COLUMBIA City, Indiana — For Robin Smith, the hard plastics company where she works has become a worker’s paradise since the work week was cut from 40 to 30 hours last May with no pay cut.
“I love it. I like spending more time with my family and less time at work and getting paid for it,” said the mother of three.
Hard Plastics is part of a growing number of US companies that are experimenting with the so-called “30/40” plan to replace the 40-hour working week.
Unlike in Europe, where cutting the working week is seen as a way to reduce unemployment, US companies see the 30/40 program mainly as a tool to increase productivity.
At the Hard Plastics plant, some 150 women employees work 6-hour daily for a 30-hour working week. And if they show up every day on time, they receive a 10-hour bonus for the week.
“But if you’re even one minute late, sorry Charlie, no bonus,” said Ronald Ronald Richey, the company’s president.
“We’re in a very low unemployment market here, 2.5 percent for the town—Whitley,” said Ronald Richey. “The idea was to draw more quality applicants.”
With 30/40, the company, which employs 325 people at two plants in Indiana and has yearly sales of US $30 million, has greatly broadened its applicant pool. Some 40 people apply every week, among them many with long years of work experience or even college degrees.
The idea was first put forward by industrial psychologist Ron Healey. He said more and more companies were expressing interest in his program and were even testing it.
61. According to the text, what is the “30/40”program?
A. An employee works 30 hours a week with 40 hours’ pay.
B. An employee works for 10 hours extra every week and gets paid.
C. A woman employee with a family has the right to work 30 hours a week.
D. A woman employee gets paid even if she stays at home during work hours.
62. A “30/40 plan” is being tested in Hard Plastics with an aim to _________.
A. let working women enjoy their family life B. improve employees’ working conditions
C. reduce unemployment in Whitley D. raise the company’s productivity
63. We can learn from the text that with 30/40, the company is able to _______.
A. employ more women workers B. employ more college graduates
C. choose their employees from among more applicants
D. help the town in its effort to reduce unemployment
64. What would be the best title for the text?
A. Hard Plastics: a worker’s paradise B. Ron Healey: his contribution to industrial psychology
C. 30/40 program: a better way to reduce unemployment D. US: shorter week produces more
阅读快车系列答案科目：高中英语 来源：2015届江苏省高一3月月考英语试卷（解析版） 题型：完型填空
In order to tell what I believe, I must briefly introduce some of my personal history.
The turning point of my life was my decision to give up a promising business career and study music. My parents, sharing my love of music, _16_____ of it as a profession. This was understandable in view of the family __17____. My grandfather had taught music for nearly forty years and earned barely enough to __18____ for his large family. My father often said it was only the hardheaded thriftiness of my grandmother that helped the family live a life. As a(an) __19___ of this example in the family, my mention of music as a profession carried with it a picture of an existence with __20____ financial rewards. My parents insisted upon college instead of a conservatory of a career of music, and so finally I went to college quite happily.
Before my graduation from Columbia, the family met with severe financial problems and I felt it my duty to __21____ college and take a job. Thus was I started a business career – which I always think of as the wasted years.
Now I do not for a moment mean to disparage business. My whole point I is that it was not for me. I went into it for __22___, and apart from the satisfaction of being able to help the family, money is all I got out of it. It was not enough. I felt that life was passing me by. From being merely dissatisfied I became really ___23___. I knew what I wanted is to save enough to __24____ and go to Europe to study ___25__. I used to get up at dawn to practice before I left for “downtown”, disappointing my poor mother by eating a hurried breakfast at the last minute. I continued to make money, and finally, bit by bit, saved enough to __26____ me to go abroad. And, by now, the family didn’t need my help any longer. I ended my business career, feeling like a man released from prison, and sailed for Europe. I stayed four years, worked harder than ever and ___27___ every minute of it.
“Enjoyed” is too mild a word. I walked on air. I really lived. I was a __28____ man and I was doing what I loved to do and what I was meant to do.
If I had stayed in business, I might be a __29____ man today, but I do not believe I would have made a success of living. I would have given up all those inner satisfactions, which money can never buy.
When I broken away from business, it was against the advice of all my friends and family. Most of us are so accustomed to the association of success with money__30___the thought of giving up a good income for an idea seemed rather crazy. If so, all I can say is “Ah! It’s great to be crazy.”
1. A．thought B．disapproved C．agreed D．disagreed
2. A．background B．experience C．tradition D．belief
3. A．offer B．support C．provide D．give
4. A．expectation B．intention C．cause D．consequence
5. A．certain B．uncertain C．sure D．ensured
6. A．enter B．join C．leave D．apply
7. A．interest B．dreams C．money D．hope
8. A．painful B．excited C．embarrassed D．cheerful
9. A．drop B．satisfy C．live D．quit
10. A．music B．medicine C．economy D．Business
11. A．let B．make C．encourage D．enable
12. A．spent B．enjoyed C．wasted D．used
13. A．free B．wealthy C．creative D．enthusiastic
14. A．strong B．successful C．wealthy D．satisfied
15. A．it B．which C．that D．as
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科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
第三部分：阅读理解（共对小题；每小题2分，满分物分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Relation between the United States and Columbia suffered for many years because of an incident involving the Republic of Panama. By the end of the Spanish-American War in 1898, many Americans felt that an easier and faster way was needed to get ships from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Some people in the United States first believed that a canal across Nicaragua was the answer. However, President Theodore Roosevelt decided that a canal through Panama would be a better choice.
In order to build the canal , the United States had to negotiate （谈判） a treaty with Columbia , which at that time controlled Panama . Roosevelt offered Columbia $ 10 million plus $ 250,000 a year for 99 years for a six-mile-wide strip of land across Panama. Columbia rejected the United States’ offer. This ranged President Roosevelt, and negotiations with Columbia ended.
In 1903, a revolution broke out in Panama. The United States ships were sent by President Roosevelt to protect the Panamanian revolutionaries from Columbian forces. The revolution succeeded, and Panama declared its independence from Columbia. The United States then negotiated with the newly formed government. A treaty was signed, and the United States began building the canal.
As a result of the incident, Columbia and the United States remained on bad terms for many years. Not until 1921, when the United States agreed to pay Columbia some compensation (赔偿) for its territory, did relations between the two countries improve.
56. According to the passage, the United States and Columbia were on bad terms because the United States had ________.
A. at first wished to build a canal through Nicaragua
B. promised to pay Columbia $ 10 million for Panama
C. wished to build a canal through Panama
D. supported Panamanian revolutionaries in their fight for independence from Columbia.
57. From the information in the passage, it can be concluded that the United States ______.
A. wanted to build a canal because it was considered starting a war
B. felt that building a canal through Panama was worth the risk of ruining relations with Columbia
C. believed that a canal through Nicaragua would be profitable
D. had lost the Spanish-American War
58. It can be inferred from the passage that an important reason for the decision of the United States to build a canal was to _______.
A. develop trade relations with Europe
B. improve relations with South American countries
C. prevent European ships from reaching the Pacific Ocean
D. reduce travel time for its ships in case of war
59. The passage mainly gives us________.
A. advice B. information C. humor D. news
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科目：高中英语 来源：0113 期末题 题型：听力题
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科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
Relation between the United States and Columbia suffered for many years because of an incident involving the Republic of Panama. By the end of the Spanish-American War in 1898, many Americans felt that an easier and faster way was needed to get ships from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Some people in the United States first believed that a canal across Nicaragua was the answer. However, President Theodore Roosevelt decided that a canal through Panama would be a better choice.
In order to build the canal , the United States had to negotiate （谈判） a treaty with Columbia , which at that time controlled Panama . Roosevelt offered Columbia $ 10 million plus $ 250,000 a year for 99 years for a six-mile-wide strip of land across Panama. Columbia rejected the United States’ offer. This ranged President Roosevelt, and negotiations with Columbia ended.
In 1903, a revolution broke out in Panama. The United States ships were sent by President Roosevelt to protect the Panamanian revolutionaries from Columbian forces. The revolution succeeded, and Panama declared its independence from Columbia. The United States then negotiated with the newly formed government. A treaty was signed, and the United States began building the canal.
As a result of the incident, Columbia and the United States remained on bad terms for many years. Not until 1921, when the United States agreed to pay Columbia some compensation (赔偿) for its territory, did relations between the two countries improve.
1. According to the passage, the United States and Columbia were on bad terms because the United States had ________.
A. at first wished to build a canal through Nicaragua
B. promised to pay Columbia $ 10 million for Panama
C. wished to build a canal through Panama
D. supported Panamanian revolutionaries in their fight for independence from Columbia.
2. From the information in the passage, it can be concluded that the United States ______.
A. wanted to build a canal because it was considered starting a war
B. felt that building a canal through Panama was worth the risk of ruining relations with Columbia
C. believed that a canal through Nicaragua would be profitable
D. had lost the Spanish-American War
3. It can be inferred from the passage that an important reason for the decision of the United States to build a canal was to _______.
A. develop trade relations with Europe
B. improve relations with South American countries
C. prevent European ships from reaching the Pacific Ocean
D. reduce travel time for its ships in case of war
4. The passage mainly gives us________.
A. advice B. information C. humor D. news
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科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
Relation between the United States and Columbia suffered for many years because of an incident involving the Republic of Panama. By the end of the Spanish-American War in 1898, many Americans felt that an easier and faster way was needed to get ships from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Some people in the United States first believed that a canal across Nicaragua was the answer. However, President Theodore Roosevelt decided that a canal through Panama would be a better choice.
In order to build the canal , the United States had to negotiate （谈判） a treaty with Columbia , which at that time controlled Panama . Roosevelt offered Columbia $ 10 million plus $ 250,000 a year for 99 years for a six-mile-wide strip of land across Panama. Columbia rejected the United States’ offer. This ranged President Roosevelt, and negotiations with Columbia ended.
In 1903, a revolution broke out in Panama. The United States ships were sent by President Roosevelt to protect the Panamanian revolutionaries from Columbian forces. The revolution succeeded, and Panama declared its independence from Columbia. The United States then negotiated with the newly formed government. A treaty was signed, and the United States began building the canal.
As a result of the incident, Columbia and the United States remained on bad terms for many years. Not until 1921, when the United States agreed to pay Columbia some compensation (赔偿) for its territory, did relations between the two countries improve.
1. According to the passage, the United States and Columbia were on bad terms because the United States had ________.
A. at first wished to build a canal through Nicaragua
B. promised to pay Columbia $ 10 million for Panama
C. wished to build a canal through Panama
D. supported Panamanian revolutionaries in their fight for independence from Columbia.
2. From the information in the passage, it can be concluded that the United States ______.
A. wanted to build a canal because it was considered starting a war
B. felt that building a canal through Panama was worth the risk of ruining relations with Columbia
C. believed that a canal through Nicaragua would be profitable
D. had lost the Spanish-American War
3. It can be inferred from the passage that an important reason for the decision of the United States to build a canal was to _______.
A. develop trade relations with Europe
B. improve relations with South American countries
C. prevent European ships from reaching the Pacific Ocean
D. reduce travel time for its ships in case of war
4. The passage mainly gives us________.
A. advice B. information C. humor D. news
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