2014年托福考试精选练习及答案(第七套)_第5页

　　Topic 3 Answer

　　The reading and listening passages have a conflict of opinion about the proposal of a four-day workweek for eighty percent of salary. The reading passage points out its three benefits, which are contradicted by the following lecture.

　　First, the reading passage believes that the plan will increase company’s profits because hiring more employees will not increase company’s costs. However, the speaker believes that this is not the case. For one thing, more employees mean more training costs and medical benefits. For another thing, companies will have to spend more on office spaces and computers.

　　Second, the reading passage argues that the plan will reduce unemployment rate because if employees work fewer hours, companies will have to employ more people. Yet, the speaker holds the opposite opinion. He argues that companies will ask employees to work overtime or raise work expectations instead of hiring more.

　　Finally, the reading passage points out the plan will improve the quality of lives of employees. However, the speaker believes that this is not the case because employees will be more likely to lose their jobs and less likely to be promoted to higher positions.