Telecommuting is some form of compu

Telecommuting is some form of computer communication between employees’ homes and offices. For employees whose job involve sitting at a terminal or word processor entering data or typing reports, the location of the computer is of no consequence. If the machine can communicate over telephone lines, when the work is completed, employees can dial the office computer and transmit the material to their employers. A recent survey in USA Today estimates that there are approximately 8,7 million telecommuters. But although the numbers are rising annually, the trend does not appear to be as significant as predicted when Business Week published “The Portable Executive” as its cover story a few years ago. Why hasn’t telecommuting become more popular ?
Clearly, change simply takes time. But in addition, there has been active resistance on the part of many managers. These executives claim that supervising the telecommuters in a large work force scattered across the country would be too difficult, or, at least, systems for managing them are not yet developed, thereby complicating the manager’s responsibilities.
It is also true that employees who are given the option of telecommuting are reluctant to accept the opportunity. Most people feel that they need regular interaction with a group, and many are concerned that they will not have the same consideration for advancement if they are not more visible in the office setting. Some people feel that even when a space in their homes is set aside as a work area, they never really get away from the office.
41. With which of the following topics is the passage primarily concerned ?
A. The advantages of telecommuting. B. A definition of telecommuting.
C. An overview of telecommuting. D. The failure of telecommuting.
42. How many Americans are involved in telecommuting ?
A. More than predicted in Business Week. B. More than 8 million.
C. Fewer than estimated in USA Today. D. Fewer than last year.
43. The phrase “of no consequence” means
A. of no use B. of no good C. unimportant D. irrelevant
44. The author mentions all of the following as concerns of telecommuting, EXCEPT
A. the opportunities for advancement. B. the different system of supervision.
C. the lack of interaction with a group. D. The work place is in the home.
45. The word “ executives “ in line 10 refers to
A. telecommuters B. managers C. employees D. most people
46. The word “ them” in line 11 refers to
A. systems B. telecommuters C. executives D. responsibilities
47. The reason why telecommuting has not become popular is that the employees
A. need regular interaction with their families.
B. are worried about the promotion if they are not seen at the office.
C. feel that a work area in their home is away from the office.
D. are ignorant of telecommuting.
48. It can be inferred from the passage that the author is
A. a telecommuter B. the manager C. a statistician D. a reporter
49. The word “reluctant” in line 13 can best be replaced by
A. opposite B. willing C. hesitate D. typical
50. When Business Week published “ The Portable Executive “, it implied that
A. systems for managing telecommuters were not effective.
B. there was resistance on the part of many managers about telecommuting.
C. the trend for telecommuting was optimistic.
D. most telecommuters were satisfied with their work.