In recent years many countries have been faced with the problem of how to make their workers more
productive. Some experts believe that the answer is to make jobs more varied. Do more varied jobs lead
to greater productivity? There is something to suggest that while variety certainly makes the worker's life
more enjoyable, it does not make him work harder. So variety is not important.
Other experts feel that giving the worker freedom to do his job in his own way is important and there
is no doubt that this is true. The problem is that this kind of freedom cannot easily be given in the modern
factory with its complicated machinery which must be used in a fixed way. Thus while freedom of choice
may be important, there is very little that can be done to achieve this.
Another important consideration is how much each worker contributes to the product he is making. In
most factories the worker sees only one small part of the product. Some car factories are said to be
experimenting with having many small production lines rather than a large one, so that each worker
contributes more to the production of the cars on his line. It would seem then that the degree of workers'
contribution is important.
To what extent does more money lead to greater productivity? The workers themselves cartainly think
this is important, but perhaps they want more money only because the work they do is so boring. Money
just lets them enjoy their spare time more. A similar argument may explain demands for shorter working
hours. Perhaps if companies succeed in making workers' jobs more interesting, they will neither want
more money, nor will shorter working hours be so important to them.
1. Which of the following things will not increase productivity?
A. Making jobs more varied.
B. Giving workers freedom to do their jobs in their own way.
C. Increasing workers' contribution to production.
D. Longer working hours.
2. The last sentence in this passage means that if companies manage to make workers'jobs more
interesting, ________.
A. they will want more money
B. they will demand shorter working hours
C. more money and shorter working hours are important
D. more money and shorter working hours will not be so important to them
3. In this passage, the writer tells us________.
A. how to make workers more productive
B. possible factors leading to greater productivity
C. more money leads to greater productivity
D. how to make workers' jobs more interesting