雅思（阅读）模拟试卷1（共360题）

雅思（阅读）模拟试卷1（共9套）（共360题）雅思（阅读）模拟试卷第1套一、综合题(本题共40题，每题1.0分，共40分。)READINGPASSAGE1Youshouldspendabout20minutesonQuestions1-13whicharebasedonReadingPassage1below.PartOneAAirpollutionisincreasinglybecomingthefocusofgovernmentandcitizenconcernaroundtheglobe.FromMexicoCityandNewYork,toSingaporeandTokyo,newsolutionstothisoldproblemarebeingproposed,trialledandimplementedwitheverincreasingspeed.Itisfearedthatunlesspollutionreductionmeasuresareabletokeeppacewiththecontinuedpressuresofurbangrowth,airqualityinmanyoftheworld'smajorcitieswilldeterioratebeyondreason.BActionisbeingtakenalongseveralfronts:throughnewlegislation,improvedenforcementandinnovativetechnology.InLosAngeles,stateregulationsareforcingmanufacturerstotrytosellevercleanercars:theirfirstofthecleanest,titled'ZeroEmissionVehicles',havetobeavailablesoon,sincetheyareintendedtomakeup2percentofsalesin1997.LocalauthoritiesinLondonarecampaigningtobeallowedtoenforceanti-pollutionlawsthemselves;atpresentonlythepolicehavethepowertodoso,buttheytendtobebusyelsewhere.InSingapore,rentingoutroadspacetousersisthewayofthefuture.CWhenBritain'sRoyalAutomobileClubmonitoredtheexhaustsof60,000vehicles,itfoundthat12percentofthemproducedmorethanhalfthetotalpollution.Oldercarsweretheworstoffenders;thoughasizeablenumberofquitenewcarswerealsoidentifiedasgrosspolluters,theyweresimplybadlytuned.Californiahasdevelopedaschemetogetthesegrosspollutersoffthestreets:theyofferaflat$700foranyold,run-downvehicledriveninbyitsowner.Theaimistoremovetheheaviest-polluting,mostdecrepitvehiclesfromtheroads.DAspartofaEuropeanUnionenvironmentalprogramme,aLondoncouncilistestinganinfra-redspectrometerfromtheUniversityofDenverinColorado.Itgougesthepollutionfromapassingvehicle-moreusefulthantheannualstationarytestthatistheBritishstandardtoday-bybouncingabeamthroughtheexhaustandmeasuringwhatgetsblocked.Thecouncil'snextstepmaybetolinkthesystemtoacomputerisedvideocameraabletoreadnumberplatesautomatically.ETheefforttocleanupcarsmaydolittletocutpollutionifnothingisdoneaboutthetendencytodrivethemmore.LosAngeleshassomeoftheworld'scleanestcars-farbetterthanthoseofEurope-butthetotalnumberofmilesthosecarsdrivecontinuestogrow.Onesolutioniscar-pooling,anarrangementinwhichanumberofpeoplewhosharethesamedestinationsharetheuseofonecar.However,theaveragenumberofpeopleinacaronthefreewayinLosAngeles,whichis1.3,hasbeenfallingsteadily.Increasingitwouldbeaneffectivewayofreducingemissionsaswellaseasingcongestion.Thetroubleis,LosAngelenosseemtolikebeingaloneintheircars.FSingaporehasforawhilehadaschemethatforcesdriverstobuyabadgeiftheywishtovisitacertainpartofthecity.Electronicinnovationsmakepossibleincreasingsophistication:ratescanvaryaccordingtoroadconditions,timeofdayandsoon.Singaporeisadvancinginthisdirection,withacity-widenetworkoftransmitterstocollectinformationandchargedriversastheypasscertainpoints.Suchroad-pricing,however,canbecontroversial.WhenthelocalgovernmentinCambridge,England,consideredintroducingSingaporeantechniques,itfacedvocalandultimatelysuccessfulopposition.PartTwoThescopeoftheproblemfacingtheworld'scitiesisimmense.In1992,theUnitedNationsEnvironmentalProgrammeandtheWorldHealthOrganisation(WHO)concludedthatallofasampleoftwentymegacities-placeslikelytohavemorethantenmillioninhabitantsintheyear2000-alreadyexceededtheleveltheWHOdeemshealthyinatleastonemajorpollutant.Two-thirdsofthemexceededtheguidelinesfortwo,sevenforthreeormore.OfthesixpollutantsmonitoredbytheWHO-carbondioxide,nitrogendioxide,ozone,sulphurdioxide,leadandparticulatematter-itisthislastcategorythatisattractingthemostattentionfromhealthresearchers.PM10,asub-categoryofparticulatemattermeasuringten-millionthsofametreacross,hasbeenimplicatedinthousandsofdeathsayearinBritainalone.ResearchbeingconductedintwocountiesofSouthernCaliforniaisreachingsimilarlydisturbingconclusionsconcerningthislittle-understoodpollutant.Aworld-wideriseinallergies,particularlyasthma,overthepastfourdecadesisnowsaidtobelinkedwithincreasedairpollution.Thelungsandbrainsofchildrenwhogrowupinpollutedairofferfurtherevidenceofitsdestructivepower.Theoldandill,however,arethemostvulnerabletotheacuteeffectsofheavilypollutedstagnantair.Itcanactuallyhastendeath,asitdidinDecember1991whenacloudofexhaustfumeslingeredoverthecityofLondonforoveraweek.TheUnitedNationshasestimatedthatintheyear2000therewillbetwenty-fourmega-citiesandafurthereighty-fivecitiesofmorethanthreemillionpeople.Thepressureonpublicofficials,corporationsandurbancitizenstoreverseestablishedtrendsinairpollutionislikelytogrowinproportionwiththegrowthofcitiesthemselves.Progressisbeingmade.Thequestion,though,remainsthesame:'Willchangehappenquicklyenough?'1、Questions1-5Lookatthefollowingsolutions(Questions1-5)andlocations.Matcheachsolutionwithonelocation.Writetheappropriatelocationsinboxes1-5onyouranswersheet.NB:Youmayuseanylocationmorethanonce.LOCATIONS:SingaporeTokyoLondonNewYorkMexicoCityCambridgeLosAngeles标准答案：LosAngeles知识点解析：暂无解析2、*标准答案：London知识点解析：暂无解析3、*标准答案：Singapore知识点解析：暂无解析4、*标准答案：London知识点解析：暂无解析5、*标准答案：LosAngeles知识点解析：暂无解析6、Questions6-10DothefollowingstatementsreflecttheclaimsofthewriterinReadingPassage1?Inboxes6-10onyouranswersheetwriteYES——ifthestatementreflectstheclaimsofthewriterNO——ifthestatementcontradictstheclaimsofthewriterNOTGIVEN——ifitisimpossibletosaywhatthewriterthinksaboutthisA、YESB、NOC、NOTGIVEN标准答案：A知识点解析：暂无解析7、*A、YESB、NOC、NOTGIVEN标准答案：A知识点解析：暂无解析8、*A、YESB、NOC、NOTGIVEN标准答案：B知识点解析：暂无解析9、*A、YESB、NOC、NOTGIVEN标准答案：B知识点解析：暂无解析10、*A、YESB、NOC、NOTGIVEN标准答案：B知识点解析：暂无解析11、Questions11-13ChoosetheappropriatelettersA-Dandwritetheminboxes11-13onyouranswersheet.A、oneB、twoC、threeD、seven标准答案：A知识点解析：暂无解析12、*A、nitrogendioxideB、ozoneC、leadD、particulatematter标准答案：D知识点解析：暂无解析13、*A、allergysufferersB、childrenC、theoldandillD、asthmasufferers标准答案：C知识点解析：暂无解析READINGPASSAGE2Youshouldspendabout20minutesonQuestions14-27whicharebasedonReadingPassage2below.√OTESFORWOMENThesuffragettemovement,whichcampaignedforvotesforwomenintheearlytwentiethcentury,ismostcommonlyassociatedwiththePankhurstfamilyandmilitantactsofvaryingdegreesofviolence.TheMuseumofLondonhasdrawnonitsarchivecollectiontoconveyafreshpicturewithitsexhibitionThePurple,WhiteandGreen:SuffragettesinLondon1906-14.ThenameisareferencetothecolourschemethattheWomen'sSocialandPoliticalUnion(WSPU)createdtogivethemovementauniform,nationwideimage.Bydoingso,itbecameoneofthefirstgroupstoprojectacorporateidentity,anditisthisadvancedmarketingstrategy,alongwiththeotherorganisationalandcommercialachievementsoftheWSPU,towhichtheexhibitionisdevoted.Formedin1903bythepoliticalcampaignerMrsEmmelinePankhurstandherdaughtersChristabelandSylvia,theWSPUbegananeducatedcampaigntoputwomen'ssuffrageonthepoliticalagenda.NewZealand,AustraliaandpartsoftheUnitedStateshadalreadyenfranchisedwomen,andgrowingnumbersoftheirBritishcounterpartswantedthesameopportunity.Withtheirslogan'Deedsnotwords',andtheintroductionofthecolourscheme,theWSPUsoonbroughtthemovementthecohesionandfocusithadpreviouslylacked.Membershipgrewrapidlyaswomendesertedthemanyother,lessdirected,groupsandjoinedit.By1906theWSPUheadquarters,calledtheWomen'sPressShop,hadbeenestablishedinChafingCrossRoadandinspiteoflimitedcommunications(noradioortelevision,andminimaluseofthetelephone)themessagehadspreadaroundthecountry,withmembersandbranchofficersstretchingtoasfarawayasScotland.ThenewspapersproducedbytheWSPU,firstVotesforWomenandlaterTheSuffragette,playedavitalroleinthiscommunication.Bothweresoldthroughoutthecountryandprovedaninvaluablewayofinformingmembersofmeetings,marches,fundraisingeventsandthelatestnewsandviewsonthemovement.Equallyimportantlyforarisingpoliticalgroup,thenewspaperreturnedaprofit.ThiswaspartlybecauseadvertisingspacewasboughtinthepaperbylargedepartmentstoressuchasSelfridges.andjewellerssuchasMappin&Webb.Thesetwo,togetherwithotherlikemindedcommercialenterprisessympathetictothecause,hadquicklyidentifiedadirectwaytoreachahugemarketofwomen,manywithmoneytospend.Thecreationofthecolourschemeprovidedanothermoney-makingopportunitywhichtheWSPUwasquicktoexploit.Thegroupbegantosellplayingcards,boardgames.Christmasandgreetingcards,andcountlessothergoods,allinthepurple,whiteandgreencolours.In1906suchmerchandisingofacorporateidentitywasanewmarketingconcept.ButthepaperandmerchandisingactivitiesalonedidnotprovidesufficientfundsfortheWSPUtomeetorganisationalcosts,sonumerousotherfundraisingactivitiescombinedtofillthecoffersofthe'warchest'.ThemostnotableofthesewastheWoman'sExhibition.whichtookplacein1909inaKnightsbridgeice-skatingrink.andin10daysraisedtheequivalentof'￡250.000today.TheMuseumofLondon'sexhibitionislargelyvisual,withahugenumberofitemsonshow.Againstaquietbackgroundhumofstreetsounds,copiesofTheSuffragette,campaignbannersandphotographsareallondisplay,togetherwithoneofMrsPankhurst'sshoesandanumberofpurple,whiteandgreentrinkets.Photographsdepictvividscenesofasuffragette'slife:WSPUmembersonaself-roclaimed'monster'march,wearingtheirofficialuniformsofawhitefrockdecoratedwithpurple,whiteandgreenaccessories:womensellingTheSuffragetteatstreetcorners,orchalkinguppavementswithdetailsofaforthcomingmeeting.Windowsdisplaypostcardsandgreetingcardsdesignedbywomenartistsforthemovement,andthequalityoftheartworkindicatesthewealthofresourcestheWSPUcouldcallonfromitstalentedmembers.Visitorscanwatchashortfilmmadeupofoldnewsreelsandcinemamaterialwhichclearlyrevealsthepoliticalmoodofthedaytowardsthesuffragettes.Theprogrammebeginswithashortfilmdevisedbythe'antis'-thoseopposedtowomenhavingthevote-depictingasuffragetteasafierceharridanbullyingherpoor.abusedhusband.OriginalnewsreelfootageshowsthesuffragetteEmilyWildingDavisonthrowingherselfunderKingGeorgeV'shorseatafamousracecourse.Althoughtheexhibitionofficiallychartstheyears1906to1914,graphicdisplayboardsoutliningthebillsofenfranchisementof1918and1928.whichgavetheadultfemalepopulaceofBritainthevote.showwhatwasachieved.Itdemonstrateshowadvancedthesuffragetteswereintheirthinking,inthemarketingoftheircampaign,andintheirworkasshrewdandskilfulimage-builders.Italsoconveysasenseoftheenergyandabilitythesuffragettesbroughttotheirfightforfreedomandequality.Anditillustratestheintelligenceemployedbywomenwhowereatthattimedeemedbyseveralpoliticianstohave'brainstoosmalltoknowhowtovote'.14、Questions14and15ChoosetheappropriatelettersA-Dandwritetheminboxes14and15onyouranswersheet.A、theroleofthePankhurstfamilyinthesuffragemovementB、theviolenceofthemovement’spoliticalcampaignC、thesuccessofthemovement’scorporateimageD、themovement’sco-operationwithsuffragegroupsoverseas标准答案：C知识点解析：暂无解析15、*A、Itsleadersweremuchbettereducated.B、Itreceivedfundingfrommovementsabroad.C、Ithadaccesstonewtechnology.D、Ithadaclearpurposeanddirection.标准答案：D知识点解析：暂无解析16、Question16ChooseTWOlettersA-Eandwritetheminbox16onyouranswersheet.标准答案：DE知识点解析：暂无解析17、Questions17-19Completethenotesbelow.ChooseNOMORETHANTHREEWORDSfromReadingPassage2foreachanswer.Writeyouranswersinboxes17-19onyouranswersheet.ThreewaysinwhichtheWSPUraisedmoney:--thenewspapers:mainlythroughselling【17】______--merchandisingactivities:sellingalargevarietyofgoodsproducedintheir【18】______--additionalfund-raisingactivities:forexample【19】______标准答案：(selling)advertising(space)知识点解析：暂无解析18、*标准答案：colourscheme∥(three)colours∥purple,white,(and)green知识点解析：暂无解析19、*标准答案：(the)Woman’sExhibition知识点解析：暂无解析20、Questions20-26DothefollowingstatementsreflectthesituationasdescribedbythewriterinReadingPassage2?Inboxes20-26onyouranswersheetwriteYES——ifthestatementreflectsthesituationasdescribedbythewriterNO——ifthestatementcontradictsthewriterNOTGIVEN——ifitisimpossibletoknowwhatthesituationisfromthepassageA、YESB、NOC、NOTGIVEN标准答案：B知识点解析：暂无解析21、*A、YESB、NOC、NOTGIVEN标准答案：A知识点解析：暂无解析22、*A、YESB、NOC、NOTGIVEN标准答案：B知识点解析：暂无解析23、*A、YESB、NOC、NOTGIVEN标准答案：B知识点解析：暂无解析24、*A、YESB、NOC、NOTGIVEN标准答案：C知识点解析：暂无解析25、*A、YESB、NOC、NOTGIVEN标准答案：A知识点解析：暂无解析26、*A、YESB、NOC、NOTGIVEN标准答案：A知识点解析：暂无解析27、Question27ChoosetheappropriateletterA-Dandwriteitinbox27onyouranswersheet.A、misleading.B、exceptional.C、disappointing.D、informative.标准答案：D知识点解析：暂无解析READINGPASSAGE3Youshouldspendabout20minutesonQuestions28-40whicharebasedonReadingPassage3below.MeasuringOrganisationalPerformanceThereisclear-cutevidencethat,foraperiodofatleastoneyear,supervisionwhichincreasesthedirectpressureforproductivitycanachievesignificantincreasesinproduction.However,suchshort-termincreasesareobtainedonlyatasubstantialandseriouscosttotheorganisation.Towhatextentcanamanagermakeanimpressiveearningsrecordoverashortperiodofonetothreeyearsbyexploitingthecompany'sinvestmentinthehumanorganisationinhisplantordivision?Towhatextentwillthequalityofhisorganisationsufferifhedoesso?ThefollowingisadescriptionofanimportantstudyconductedbytheInstituteforSocialResearchdesignedtoanswerthesequestions.Thestudycovered500clericalemployeesinfourparalleldivisions.Eachdivisionwasorganisedinexactlythesameway,usedthesametechnology,didexactlythesamekindofwork,andhademployeesofcomparableaptitudes.Productivityinallfourofthedivisionsdependedonthenumberofclerksinvolved.Theworkentailedtheprocessingofaccountsandgeneratingofinvoices.Althoughthevolumeofworkwasconsiderable,thenatureofthebusinesswassuchthatitcouldonlybeprocessedasitcamealong.Consequently,theonlywayinwhichproductivitycouldbeincreasedwastochangethesizeoftheworkgroup.Thefourdivisionswereassignedtotwoexperimentalprogrammesonarandombasis.Eachprogrammewasassignedatrandomadivisionthathadbeenhistoricallyhighinproductivityandadivisionthathadbeenbelowaverageinproductivity.Noattemptwasmadetoplaceadivisionintheprogrammethatwouldbestfititshabitualmethodsofsupervisionusedbythemanager,assistantmanagers,supervisorsandassistantsupervisors.Theexperimentattheclericallevellastedforoneyear.Beforehand,severalmonthsweredevotedtoplanning,andtherewasalsoatrainingperiodofapproximatelysixmonths.Productivitywasmeasuredcontinuouslyandcomputedweeklythroughouttheyear.Theattitudesofemployeesandsupervisorystafftowardstheirworkweremeasuredjustbeforeandaftertheperiod.Turningnowtotheheartofthestudy,intwodivisionsanattemptwasmadetochangethesupervisionsothatthedecisionlevelswerepusheddownanddetailedsupervisionoftheworkersreduced.Moregeneralsupervisionoftheclerksandtheirsupervisorswasintroduced.Inaddition,themanagers,assistantmanagers,supervisorsandassistantsupervisorsofthesetwodivisionsweretrainedingroupmethodsofleadership,whichtheyendeavouredtouseasmuchastheirskillwouldpermitduringtheexperimentalyear.Foreasyreference,theexperimentalchangesinthesetwodivisionswillbelabelledthe'participativeprogrammer.Intheothertwodivisions,bycontrast,theprogrammecalledformodifyingthesupervisionsoastoincreasetheclosenessofsupervisionandmovethedecisionlevelsupwards.Thiswillbelabelledthe'hierarchicallycontrolledprogramme'.Thesechangeswereaccomplishedbyafurtherextensionofthescientificmanagementapproach.Forexample,oneofthemajorchangesmadewastohavethejobstimedandtohavestandardtimescomputed.Thisshowedthatthesedivisionswereoverstaffedbyabout30%.Thegeneralmanagerthenorderedthemanagersofthesetwodivisionstocutstaffby25%.Thiswasdonebytransferswithoutreplacingthepersonswholeft;noonewastobedismissed.ResultsoftheExperimentChangesinProductivityFigure1showsthechangesinsalarycostsperunitofwork,whichreflectthechangeinproductivitythatoccurredinthedivisions.Aswillbeobserved,thehierarchicallycontrolledprogrammesincreasedproductivitybyabout25%.Thiswasaresultofthedirectordersfromthegeneralmanagertoreducestaffbythatamount.Directpressureproducedasubstantialincreaseinproduction.Asignificantincreaseinproductivityof20%wasalsoachievedintheparticipativeprogramme,butthiswasnotasgreatanincreaseasinthehierarchicallycontrolledprogramme.Tobringaboutthisimprovement,theclerksthemselvesparticipatedinthedecisiontoreducethesizeoftheworkgroup.(Theywereawareofcoursethatproductivityincreasesweresoughtbymanagementinconductingtheseexperiments.)Obviously,decidingtoreducethesizeofaworkgroupbyeliminatingsomeofitsmembersisprobablyoneofthemostdifficultdecisionsforaworkgrouptomake.Yettheclerksmadeit.Infact,onedivisionintheparticipativeprogrammeincreaseditsproductivitybyaboutthesameamountaseachofthetwodivisionsinthehierarchicallycontrolledprogramme.Theotherparticipativedivision,whichhistoricallyhadbeenthepoorestofallthedivisions,didnotdosowellandincreasedproductivitybyonly15%.ChangesinAttitudesAlthoughbothprogrammeshadsimilareffectsonproductivity,theyhadsignificantlydifferentresultsinotherrespects.Theproductivityincreasesinthehierarchicallycontrolledprogrammewereaccompaniedbyshiftsinanadversedirectioninsuchfactorsasloyalty,attitudes,interest,andinvolvementinthework.Butjusttheoppositewastrueintheparticipativeprogramme.Forexample,Figure2showsthatwhenmoregeneralsupervisionandincreasedparticipationwereprovided,theemployees'feelingofresponsibilitytoseethattheworkgotdoneincreased.Again,whenthesupervisorwasaway,theykeptonworking.Inthehierarchicallycontrolledprogramme,however,thefeelingofresponsibilitydecreased,andwhenthesupervisorwasabsent,worktendedtostop.AsFigure3shows,theemployeesintheparticipativeprogrammeattheendoftheyearfeltthattheirmanagerandassistantmanagerwere'closertothem'thanatthebeginningoftheyear.Theoppositewastrueinthehierarchicalprogramme.Moreover,asFigure4shows,employeesintheparticipativeprogrammefeltthattheirsupervisorsweremorelikelyto'pull'forthem,orforthecompanyandthem,andnotbesolelyinterestedinthecompany,whileinthehierarchi-callycontrolledprogramme,theoppositetrendoccurred.28、Questions28-30ChoosetheappropriatelettersA-Dandwritetheminboxes28-30onyouranswersheet.A、establishwhetherincreasedproductivityshouldbesoughtatanycost.B、showthatfourdivisionscouldusethesametechnology.C、perfectasystemforprocessingaccounts.D、exploitthehumanorganisationofacompanyinordertoincreaseprofits.标准答案：A知识点解析：暂无解析29、*A、eachemployedastaffof500clerks.B、eachhadequallevelsofproductivity.C、hadidenticalpatternsoforganisation.D、wererandomlychosenfortheexperiment.标准答案：C知识点解析：暂无解析30、*A、thefourdivisionswerecarefullyselectedtosuitaspecificprogramme.B、eachdivisionwastoldtoreduceitslevelofproductivity.C、thestaffinvolvedspentanumberofmonthspreparingforthestudy.D、theemployeeswerequestionedabouttheirfeelingstowardsthestudy.标准答案：C知识点解析：暂无解析31、Questions31-36Completethesummarybelow.ChooseONEwordfromReadingPassage3foreachanswer.Writeyouranswersinboxes31-36onyouranswersheet.Thisexperimentinvolvedanorganisationcomprisingfourdivisions,whichweredividedintotwoprogrammes:thehierarchicallycontrolledprogrammeandtheparticipativeprogramme.Foraperiodofoneyearadifferentmethodof【31】______wasusedineachprogramme.Throughoutthistime【32】______wascalculatedonaweeklybasis.Duringthecourseoftheexperimentthefollowingchangesweremadeinanattempttoimproveperformance.Intheparticipativeprogramme:——supervisionofallworkerswas【33】______——supervisorystaffweregiventrainingin【34】______Inthehierarchicallycontrolledprogramme:——supervisionofallworkerswasincreased.——workgroupswerefoundtobe【35】______by30%.——theworkforcewas【36】______by25%.标准答案：supervision∥leadership∥management知识点解析：暂无解析32、*标准答案：productivity知识点解析：暂无解析33、*标准答案：reduced∥cut∥decreased知识点解析：暂无解析34、*标准答案：(groupmethodsof)leadership知识点解析：暂无解析35、*标准答案：overstaffed知识点解析：暂无解析36、*标准答案：reduced∥cut∥decreased知识点解析：暂无解析37、Questions37-40LookatFigures1,2,3and4inReadingPassage3.Choosethemostappropriatelabel,A-I,foreachFigurefromtheboxbelow.Writeyouranswersinboxes37-40onyouranswersheet.[A]Employees’interestinthecompany[B]Costincreasesforthecompany[C]Changesinproductivity[D]Employees’feelingsofresponsibilitytowardscompletionofwork[E]Changesinproductivitywhensupervisorwasabsent[F]Employees’opinionastoextentofpersonalsupportfrommanagement[G]Employeesfeelclosertotheirsupervisors[H]Employees’feelingstowardsincreasedsupervision[I]Supervisors’opinionastoclosenessofworkgroup标准答案：C知识点解析：暂无解析38、*标准答案：D知识点解析：暂无解析39、*标准答案：G知识点解析：暂无解析40、*标准答案：F知识点解析：暂无解析雅思（阅读）模拟试卷第2套一、综合题(本题共40题，每题1.0分，共40分。)HOME-THENEWWORKPLACEOneofthescourgesofthemodernworldisthelengthoftimewetakecommutingtoandfromwork.Inlargecitiesthiscanmeanlosingthreeormorehourseverydayjusttravelingfromhometoworkandbackagain.Surelythereisanalternative!Well,accordingtoasurveyconductedintheUS,22%ofpeoplewouldmuchpreferworkingfromhome,shouldcircumstancesallow.LizSewellspoketoseveralpeoplewhohavealreadymadethechangetothismodern-dayworkplacetotryandfindoutmore.ScottMillerisa40-year-olddraughtsmanwhohasbeenworkingfromhomeforthepasttwoyears.Headmitsthatitwasn'tsomethingthathecravedfor;ratherithappenedwhenhiswife,Jules,auniversitylecturer,wasofferedafull-timeposition."Shedidn'tthinkthatshecouldtakethejob.Iknewthatshereallywantedit,butshedidn'twanttoputoursonintofull-timecare.Ihadbeenworkingforthesamefirmforsevenyearsanddecidedtoapproachmybosses.Mytrackrecordprobablyhelpedbecausetheyacceptedtheproposition.Aslongasmyproductivitywasmaintained,theydidn'tmindwhereIworked.Alsomywifeishappy,andhercareerisblossoming.""NowIgointotheofficeeveryMondayafternoonforameetingandtopickupmyweek'swork.Interestingly,IfeelthatIworkevenbetterfromhome,somuchsothateventhoughoursonisnowatschool,Istillworkthere."However,isworkingfromhomeassimpleasitsounds?TransferringworktoadifferentworkplaceisonlypartoftheequationforJoanneMcCarthy,whountilthreemonthsagowasaHumanResourcesManagerforalargepubliccorporation.Shehasnowbecomeafull-timetraderonthestockmarket.Shesaysshelovesthefreedomthatworkingfromhomegivesher,butshereallymissesthesocialinteraction."Asmyjobjustinvolvesworkingformyself,bymyself,IfindthatIhavebecomemuchmoreintrovertedbecauseIdon'thavethatface-to-face,professionalinvolvementwithpeopleanymore.Ispendalldayonthecomputercheckingthepricesofmystocks.Byevening,Iamdesperatetotalktomyhusband-evenifitisonlyaboutwhathehasbeendoingallday."Shehasrealizedthatthiscouldjeopardiseherattemptstoworkfromhomeandhasdecidedtojoinalocalinvestors'clubwhichmeetsonceaweek,justtogetmoreinteractioninherlife."Idon'tthinkI'lllearnanythingfromit,butitwillbenicetomeetwithlike-mindedpeopleandtalkbusiness.Meetingfriendsforcoffeeorforlunchmeetsmysocialneeds,butworkisstillalargepartofmylife."OneofJoanne'sfriendshelpedhertomakethetransitiontoworkingfromhome.LouiseTateisanaccountantandusedtocommuteanhoureachwaytoherofficebeforedecidingtherehadtobeabetterway.Forher,thebiggestproblemwithworkingfromhomewasdistractions."Itwassoeasytogetdistractedbytheotherthingsyouhavetodoathome,likewashingandcleaning,"shetoldus."Ihadtoforcemyselftoviewmystudyasanoffice,notpartofthehouse.SoIcameupwithanovelidea-myhusbandthoughtIwasmad,butIhadaseparateentrancebuilttotheoffice.Atthebeginningofmyworkday,Igooutofthefrontdoorofourhouse,lockit,andthenwalkaroundtotheoffice.NowIfeelthatIamreallyatwork,andmyproductivityhasincreasedasaresult.Iknowitsoundsstrange,butitworksforme."TwelvemonthsdownthetrackandLouiseneverwantstofacethemorningtrafficagain.Peoplechoosetoworkfromhomeforamultitudeofreasons.TaketheexampleofGeorgeMercer,whoownssevencafeswithina7mileradiusofdowntownMiami.HehasbasedhisofficeinhisFortLa