1 . Yet although officers will not disappear, it’s hard to imagine that working life will return to before-COVID-19 (新冠肺炎) ways. For more than a century workers have pushed themselves on-to crowded trains and buses, or suffered traffic jams, to get into the office, and back, five days a week. However, for the past one year they have not had to commute (上下班往返), and may enjoy it for a long time.
Employers, for their part, have supported expensive offices in city centers because they need to gather workers in one place. The rent is only part of the cost; there are cleaning, lightning, printers, catering and security on top. Needless to say, in the homeworking era these costs are cut down.
Another part of the homeworking era may be the disappearance of the five-day working week. Even before the COVID-19 many workers became used to taking phone calls or answering emails at the weekend. In the homeworking era, the dividing line between home and working life, a useful way of relieving stress, will be even harder to keep. It may be lost altogether.
What’s more, without the Monday-to-Friday commute, the weekend seems more nebulous, for employees may walk and take breaks freely, with only the company video calls unchanged.
Looking further out, the homeworking era may bring other changes. Some may decide to live in small towns where housing costs are lower, since they have no need to commute. Men will have fewer excuses to skip cleaning or childcare if they are not disappearing to the office.
In a sense, this is a return to normal: until the 19th century most people worked at or close to their homes. But social historians may still regard 2020 as the start of a new age.
1. Which one is the change of the working life after the COVID-19?
| A．Living in big cities. | B．More traffic jams. |
| C．Reduced working cost. | D．Less phone calls at the weekend. |
2. What does the underlined word “nebulous” mean in the 4th paragraph?
| A．Important. | B．Unclear. | C．Fruitful. | D．Annoying. |
3. Which word can best describe the writer’s attitude in the last paragraph?
| A．Doubtful. | B．Objective. | C．Supportive. | D．Negative. |
4. What’s the best title of the passage?
| A．2020: the Start of a New Age? |
| B．Working at Home: Are You Ready? |
| C．Who is the Winner: Employer or Employee? |
| D．Home and Working Life: How to Keep Balanced? |
