# American businesses aim to support employees and their families - 科目：雅思阅读真题（Part 2） - 考频：中频 - 最近考试：2020.11.7 - 题目数：13 - 来源页：https://www.yaquan.site/paper/21f9005c-a37e-42b2-ac62-17c5bfa55283（在线机考练习与音频请访问该页面） - 数据更新：2026-10-29 ## 题目原文 A Companies of all sizes in the US recognize the importance of family-friendly policies, thanks in large part to the increasing number of people-centered entrepreneurs and company CEOs. Many of these go into business themselves as a result of negative experiences they have had in the workplace. So says Jennifer West, Managing Director of the Ohio-based Business Research Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to studying work–life balance. ‘Taking a people-centered view is a good recruitment and retention strategy,’ says West. ‘Employers who care about their employees and help them grow take into account the full range of issues and the external pressures that employees have and arrange things so that people can manage their lives. These considerations are a conscious part of how people-centered bosses organize their practices and strategies.’ B One employer who exemplifies this philosophy is Stephen Harper, co-owner and CEO of Plastic Solutions in California. His company manufactures custom plastics, mainly for medical devices, and offers engineering solutions for other plastics needs. Harper believes in having employees who understand the business. That’s why every two weeks, when his employees receive their salary, they also get an update about the company, including who their new customers are, what successes they’ve had, and what challenges they are facing. Harper also includes a ‘coaching’ section. This addresses issues like gossip, which employees sometimes indulge in around the water cooler or the rest rooms, and which can negatively impact on the morale of staff. He encourages people to work their way up in the company, and pays, at least partially, for educational opportunities and textbooks. His employees line up to attend his monthly invitation-only Business Pragmatics seminar, in which communication and other vital skills are taught, along with ethics and workplace morals and philosophy. The structure of his company is very family-friendly, and includes a regular Open House day for employees’ families where, among other things, kids can experiment with the company’s machines that manufacture their products and so on. The Harper philosophy pays off. Attrition at the company is low, and many employees remain with the company for much of their career. C In Vermont, the Margaret Mills Corporation also strives to be people-centered. It is a third generation, family-run business that sells children’s wooden toys internationally, and the company’s founder (Margaret Mills) understood all too well the challenges of raising a family while running a business. Like many other like-minded companies, the Margaret Mills Corporation offers liberal leave, flexi-time, good health and retirement packages, and other benefits. The corporation also allows workers to have their children dropped off when school is over, or to spend time with them during the vacations. Annual Christmas and summer parties are standard, and this year, to celebrate an especially strong performance, the company took all employees and their families on a 2-day trip to Montreal, Canada. Says Victor Davies, Human Resources Director, ‘We enable employees to maintain equilibrium between work and home, a policy which ultimately results in a more productive and stable workforce.’ It works – this year the company will celebrate six 5-year anniversaries, and one 25-year anniversary among its employees. D For Hazel Gibbs, CEO of Disposal Systems Inc. in Houston, Texas, a waste disposal and environmental cleanup and consultancy firm, the bottom line is keeping her business going. But she realizes that it takes a certain kind of mutuality to do that. ‘I’m not altruistic,’ she says, ‘but if everyone understands what it takes to be in business, that’s good for all of us.’ That’s why she works hard to ensure that everyone, from managers to workers, realizes that they count. ‘It’s not about “us” and “them”, we are a team,’ Gibbs says. ‘When our employees understand what it takes to keep a business going, then it works and we can accommodate each other’s needs.’ Despite her success, Gibbs sometimes struggles with being taken seriously. She sees this as a long-term challenge. ‘Working mothers still need to be taken more seriously, and so do mothers who are business owners.’ She has two children of her own to think about. E Family-friendly entrepreneurs are becoming more commonplace internationally, and they clearly influence those companies which have so far been slow to accommodate employee needs. According to West, it is already possible to document the dwindling workforces of these latter businesses, or the migration of labor to more family-friendly ones. What is more, parents are important consumers and investors who can change buying practices. Further, in the public policy arena, multinational corporations and aid agencies are beginning to recognize the need to integrate social and economic policy and practice. Family-friendly employers are creating a groundswell of awareness that can only result in changing business practices. And as Hazel Gibbs says, when that happens, ‘you’ve got it working.’ ## 题目与答案 ### 14. a description of a company that provides financial assistance for employees to continue their learning. a description of a company that provides financial assistance for employees to continue their learning. - A - B - C - D - E - F **答案**：B 原文定位：He encourages people to work their way up in the company, and pays, at least partially, for educational opportunities and textbooks 同义替换：「financial assistance」↔「pays, at least partially, for」；「continue their learning」↔「educational opportunities」 ### 15. a mention of worldwide trends in the changing attitudes of businesses and customers. a mention of worldwide trends in the changing attitudes of businesses and customers. - A - B - C - D - E **答案**：E 原文定位：Family-friendly entrepreneurs are becoming more commonplace internationally;parents are important consumers and investors who can change buying practices;multinational corporations;recognize the need to integrate social and economic policy and practice 同义替换：「worldwide trends」↔「internationally」；「customers」↔「parents」 ### 16. details about years of continuous service by employees at one company. details about years of continuous service by employees at one company. - A - B - C - D - E **答案**：C 原文定位：It works – this year the company will celebrate six 5-year anniversaries, and one 25-year anniversary among its employees 同义替换：「years of continuous service」↔「25-year anniversary」；「employees at one company」↔「among its employees」 ### 17. a reference to the reason why many people-centred workers first start their own businesses. a reference to the reason why many people-centred workers first start their own businesses. - A - B - C - D - E **答案**：A 原文定位：Working mothers still need to be taken more seriously, and so do mothers who are business owners;She has two children of her own to think about 同义替换：「reason why」↔「as a result of」；「bosses」↔「entrepreneurs and company CEOs」；「start their own businesses」↔「go into business themselves」 ### 18. a comment about how certain groups are still fighting for respect in the business world. a comment about how certain groups are still fighting for respect in the business world. - A - B - C - D - E **答案**：E 原文定位：Working mothers still need to be taken more seriously, and so do mothers who are business owners 同义替换：「fighting for respect」↔「need to be taken more seriously」 ### 19. Employees should be kept informed about business development and performance. Employees should be kept informed about business development and performance. - Jennifer West - Stephen Harper - Margaret Mills - Victor Davies - Hazel Gibbs **答案**：Stephen Harper 原文定位：That’s why every two weeks, when his employees receive their salary, they also get an update about the company, including who their new customers are, what successes they’ve had, and what challenges they are facing 同义替换：「kept informed about」↔「get an update about」 ### 20. Work output increases when employees have a good balance between company and family responsibilities. Work output increases when employees have a good balance between company and family responsibilities. - Jennifer West - Stephen Harper - Margaret Mills - Victor Davies - Hazel Gibbs **答案**：Victor Davies 原文定位：We enable employees to maintain equilibrium between work and home, a policy which ultimately results in a more productive and stable workforce 同义替换：「good balance between company and family responsibilities」↔「equilibrium between work and home」；「work output increases」↔「more productive」 ### 21. It is critical to business success that all company members recognise that they matter. It is critical to business success that all company members recognise that they matter. - Jennifer West - Stephen Harper - Margaret Mills - Victor Davies - Hazel Gibbs **答案**：Hazel Gibbs 原文定位：that’s good for all of us.’ That’s why she works hard to ensure that everyone, from managers to workers, realizes that they count 同义替换：「all company members」↔「everyone, from managers to workers」；「recognise that they matter」↔「realizes that they count」；「critical to business success」↔「good for all of us」 ### 22. Family-friendly practices at Plastic Solutions and the Margaret Mills Corporation At Plastic Solutions, a bi-weekly update is issued to workers at the same time as their pay. This includes a section dealing with problems such as 22_____ in communal areas of the workplace. Family-friendly practices at Plastic Solutions and the Margaret Mills Corporation At Plastic Solutions, a bi-weekly update is issued to workers at the same time as their pay. This includes a section dealing with problems such as 22_____ in communal areas of the workplace. **答案**：gossip 原文定位：Harper also includes a ‘coaching’ section. This addresses issues like gossip, which employees sometimes indulge in around the water cooler or the rest rooms 同义替换：「problems such as」↔「issues like」；「communal areas of the workplace」↔「water cooler or the rest rooms」；「dealing with」↔「addresses」 ### 23. The CEO also arranges a regular 23_____ for selected employees for whom places are in great demand. The CEO also arranges a regular 23_____ for selected employees for whom places are in great demand. **答案**：seminar 原文定位：His employees line up to attend his monthly invitation-only Business Pragmatics seminar, in which communication and other vital skills are taught 同义替换：「regular」↔「monthly」；「for selected employees」↔「invitation-only」；「places are in great demand」↔「employees line up to attend」 ### 24. Finally, employees’ families are invited to company open days, when they are allowed to try out the 24_____ . Finally, employees’ families are invited to company open days, when they are allowed to try out the 24_____ . **答案**：machines 原文定位：Open House day for employees’ families where, among other things, kids can experiment with the company’s machines that manufacture their products and so on 同义替换：「try out」↔「experiment with」 ### 25. The Margaret Mills Corporation allows employees a great deal of flexibility with their children, who can be brought to the office once 25_____ has finished. The Margaret Mills Corporation allows employees a great deal of flexibility with their children, who can be brought to the office once 25_____ has finished. **答案**：school 原文定位：The corporation also allows workers to have their children dropped off when school is over 同义替换：「finished」↔「over」；「brought to」↔「dropped off」 ### 26. Mills likes to reward employees for company performance with a party or even a 26_____ for families. There is considerable evidence that these practices are having the desired effect. Mills likes to reward employees for company performance with a party or even a 26_____ for families. There is considerable evidence that these practices are having the desired effect. **答案**：trip 原文定位：this year, to celebrate an especially strong performance, the company took all employees and their families on a 2-day trip to Montreal, Canada 同义替换：「reward」↔「celebrate」 --- 以上内容由鸭圈雅思真题库（www.yaquan.site）提供，收录近期雅思考试真题回忆，支持在线机考模式免费练习。