IELTS Reading 練習 3 遠距工作的興起（含題目+詳解）

The Rise of Remote Work

Working from home is frequently described as a twenty-first-century phenomenon, but the idea is considerably older. The American engineer Jack Nilles is generally credited with coining the term "telecommuting" in 1973. Writing during the oil crisis, Nilles argued that moving workers to information rather than information to workers would reduce congestion, fuel consumption and urban sprawl. His proposals attracted academic attention but little immediate change: the required technology — affordable personal computers, reliable long-distance data links — simply did not yet exist for most employers.

The 1990s altered this landscape dramatically. The spread of email, followed by broadband internet and video-conferencing software, made coordinated work across distances practical. Even so, adoption remained modest. By 2019, only about 5 per cent of full-time employees in the United States and around 3 per cent in the United Kingdom worked primarily from home. Managers often cited concerns about productivity and company culture, while employees worried about being overlooked for promotion.

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-22 forced a rapid, involuntary experiment on an unprecedented scale. At the peak of restrictions, more than 40 per cent of employed Americans worked from home full-time. Studies conducted afterwards — including a large survey by Stanford economist Nicholas Bloom — reported productivity gains of roughly 13 per cent for fully remote workers, although the effect varied significantly by industry and by individual.

The post-pandemic settlement has been described as "hybrid": most office workers now attend the workplace two or three days per week rather than five. This shift has visible consequences beyond the office itself. Demand for central-city commercial property has weakened, suburban coffee shops report higher weekday trade, and small towns within commuting distance of major cities have seen renewed interest from younger residents. Whether the hybrid model will endure or be eroded by managerial pressure to return to the office remains an open question.

1. The concept of telecommuting was first introduced in the 1990s.
2. Nilles's original motivation included reducing traffic and fuel use.
3. In 2019, more American employees worked from home than British employees.
4. Nicholas Bloom's research is considered the most reliable study of remote work.

1. According to the passage, a major barrier to remote work before the 1990s was:

- A. managerial opposition - B. lack of suitable technology - C. government regulation - D. employee resistance

1. During the pandemic, remote work was notable because:

- A. productivity fell sharply across all industries - B. it was chosen voluntarily by most workers - C. it occurred at a scale never seen before - D. it only affected office workers in large cities

1. The writer's overall view of the future of hybrid work is:

- A. confidently optimistic - B. clearly negative - C. uncertain - D. indifferent

Answer the questions below using NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage.

1. In what year did Jack Nilles first use the term "telecommuting"?
2. By what percentage did productivity reportedly rise for fully remote workers after the pandemic?
3. Which type of urban property has seen reduced demand since 2022?

1. FALSE Supporting sentence: "Jack Nilles is generally credited with coining the term 'telecommuting' in 1973". The 1990s saw the technology mature, but the concept dates to 1973. Contradicts the statement.

2. TRUE Supporting sentence: "moving workers to information rather than information to workers would reduce congestion, fuel consumption and urban sprawl". "Traffic and fuel use" paraphrases "congestion, fuel consumption".

3. TRUE Supporting sentence: "about 5 per cent of full-time employees in the United States and around 3 per cent in the United Kingdom worked primarily from home". 5% > 3%, so TRUE.

4. NOT GIVEN The passage describes Bloom's survey as "large" but makes no claim about it being the "most reliable". Don't infer — choose NOT GIVEN.

5. B — lack of suitable technology Supporting sentence: "the required technology — affordable personal computers, reliable long-distance data links — simply did not yet exist for most employers". Directly stated.

6. C — it occurred at a scale never seen before Supporting sentence: "forced a rapid, involuntary experiment on an unprecedented scale". "Unprecedented" = "never seen before". Option B is a trap (the passage calls it "involuntary", not voluntary).

7. C — uncertain Supporting sentence: "Whether the hybrid model will endure or be eroded by managerial pressure to return to the office remains an open question". "Open question" signals uncertainty, not optimism or negativity.

8. 1973 Supporting sentence: "Jack Nilles is generally credited with coining the term 'telecommuting' in 1973". Single number.

9. 13 per cent (or 13%) Supporting sentence: "reported productivity gains of roughly 13 per cent for fully remote workers". Two units.

10. commercial property Supporting sentence: "Demand for central-city commercial property has weakened". Two words, from passage.