In many families today, both the mother and the father have jobs outside the home. This can make it difficult to take care of the children. To help, some companies are changing the work rules. These companies are trying to be more family-friendly.
What are companies doing to become family-friendly? Many companies are allowing their employees (雇员) to work flexible (灵活的) hours. With flexible hours, people can work full time, but they don’t have to work to a nine-to-five schedule. Some employees choose to come early and leave early. Some employees choose to work ten hours one day and six hours the next. Most companies say that flexible hours increase productivity. In the United States, about one-third of full-time employees have flexible work schedules.
Family-friendly companies also allow two employees to share one job. Each employee does half the job and gets half the salary. In the United States, 27% of the companies offer some kind of job sharing.
Many family-friendly companies also give paid leave to both parents when a baby is born. In many countries, employers have to give female workers time off before and after the birth of a child. In the United States, for example, female employees get 12 weeks of unpaid time off. New mothers can stay at home, but they don t get their salary. In some countries, employers have to give all workers paid leave for the birth of their child. In Finland, for example, both male and female employees get paid leave. Women get 105 days of paid leave and men get 42.
The way people work is changing. For many people, that is a good thing.
【小题1】Some companies make some changes in their work rules to ________.| A．enable parents to take care of their children |
| B．give parents more time to relax |
| C．provide parents with more job opportunities |
| D．allow parents to work at home |
| A．can arrange their work time themselves | B．can work with their babies around |
| C．must work from nine to five | D．must share jobs with others |
| A．Employers become busier with flexible hours. |
| B．Employers have enough time to look after their children. |
| C．Employees can get job-sharing opportunities in some American companies. |
| D．Employees can have three months’ paid leave in some American companies. |
| A．they have physical problems | B．they have a new baby |
| C．they do a good job | D．they do extra work |
| A．companies’ work rules about getting leave |
| B．ways of job sharing in some companies |
| C．job opportunities for female employees |
| D．some companies’ family-friendly rules |
Questions to Ask Before Getting Your Child a Cellphone
At what age should you get your child a cellphone?
If you and your child are not often apart beyond school hours, a cellphone may not be a serious necessity, but if he is independent or involved in extracurricular (课外的) activities outside your home, a cellphone could be useful, especially during emergencies as a convenient means of communication with you.
Does your child understand the cost?
Make sure your child understands the cost of having a cellphone.
How can you keep your child’s phone usage safe and under control?
Before you get your child a phone, you should discuss what it can be used for, rules he is expected to follow and consequences if he fails to follow them.
| A．Who needs a cellphone? |
| B．You ask your child to make use of his cellphone for learning. |
| C．Also, educate yourself on what social media apps are popular with teens. |
| D．According to Pew Research Center, the average age is between 12 and 13. |
| E．How can you determine whether or not to buy a cellphone for your child? |
| F．Also be sure that he can be trusted to stay within his limits from month to month. |
| G．For example, is the phone only to be used to call family, or can it be used socially? |
Tricks to become a patient person
Here’s a riddle: What do traffic jams, long lines and waiting for a vacation to start all have in common?
In the digital age, we’re used to having what we need immediately and right at our fingertips. However, research suggests that if we practiced patience, we’d be a whole lot better off. Here are several tricks.
Thankfulness has a lot of benefits.
Make yourself wait
Instant gratification (满足) may seem like the most “feel-good” option at the time, but psychology research suggests waiting for things actually makes us happier in the long run. And the only way for us to get into the habit of waiting is to practice. Start with small tasks.
Accept the uncomfortable
| A．There is one answer |
| B．Keep a balanced state of mind |
| C．Practice showing or expressing gratitude |
| D．Attach importance to process and method |
| E．Put off watching your favorite show until the weekend |
| F．So many of us believe being comfortable is the only state we will enjoy |
| G．Research shows it makes us happier, less stressed and even more optimistic |
Use Proper Office Etiquette (礼仪)
Using proper manners will help you make a good impression on your boss and also your co-workers. Office etiquette includes everything from the proper way to e-mails to knowing when, where, and how to use your cell phone at work.
Face up to Your Mistakes
When you make a mistake at work, which everyone inevitably (不可避免地) does at some points, face up to it. Don’t ignore your error or place the blame on others. Take responsibility and come up with a solution to fix your mistake. Your boss may not be too happy about it, but she will at least be impressed with your response.
Know to Call in Sick
Do you think coming to work when you are sick instead of staying at home will impress your boss? Reasonable bosses know that a sick employee not only is unproductive but also he or she can spread an illness around the office. Call in sick(打电话请病假) when you are ill.
Come Through in a Crisis
When the unexpected happens at work, who will make a better impression on the boss? Of course it’s the employee who deals with the crisis quickly and effectively.
【小题1】What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．How to Use Good Etiquette |
| B．How to Deal with Mistakes at Work |
| C．How to Be a Good Worker in the Future |
| D．How to Make a Good Impression at Work |
| A．Try to ignore the mistake. |
| B．Put the blame on others. |
| C．Think out a solution to your mistake. |
| D．Leave the company as soon as possible. |
| A．go to work on time as usual |
| B．stay at home without telling others |
| C．go on working but stay away from others |
| D．stop working and ask for a leave |
| A．Employees who deal with the crisis quickly and effectively. |
| B．Employees who often make mistakes. |
| C．Employees who go to work though they are ill. |
| D．Employees who often use their cell phones at work. |
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