英语四级阅读模拟题及详细答案解析：The Rise of Remote Work

Passage

The Rise of Remote Work

The global shift toward remote work has transformed traditional office dynamics. Studies show that over 60% of companies now offer flexible working arrangements, driven by technological advancements and employee demand for work-life balance. Remote work reduces commuting stress and allows employees to customize their schedules, leading to higher productivity in some cases. However, challenges persist: isolation, blurred boundaries between work and personal life, and reliance on self-discipline often affect employee well-being.

Critics argue that remote work undermines team collaboration and company culture. Yet, proponents highlight innovative solutions like virtual team-building activities and AI-powered project management tools. Interestingly, environmental benefits are also notable—reduced office energy consumption and fewer commutes contribute to lower carbon emissions. As hybrid models emerge, balancing flexibility with structured office interactions remains a key challenge for organizations.

Questions

1. What is the main reason companies adopt remote work according to the passage?
   A) To reduce carbon emissions
   B) Technological advancements and employee demand
   C) To eliminate office costs completely
   D) Government regulations

答案：B。

解析：定位第一段第二句：”…driven by technological advancements and employee demand…”，与B选项完全对应。干扰项A和C属于次要信息或过度推断，D未提及。

2. What can be inferred about remote work’s impact on productivity?
   A) It always increases productivity.
   B) It has no effect on productivity.
   C) It may improve productivity under certain conditions.
   D) It decreases productivity due to isolation.

答案：C。

解析：原文提到”leading to higher productivity in some cases”，暗示结果有条件限制（some cases）。A中的”always”过于绝对，D将”isolation”的影响偷换为直接因果关系，属于干扰项。

3. The word “proponents” in Paragraph 2 most likely means ______.
   A) opponents
   B) supporters
   C) managers
   D) employees

答案：B。

解析：根据上下文对比：”Critics argue…”与”proponents highlight…”，proponents应与critics对立，故选B。干扰项A为反义词，C和D偏离语境。

4. What is the author’s attitude toward remote work?
   A) Entirely negative.
   B) Strongly optimistic.
   C) Balanced with pros and cons.
   D) Indifferent.

答案：C。

解析：文中既提到优势（higher productivity, environmental benefits）又分析挑战（isolation, blurred boundaries），体现客观平衡。干扰项A和B以偏概全，D与作者深入讨论的态度矛盾。

5. What is the passage mainly about?
   A) The history of office culture.
   B) The environmental benefits of remote work.
   C) The complexities of implementing remote work.
   D) A comparison of remote work tools.

答案：C。

解析：全文围绕远程办公的机遇与挑战展开，C概括全面。干扰项B和D仅涉及细节，A偏离主题。