2024年上海高考英语模拟试题句标准答案含解析

2024年一般高等学校招生全国统一考试

英语（上海卷）

本试卷分第一卷（选择题）和其次卷（非选择题）两部分.共150分.考试时间120分钟.

第一卷

留意事项：

1.答第一卷前，考生务必将自己地姓名、准考证号、考试科目用铅笔涂写在答题卡上.

2.每小题选出答案后，用铅笔把答题卡上对应题目地答案标号涂黑.如需改动，用橡皮擦干净

后，再选涂其他答案标号不能答在试卷上.

3.考试结束，考生将本试卷和答题卡一并交回.

PartI.ListeningComprehension

SectionA

Directions:InSectionA,youwillheartenshortconversationsbetweentwospeakers.Atthe

endofeachconversation,aquestionwillbeaskedaboutwhatwassaid.Theconversationsardthe

questionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaconversationandthequestionaboutit.read

thefourpossibleanswersonyourpaper,anddecidewhichoneisthebestanswertothequestion

youhaveheard.

I.Wheredoestheconversationmostprobablytakeplace?

A.Atatrainstation.B.Atanairport.

C.Atatravelagency.D.Atabusstation.

2.Howmuchistheservicechargeifthefoodcosts50dollars?

A.$5B.$10C.$15D.$50

3.Whatisthemostprobablerelationshipbetweenthetwospeakers?

A.Receptionistandguest.B.Salespersonandcustomer.

C.Doctorandpatient.D.Waiteranddiner.

4.Howdoes（hemanfeel?

A.Excited.B.Dissatisfied.

C.Bored.D.Exhausted.

5.Whatdoesthewomanmean?

A.Herhairhaschanged.

B.Sheisn'tsatisfiedwithherhairstyle.

C.Shepreferstowearlonghair.

D.Themanhaschangedhishairstyle.

6.Whatdoesthemanmean?

A.ItistooearlytowatchtheTalentShow.B.Hewillgotobedinfiveminutes.

C.HewouldratherwatchTVthangotobed.D.Heisoldenoughtostayup.

7.WhatcanwelearnaboutJenny?

A.Shehasgoteverythingready.B.Sheneverhesitatesoverwhattotake.

C.Shehatespackingbyherself.D.Sheneedsmoretimeforpacking.

8.Whatdoesthewomanmean?

A.TheyshouldwaitforJohnforawhile.B.Theyshouldstayhereforthenight.

C.Theyshouldstartthemeetingrightaway.D.TheyshouldcallJohnatonce.

9.Whatcanwelearnaboutthewoman?

A.Sheisunwillingtomoveintoanewflat.B.Herneighborsgetalongwellwithher.

C.Shecan'ttellthemanwhysheismoving.D.HerneighborsusuallyplaytheirTV

loud.

10.Whatwillthespeakersprobablydo?

A.Askfordirections.B.Tryadifferentroute.

C.Gobackforthemap.D.Canceltheirtrip.

SectionB

Directions:InSectionB,youwillheartwoshortpassages,andyouwillbeaskedtoquestions

oneachofthepassages.Thepassageswillbereadtwice,butthequestionswillbespokenonly

once.Whenyouhearaquestion,readthefourpossibleanswersonyourpaperanddecidewhich

onewouldbetheblestanswerlothequestionyouhaveheard.

Questions11through13arcbasedonthefollowingpassage.

11.WhatdothememberstatesoftheCommonWealthhaveincommon?

A.Apoliticalsystem.B.Religion.

C.Workinglanguage.D.Race.

12.WhatdopeopledoonCommonWealthDayaccordingtothepassage?

A.Discusscurrentissues.B.Joininawritingcompetition.

C.Attendanartsandcraftscompetition.D.Celebratetheirfriendship.

13.Whatisthepassagemainlyabout?

A.TheCommonwealthGaines.B.Animportantholiday.

C.TheCommonwealthmembers.D.Aninternationalassociation.

Questions14through16arebasedonthefollowingnews.

14.Whichofthefollowingisregardedas(hemostimportantatHarvard?

A.Equippingstudentswithknowledge.B.Qualifyingstudentsforcertain

jobs.

C.Developingstudents,habitsofmind.D.Helpingstudentstogotograduate

school.

15.Whichqualitymentionedbelowcanbecultivatedbothinsideandoutsidethe

classroom?

A.Theabilitytohavecriticalanalysis.B.Creativeuseofleisuretime.

C.Logicaluseofinformation.D.Willingnesstoacceptuncertainty.

16.Whatisthespeechmainlyabout?

A.Goalstoreachinacollegeeducation.

B.Rolesofknowledgeinstudents,growth.

C.Qualificationsneededforajob.

D.Importanceofafter-classactivities.

SectionC

Directions:InSectionC,youwillheartwolongerconversations.Theconversationswillbe

readtwice.Afteryouheareachconversation,youarerequiredtofillinthenumberedblankswith

theiiifbinialionyouhaveheard.WriteyourLtiiswcrsonyuuranswershed.

Blanks17through20arcbasedonthefollowingconversation.

Completetheform.WriteONEWORDforeachanswer.

ComplaintForm

Caller:MaryWhite

PhoneNo.:17.

30.Itdoesn'tmatteriftheywanttocometoyourparty,?

A.doesn'titB.doesitC.don'ttheyD.dothey

31.Aftergettinglostinastorni,amemberofthenavyteamfourdayslater.

A.rescuedB.wasrescued

C.hasrescuedD.hadbeenrescued

32.Therarefish,fromthecookingpot,hasbeenreturnedtothesea.

A.savedB.savingC.tobesavedD.havingsaved

33.AlonepointImadeupmymindtotalktoUncleSam.ThenIchangedmymind,thathe

coulddonothingtohelp.

A.torealizeB.realizedC.realizingD.beingrealized

34.Didyoupredictthatmanystudentsupforthedancecompetition?

A.wouldsignB.signedC.havesignedD.hadsigned

35.Thereisclearevidencethemostdifficultfeelingofalltointerpretisbodily

pain.

A.whatB.ifC.howD.that

36.Ifalotofpeoplesayafilmisnotgood.Iwon'tbothertoseeit,orT11waititcomes

outonDVD.

A.whetherB.afterC.thoughD.until

37.Thepoliceofficersinourcityworkhardtherestofuscanliveasafelife.

A.incaseB.asifC.inorderthatD.onlyif

38.Themessageyouintendtoconveythroughwordsmaybe(heexactoppositeofothers

actuallyunderstand.

A.whyB.thatC.whichD.what

39.You*11findtaxiswailingatllicbusslalionyoucanhirelurcauliyourhost

family.

A.whichB.whereC.whenD.as

40.Todaywehavechairooms,textmessaging,emailing…butweseem(heartof

communicatingface-to-face.

A.losingB.tobelosing

C.tobelostD.havinglost

SectionB

Directions:Completeihefollowingpassagebyusingthewordsinthebox.Eachwordcan

onlybeusedonce.Notethatthereisonewordmorethanyouneed.

A.launchedB.unpleasantC.applyingD.technicallyE.impact

F.coatingGfixedH.miraculouslyI.superiorJ.advances

Howwouldyouliketowearthesameunderwear（内衣裤）forweeks?Owingtothework

（hathasgoneintodevelopingintelligentmaterials,thismaynotbeas41asitsounds.

Self-cleaningclotheshavenowbeencreated,andthesenewmaterialsprovide42resistanceto

dirtaswellaswater.Asaresult,theyrequiremuchlesscleaningthantraditional

materials.

Thecreationofself-cleaningclothesprovidesanexampleofhownaturehelpsscientists

developbetterproducts.Thisself-cleaningnatureisknownasthe“lotuscflccf,.Thenamecomes,

ofcourse,fromthelotusleaves,whicharcfamousforgrowinginmuddylakesandriverswhile

remainingalmost43clean.Byobservingnature,scientistsare44thequalitiesofthelotus

leavesto（hematerialstheyhaveengineered.Becauseofthis,someremarkablenewproductshave

been45.Amongthemarespecialwindows（hatareresistanttodirtandwater.Aspecial46

onthesewindowsnotonlypreventsdirtfromstickingtotheirsurfaces,butalsoallowsdusttobe

easilywashedoffbytherain.Infact,thesenewwindowshavealreadybeen47tosomecars.

Evenwhentravelingathighspeedthroughrain,thesecarsneverhavetousetheirwindshield

wipers（雨刮器）.

Althoughwehavealreadyseensomepracticalapplications,evenmoredramatic48will

bemadeinthefuture,andtheywill,perhaps,changeourworldcompletely.Undoubtedly,

technologyisanimportantdevelopment,anditwillhaveanevenbigger49onour

lives.

PartIII.ReadingComprehension

SectionA

Directions:ForeachblankinthefollowingpassagetherearefourwordsorphrasesmarkedA,

B,CandD.Fillineachblankwiththewordorphrasethatbsslfitsthecontext.

Everyoneinbusinesshasbeentoldthatsuccessisallaboutattractingandretaining(留住)

customers.Itsoundssimpleandachievable.But,50.wordsofwisdomaresoonforgotten.

Oncecompanieshaveattractedcustomerstheyoften51thesecondhalfofthestory.Inthe

excitementofbeatingoffthecompetition,negotiatingprices,securingorders,anddeliveringthe

product,managerstendtobecomecarriedaway.Theyforgetwhattheyregardastheboringsideof

business—52thatthecustomerremainsacustomer.

53toconcentrateonretainingaswellasattractingcustomerscostsbusinesshuge

amountsofmoneyannually.Ithasbeenestimatedthattheaveragecompanylosesbetween10and

30percentofitscustomerseveryyears.Inconstantlychanging54.thisisnotsurprising.

Whatissurprisingisthefactthatfewcompanieshaveanyideahowmanycustomerstheyhave

lost.

Onlynowarcorganizationsbeginningtowakeuptothoselostopportunitiesandcalculatethe

55implications.Cuttingdown(henumberofcustomersacompanylosescanmakeabig_56

initsperformance.ResearchintheUSfound(hatafivepercentdecreaseinthenumberof

defecting(》流失土也)customersledto57increasesofbetween25and85percent.

IntheUS,Domino'sPizzaestimatesthataregularcustomerisworthmorethanS5,000over

tenyears.Acustomerwhoreceivesapoorqualityproductorserviceontheirfirstvisitand_58

neverreturns,islosingthecompanythousandsofdollarsin59profits(moreifyouconsider

howmanypeopletheyarelikelytotellabouttheirbadexperience).

Thelogicbehindcultivatingcustomer60isimpossibletodeny."Inpracticemost

companies5marketingeffortisfocusedongettingcustomers,withlittleattentionpaidto61

them'',saysAdrianPayneofCornfieldUniversity,SchoolofManagement.''Researchsuggests

thatthereisacloserelationshipbetweenretainingcustomersandmakingprofits.62

uuslunicrslendtobuymore,arcpredictableandusuallycostlesstoservicelliannewcuslomurs.

Furthermore,theytendtobelessprice63,andmayprovidefreeword-of-mouthadvertising.

Retainingcustomersalsomakesit64forcompetitorstoenteramarketorincreasetheir

shareofamarket.

50.A.inparticularB.inrealityC.atleastD.firstof

all

51.A.emphasizeB.doubtC.overlookD.believe

52.A.denyingB.ensuringC.arguingD.proving

53.A.MovingB.HopingC.StartingD.Failing

54.A.marketsB.tastesC.pricesD.expenses

55.A.cultureB.socialC.financialD.

economical

56.A.promiseB.planC.mistakeD.difference

57.A.costB.opportunityC.profitD.budget

58.A.asaresultB.onthewholeC.inconclusionD.onthe

contrary

59.A.hugeB.potentialC.extraD.

reasonable

60.A.beliefsB.loyaltyC.habitsD.interest

61.A.alteringB.understandingC.keepingD.

attracting

62.A.AssumedB.RespectedC.EstablishedD.

Unexpected

63.A.agreeableB.flexibleC.friendlyD.sensitive

64.A.unfairB.difficultC.essentialD.

convenient

SectionB

Directions:Readthefollowingthreepassages.Eachpassageisfollowedbyseveralquestions

orunfinishedstatements.ForeachofthemtherearefourchoicesmarkedA,B,CandD.Choose

lliconellialfilsbestacuurdingtotheinfoniialioiigivenintlicpassageyouhavejusl

read.

A

Theteacherwhodidthemosttoencouragemewas,asithappened,myaunt.ShewasMyrtle

C.Manigaull,(hewifeofmymother'sbrotherBill.Shetaughtinsecondgradeatall-black

SummerSchoolinCamden,NewJersey.

Duringmychildhoodandyouth.AuntMyrtleencouragedmetodevelopeveryaspectofmy

potential,withoutregardforwhatwasconsideredpracticalorpossibleforblackfemales.Ilikedto

sing;shelistenedtomyvoiceandpronounceditgood.Icouldn'tdance;shetaughtmethebasic

dancingsteps.Shetookmetothetheatrenotjustchildren'stheatrebutadultcomediesand

dramasandherfaiththatIcouldappreciateadultplayswasnotdisappointed.

Myauntalsotookdownhooksfromherextensivelibraryandsharedthemwithme.Ihad

booksalhome,but(heywereallseriousclassics.EvenasachildIhadastronglikingfbrhumor,

andI'llneverforgetthejoyofdiscoveringDonMarquis'sArchy&Mehitabelthrough

her.

Mostimportant,perhaps,AuntMyrtleprovidedmyfirstopportunitytowriteforpublication.

Awriterherselfforoneoftlicblacknewspapers,shesuggestedmynametotheeditorasa“youth

columnist”.Mycolumn,begunwhenIwasfourteen,wassupposedtocoverteenagesocial

activities—anditdidbutitalsogavemethefreedomtowriteonmanyothersubjectsaswellas

(hehabitofgatheringmaterial,thedisciplineofmeetingdeadlines,and.aftergraduationfrom

collegesixyearslater,asolidcollectionofpublishedmaterialthatcarriedmynameandwasmy

passporttoaseriesofwritingjobs.

TodayAuntMyrtleisstillanenthusiasticsupporterofhert4favoriteniece''.Likeadiamond,

shehasreflectedabright,multifaceted(多面地)imageofpossibilitiestoeverypupilwhohas

crossedherpath.

65.WhichofthefollowingdidAuntMyrtledoto(heauthorduringherchildhoodand

youth?

A.Shelenthersomeseriousclassics.

B.Shecultivatedhertasteformusic.

C.Shediscoveredherlalcnlfordancing.

D.Sheintroducedhertoadultplays.

66.WhatdoesArchyandMehitabelinParagraph3probablyreferto?

A.Abookofgreatfun.B.Awriterofhighfame.

C.Aseriousinasterpiece.D.Aheartbreakingplay.

67.AuntMyrtlerecommendedtheauthortoanewspapereditormainlyto.

A.develophercapabilitiesfbrwriting

B.giveherachancetocollectmaterial

C.involveherinteenagesocialactivities

D.offerheraseriesofwritingjobs

68.WccanconcludefromthepassagethatAuntMyrtlewasateacherwho.

A.trainedpupilstobediligentandwell-disciplined

B.gavepupilsconfidenceinexploitingtheirpotential

C.emphasizedwhatwaspracticalorpossibleforpupils.

D.helpedpupilsovercomedifficultiesinlearning

B

HumpbackwhalesaresometimescalledQuickFacts

perfonnersoftheocean.Thisisbecausetheycanmake14m~18minlength

Size:

impressivemovementswhentheydive.Thename30-50tonsinweight

“humpback”,whichisthecommonnamefbrthisOpenoceanandshallow

Living

whale,referstothetypicalcurveshapethewhale'scoastlinewaters

backformsasitdives.Fromwarmtropical(热带地)

Somclimcs(hehumpbackwilldivewithaEnvironment:waters,wheretheybreed,tocold

fantasticmovement,knownasabreach.Duringpolarwaters,wheretheyeat.

breachingthewhaleusesitspowerful(ailflukestoliftShellfish,plantsandfishofsmall

Diet:

nearlytwo-thirdsofitsbodyoulofthewaterinagiantsize

leap.AbreachmightalsoincludeasidewaystwistwithSometimesingroups,inwhich

finsstretchedoutlikewings,asthewhalereachestheseveralwhalesfbnnacircleunder

heightofthebreach.thewater,blowingbubbles:hat

AhumpbackwhalebreathesairatthesurfaceofHunting:forma"net"aroundaschooof

thewalerthroughtwoblowhcleswhicharelocatedfish.Thefisharethenforcedup

nearthetopofthehead.Itblowsadoublestreamoftothesurfaceinaconcentrated

waterthatcanriseupto4metersabovethewater.mass.

Thehumpbackhasasmalldorsalfinlocated

towardsthetailflukesabouttwo-thirdsoftheway

downitsback.Otherdistinguishingfeaturesinclude

largepectoralfins,whichmaybeuptoathirdofthe

Endangered;itisestimated:hat

bodylength,anduniqueblackandwhitespotsonthe

Currentstate:thereareabout5000-7000

undersideofthetailflukes.Thesemarkingsarelike

humpbackwhalesworldwide.

fingerprints:notwoare(hesame.

Humpbackwhalesliveinlargegroups.They

communicatewitheachotherthroughcomplex

“songs”.

69.AccordingtoQuickFacts,ahumpbackwhale.

A.cannotsurviveinwatersneartheshoreB.doesnJtliveinthesamewatersallthe

time

C.livesmainlyonunderwaterplantsD.preferstoworkalonewhenhuntingfood

70.Tomakeabreach,ahumpbackwhalemust.

A.useitstailflukestoleapoutofthewacerB.twistitsbodysidewayslojumphigh.

C.blowtwostreamsofwalerD.communicatewithagroupofhumpbacks.

71.Fromthepassagewccanlearnthatahumpbackwhale.

A.hasitsuniquemarkingsonittailflukesB.hasblackandwhitefingerprints

C.getsitsnamefromthewayithuntsD.isagreatperformerduetoitssongs

C

Humanremainsofancientsettlementswillbereburiedandlosttoscienceunderalawthat

threatensresearchinto(hehistoryofhumansinBritain,agroupofleadingarcheologists(考古学

家)says.Inaleueraddressed(oihejusticesecretary,KenClarke,40archaeologistswriteoftheir

“deepandwidespreadconcern"abouttheissue.ItcentersonthelawintroducedbytheMinistry

ofJusticein2024whichrequiresallhumanremainsunearthedinEnglandandWalestobe

reburiedwithintwoyears,regardlessoftheirage.Thedecisionmeansscientistshavetoolittle

timetostudybonesandotherhumanremainsofnationalandculturalsignificance.

**Yourcurrentrequirementthatallarchaeologicallyunearthedhumanremainsshouldbe

reburied,whelherafterastandardperiodoftwoyearsorafurtherspecialextension,iscontrary(o

basicprinciplesofarchaeologicalandscientificresearchandofmuseumpractice,they

write.

Thelawappliestoanypiecesofboneuncoveredataround400digsites,includingthe

remainsof60orsobodiesfoundatStonehengein2024thatdatebackto3,00()BC.

Archaeologistshavebeengrantedatemporaryextensiontogivethemmoretime,buteventually

(heboneswillhavetobereiurnedtotheground.

Thearrangementsmayresultinthewasteoffuturediscoveriesa(sitessuchasHappisburgh

inNorfolk,wherediggingiscontinuingafterthediscoveryofstonetoolsmadebyearlyhumans

950,000yearsago.IfhumanremainswerefoundatHappisburgh,theywouldbetheoldestin

northernEuropeandthefirstindicationofwhatthisspecieswas.Underthecurrentpracticeofthe

lawthoseremainswouldhavetobereburiedandeffectivelydestroyed.

Before2024,guidelinesallowedfortheproperpreservationandstudyofbonesofsufficient

ageandhistoricalinterest,whiletheBurialAct1857appliedtomorerecentremains.TheMinistry

ofJusticeassuredarchaeologiststwoyearsagothatthelawwastemporary,buthassofarfailedto

reviseit.

MikeParkerPearson,anarchaeologistatSheffieldUniversity,said:uArchaeologistshave

beenextremelypatientbecausewcwereledtobelievetheministrywassortingoutthisproblem,

butwefeelthatwecannotwaitanylonger."

Theministryhasnoguidelinesonwhereorhowremainsshouldbereburied,oronwhat

recordsshouldbekept.

72.Accordingtothepassage,scientistsareunhappywiththelawmainlybecause

A.ilisunlyaleinpuiarynicasuruonliicliuinanremains

B.itisunreasonableandthusdestructivetoscientificresearch

C.itwasintroducedbythegovernmentwithouttheirknowledge

D.ilisvagueaboutwhereandhowtoreburyhumanremains

73.Whichofthefollowingstatementsis(rueaccordingtothepassage?

A.Temporaryextensionofiwoyearswillguaranteescientistsenoughtime.

B.HumanremainsoftheoldestspeciesweredugoutatHappisburgh.

C.Humanremainswillhavetobereburieddespitetheextensionoftime.

D.Scientistshavebeenwarnedthatthelawcanhardlybechanged.

74.WhatcanbeinferredabouttheBritishlawgoverninghumanremains?

A.TheMinistryofJusticedidnotintendittoprotecthumanremains.

B.TheBurialAct1857onlyappliedtoremainsuncoveredbefore1857.

C.Thelawonhumanremainshasn'tchangedinrecentdecades.

D.TheMinistryofJusticehasnotdoneenoughaboutthelaw.

75.Whichofthefollowingmightbethebesttitleofthepassjige?

A.Newdiscoveriesshouldbereburied,thegovernmentdemands.

B.Researchtimeshouldbeextended,scientistsrequire.

C.Lawonhumanremainsneedsthoroughdiscussion,authoritiessay.

D.Lawcouldburyancientsecretsforever,archeologistswarn.

SectionC

Directions:ReadthefollowingtextandchoosethemostsuitableheadingfromA-Fforeach

paragraph.Thereisoneextraheadingwhichyoudonotneed.

A.Manufacturingindustryininformationeconomy

B.Newsintheageofinfermation

C.Argumentaboutindividualaccountsandtheirreliability

D.Beyourowninvestigativejournalist

E.Don'tbelieveeverythingyoureadinthenewspapers

F.Informationispresentedinanentertainingway

76.

Withthearrivaloftheageof"informationeconomy”,intellectualworkisbecomingamore

importantsourceofwealththanmanufacturing.Organizationsinallwalksoflifearedoingmore

tospreadtheirinformation.SopeopleofthePublicRelationsarehiredtospeakforthem.Alotof

ournewsisactuallycollectedfrompressreleasesandreportsofeventsintentionallystagedfor

journalists.Intheinformationage,journalistsspendtheirlime,notinvestigating,butpassingon

(hewordsofaspokesperson.

77.______

ThereisajokeinthenovelScoopaboutthenewspaper'sowner,LordCopper.Theeditors

canneverdisagreewithhim.Whenhe'srightaboutsomethingtheyanswer“definitely”，andwhen

he'swrongtheysay“tosonicextent.LordCopper.''Itseemsreasonabletosupposethat,inthe

realworld,theopinionsofsuchpowerfulpeoplestillinfluencethejournalistsandeditorswho

worktorthem.

78.______

Incountrieswherethenewsisnotofficiallycontrolled,itmaybeprovidedbycommercial

organizationswhodependonadvertising.Thenewshastoattractviewersandmaintainits

audienceratings.Isuspectthatsomestoriesgetair-timejustbecausetherehappentobeexciting

picturestoshow.InBritain,wehavethetabloidnewspaperswhichmillionsofpeoplereadsimply

forentertainment.Thereisprogressivelylessroomforhistoricalbackground,orstatistics,which

arehardertopresentasasensationalstory.

79.______

Thereisanargumentthatwithspreadingaccess(otheinternetandcheaptechnologyfor

recordingsoundandimageswewillallbeabletofindexactlytheinformationwewant.People

aroundtheworldwillbeabletopublishtheirowneye-witnessaccountsandcompetewiththe

widcly-acccptcdnews-gatherersonequalterms.Butwhatitwillmeanalsoisthatwellbe

subjectedtoastillgreateramountofnonsenseandlies.Anyweblogmaycontainthelatest

informationoftheyear,orequally,amade-upstory(hatyouwillneverbeabletocheck.

80.______

Maybethetimehascometodosomethingaboutit,andIdon'tjustmeanchangingyour

choiceofTVchannelornewspaper.Inaworldwhereeveryonewantsyoutolistentotheirversion,

youonlyliavciwuchoices:switchoffailugcllicrorslarllookingforsourcesyoucantrusLThe

investigativejournalistofthefutureiseveryonewhowantstoknowthetruth.

SectionD

Directions:Readthepassagecarefully.Thenanswerthequestionsorcompletethestatements

inthefewestpossiblewords.

Directions:Readthepassagecarefully.Thenanswerthequestionsorcompletethestatementsin

thefewestpossiblewords.

Sociologistshavelongrecognizedthatorganizationsoflessthan200individualscanoperate

throughthefreeflowofinformationamongthemembers.Oncetheirsizegoesbeyondthisfigure,

theorganizationsarcgettinglessflexible.Soitseemsnecessarytopreventtotaldisorderresulting

fromfailuresofcommunication.

Onesolutiontothisproblemwould,ofcourse,betostructurelargeorganizationsintosmaller

unitsofasizethatcanactasagroup.Byallowingthesegroupstobuildrelianceoneachother,

largerorganizationscanbebuiltup.However,merelyhavinggroupsof,say,150willneverof

itselfbeacompletesolutiontotheproblemsoftheorganization.Somethingelseisneeded:the

peopleinvolvedmustbeabletobuilddirectpersonalrelationships.Toallowfreeflowof

information,theyhavetobeabletocommunicatewitheachotherinacasualway.Maintainingtoo

formalastructureofrelationshipsinevitablypreventsthewayasystemworks.

TheimportanceofthiswasdrawntomyattentiontwoyearsagobythecaseofaTVstation.

Whetherbychanceorbydesign,itsohappened(hattherewerealmostexactly150peoplein(he

station.Thewholeprocessworkedverysmoothlyasanorganizationformanyyearsuntilthey

weremovedintopurpose-bjiltaccommodation.Then,fornoapparentreason,theworkseeiredto

bemoredifficulttodo,notiosaylesssatisfying.

Itwassometimebeforetheyworkoutwhattheproblemwas.Itturnoutthat,whenthe

architectsweredesigningthenewbuilding,theydecidedthatthecoffeeroomwhereeveryoneate

(heirsandwichesatlunchtimeswasanunnecessaryluxuryandsodidawaywithit.Andwiththat,

theyaccidentallydestroyedtheclosesocialnetworksthatstrengthenedthewholeorganization.

Whathadapparentlybeenhappeningwas