（2）Why do some people oppose working from home？ ____
A.It discourages team spirit.
B.It undermines traditional values.
C.It invades employees' privacy.
D.It negatively impacts productivity.
（3）Why did the author run the estimates for Montreal？ ____
A.To provide convincing data for serious discussion.
B.To illustrate the ongoing change in working patterns.
C.To show the impact of remote working on productivity.
D.To exemplify how remote working affects the economy.
（4）What is the author's opinion on working from home？ ____
A.It should be avoided if possible.
B.It is only a temporary measure.
C.It can reduce companies' real estate costs.
D.It may affect employees' corporate loyalty.
Employers argue they make considerable savings on real estate when workers shift from office to home work.However，these savings result from passing costs on to workers.
Unless employees are fully compensated，this could become a variant of parasitic （变异的） capitalism，whereby corporate profits increasingly rely on extracting value from the public- and now personal- realm，rather than on generating new value.
Though employers are backed by a chorus of remote work advocates，others note the loneliness，reduced productivity and inefficiencies of extended remote work.
If working from home becomes permanent，employees will have to dedicate part of their private space to work.This requires purchasing desks，chairs and office equipment.
It also means having private space dedicated to work：the space must be heated，cleaned，maintained and paid for.That depends on many things，but for purposes of illustration，I have run some estimates for Montreal.The exercise is simple but important，since it brings these costs out of the realm of speculation into the realm of meaningful discussion.
Rough calculations show that the savings made by employers when their staff works from home are of similar value to the compensation workers should receive for setting up offices at home.
What does this mean for offices in cities？One of two things may happen：Employers pass these costs onto employees.This would be a form of expropriation （侵占），with employees absorbing production costs that have traditionally been paid by the employer.This represents a considerable transfer of value from employees to employers.
When employees are properly compensated，employers' real estate savings will be modest.If savings are modest，then the many advantages of working in offices-such as lively atmosphere，rapidity of communication，team-building and acclimatization （适应环境） of new employees-will encourage employers to shelve the idea of remote work and，like Yahoo in 2013，encourage employees to work most of the time from corporate office space.
（1）What does the author say about working from home？ ____
A.It will become the norm sooner or later.
B.It requires employees to adapt promptly.
C.It benefits employers at the expense of employees.
D.It will force cities to transform their infrastructure.
（2）Why do some people oppose working from home？ ____
A.It discourages team spirit.
B.It undermines traditional values.
C.It invades employees' privacy.
D.It negatively impacts productivity.
（3）Why did the author run the estimates for Montreal？ ____
A.To provide convincing data for serious discussion.
B.To illustrate the ongoing change in working patterns.
C.To show the impact of remote working on productivity.
D.To exemplify how remote working affects the economy.
（4）What is the author's opinion on working from home？ ____
A.It should be avoided if possible.
B.It is only a temporary measure.
C.It can reduce companies' real estate costs.
D.It may affect employees' corporate loyalty.
题目解答
答案
（1）细节理解题。根据第二段的Employers argue they make considerable savings on real estate when workers shift from office to home work.However，these savings result from passing costs on to workers.（雇主们辩称，当员工从办公室转移到家庭工作时，他们可以在房地产方面节省相当多的资金。然而，这些节省来自于将成本转嫁给工人）可知，在家工作以牺牲员工的利益为代价让雇主受益。故选C。
（2）推理判断题。根据第四段的others note the loneliness，reduced productivity and inefficiencies of extended remote work.（但也有人指出了远程工作带来的孤独感、生产力下降和效率低下）可知，有些人反对在家工作是因为这会对生产力产生负面影响。故选D。
（3）推理判断题。根据倒数第四段的It also means having private space dedicated to work：the space must be heated，cleaned，maintained and paid for.That depends on many things，but for purposes of illustration，I have run some estimates for Montreal.（这还意味着要有专门用于工作的私人空间：这些空间必须有暖气、清洁、维护和费用。这取决于很多因素，但为了说明，我对蒙特利尔进行了一些估算）可知，作者要对蒙特利尔进行估算是为了为严肃的讨论提供有说服力的数据。故选A。
（4）推理判断题。根据最后一段的If savings are modest，then the many advantages of working in offices-such as lively atmosphere，rapidity of communication，team-building and acclimatization of new employees-will encourage employers to shelve the idea of remote work and，like Yahoo in 2013，encourage employees to work most of the time from corporate office space.（如果节省的成本不多，那么在办公室工作的许多优势---比如活跃的氛围、快速的沟通、团队建设和新员工的适应能力---将鼓励雇主搁置远程工作的想法，并像2013年的雅虎一样，鼓励员工大部分时间在公司办公空间工作）可知，作者对在家工作的看法是如果可能的话，应该避免这样做。故选A。
（2）推理判断题。根据第四段的others note the loneliness，reduced productivity and inefficiencies of extended remote work.（但也有人指出了远程工作带来的孤独感、生产力下降和效率低下）可知，有些人反对在家工作是因为这会对生产力产生负面影响。故选D。
（3）推理判断题。根据倒数第四段的It also means having private space dedicated to work：the space must be heated，cleaned，maintained and paid for.That depends on many things，but for purposes of illustration，I have run some estimates for Montreal.（这还意味着要有专门用于工作的私人空间：这些空间必须有暖气、清洁、维护和费用。这取决于很多因素，但为了说明，我对蒙特利尔进行了一些估算）可知，作者要对蒙特利尔进行估算是为了为严肃的讨论提供有说服力的数据。故选A。
（4）推理判断题。根据最后一段的If savings are modest，then the many advantages of working in offices-such as lively atmosphere，rapidity of communication，team-building and acclimatization of new employees-will encourage employers to shelve the idea of remote work and，like Yahoo in 2013，encourage employees to work most of the time from corporate office space.（如果节省的成本不多，那么在办公室工作的许多优势---比如活跃的氛围、快速的沟通、团队建设和新员工的适应能力---将鼓励雇主搁置远程工作的想法，并像2013年的雅虎一样，鼓励员工大部分时间在公司办公空间工作）可知，作者对在家工作的看法是如果可能的话，应该避免这样做。故选A。