雅思考试中的阅读题
英文原文和考试题
The general assumption is that older workers are paid more in spite of, rather than because of, their productivity. That might partly explain why, when employers are under pressure to cut costs, they persuade a 55-year old to take early retirement. Take away seniority-based pay scales, and older workers may become a much more attractive employment proposition. But most employers and many workers are uncomfortable with the idea of reducing someone’s pay in later life – although manual workers on piece-rates often earn less as they get older. So retaining the services of older workers may mean employing them in different ways.
One innovation was devised by IBM Belgium. Faced with the need to cut staff costs, and having decided to concentrate cuts on 55 to 60-year olds, IBM set up a separate company called Skill Team, which re-employed any of the early retired who wanted to go on working up to the age of 60. An employee who joined Skill Team at the age of 55 on a five-year contract would work for 58% of his time, over the full period, for 88% of his last IBM salary. The company offered services to IBM, thus allowing it to retain access to some of the intellectual capital it would otherwise have lost.
The best way to tempt the old to go on working may be to build on such ‘bridge’ jobs: part-time or temporary employment that creates a more gradual transition from full-time work to retirement. Studies have found that, in the United States, nearly half of all men and women who had been in full-time jobs in middle age moved into such ‘bridge’ jobs at the end of their working lives. In general, it is the best-paid and worst-paid who carry on working. There seem to be two very different types of bridge job-holder – those who continue working because they have to and those who continue working because they want to, even though they could afford to retire.
If the job market grows more flexible, the old may find more jobs that suit them. Often, they will be self-employed. Sometimes, they may start their own businesses: a study by David Storey of Warwick University found that in Britain 70% of businesses started by people over 55 survived, compared with an overall national average of only 19%. But whatever pattern of employment they choose, in the coming years the skills of these ‘grey workers’ will have to be increasingly acknowledged and rewarded.
翻译：1句1翻译
第 1 段
The general assumption is that older workers are paid more in spite of, rather than because of, their productivity.
普遍的假设是，尽管员年长工生产力较低他们仍会获得更高的薪酬，更高薪酬的原因并不是因为他们的生产力较高。
(此句小编也不知道怎么翻译才更顺畅，欢迎留言)
That might partly explain why, when employers are under pressure to cut costs, they persuade a 55-year old to take early retirement.
这或许可以部分解释为什么当雇主面临削减成本的压力时，他们会劝说55岁的员工提前退休。
Take away seniority-based pay scales, and older workers may become a much more attractive employment proposition.
取消基于年资的薪酬制度后，年长的员工可能会成为更具吸引力的雇佣对象。
But most employers and many workers are uncomfortable with the idea of reducing someone’s pay in later life – although manual workers on piece-rates often earn less as they get older.
但大多数雇主和许多员工对在员工晚年时降低他们的工资这个想法感到不舒服——尽管计件工资的体力劳动者随着年龄增长往往收入较少。
So retaining the services of older workers may mean employing them in different ways.
因此，保留年长员工的服务可能意味着以不同的方式雇用他们。
第 2 段
One innovation was devised by IBM Belgium.
比利时 IBM 公司发明了一项创新。
Faced with the need to cut staff costs, and having decided to concentrate cuts on 55 to 60-year olds, IBM set up a separate company called Skill Team, which re-employed any of the early retired who wanted to go on working up to the age of 60.
面对削减员工成本的需要，并决定将削减的重点放在 55 至 60 岁的员工身上，IBM 成立了一家名为 Skill Team 的独立公司，该公司重新雇用任何希望继续工作到 60 岁的提前退休人员。
An employee who joined Skill Team at the age of 55 on a five-year contract would work for 58% of his time, over the full period, for 88% of his last IBM salary.
一名 55 岁加入 Skill Team 并签订了五年合同的员工将在整个期间工作 58% 的时间，获得其上一份 IBM 薪水的 88%。
The company offered services to IBM, thus allowing it to retain access to some of the intellectual capital it would otherwise have lost.
该公司为 IBM 提供服务，从而使 IBM 能够保留一些否则会失去的智力资本。
第 3 段
The best way to tempt the old to go on working may be to build on such ‘bridge’ jobs: part-time or temporary employment that creates a more gradual transition from full-time work to retirement.
吸引老年人继续工作的最好办法可能是建立这样的“过渡”工作：兼职或临时工作，从而实现从全职工作到退休的更渐进的过渡。
Studies have found that, in the United States, nearly half of all men and women who had been in full-time jobs in middle age moved into such ‘bridge’ jobs at the end of their working lives.
研究发现，在美国，中年时从事全职工作的男女中，近一半在工作生涯结束时转入了这样的“过渡”工作。
In general, it is the best-paid and worst-paid who carry on working.
一般来说，继续工作的是收入最高和收入最低的人。
There seem to be two very different types of bridge job-holder – those who continue working because they have to and those who continue working because they want to, even though they could afford to retire.
过渡工作持有者似乎有两种截然不同的类型——一种是继续工作是因为他们不得不工作，另一种是继续工作是因为他们想工作，即使他们有能力退休。
第 4 段
If the job market grows more flexible, the old may find more jobs that suit them.
如果就业市场变得更加灵活，老年人可能会找到更多适合自己的工作。
Often, they will be self-employed.
他们通常会选择自谋职业。
Sometimes, they may start their own businesses: a study by David Storey of Warwick University found that in Britain 70% of businesses started by people over 55 survived, compared with an overall national average of only 19%.
有时，他们可能会自己创业：华威大学的戴维·斯托里 (David Storey) 的一项研究发现，在英国，55 岁以上的人创办的企业有 70% 能够存活下来，而全国平均水平只有 19%。
But whatever pattern of employment they choose, in the coming years the skills of these ‘grey workers’ will have to be increasingly acknowledged and rewarded.
但无论他们选择哪种就业模式，在未来几年，这些“老龄工人 (grey workers)”的技能都必须得到越来越多的认可和奖励。
关于此篇文章阅读理解的测试题
Questions 1–4
Choose the correct answer.
1 In paragraph one, the writer suggests that companies could consider
·abolishing pay schemes that are based on age.
·avoiding pay that is based on piece-rates.
·increasing pay for older workers.
·equipping older workers with new skills.
2 Skill Team is an example of a company which
·offers older workers increases in salary.
·allows people to continue working for as long as they want.
·allows the expertise of older workers to be put to use.
·treats older and younger workers equally.
3 According to the writer, ‘bridge’ jobs
·tend to attract people in middle-salary ranges.
·are better paid than some full-time jobs.
·originated in the United States.
·appeal to distinct groups of older workers.
4 David Storey’s study found that
·people demand more from their work as they get older.
·older people are good at running their own businesses.
·an increasing number of old people are self-employed.
·few young people have their own businesses.
(答案见文章末尾）
文章来源: 雅思官网, 2024
答案
Answers
1 abolishing pay schemes that are based on age
2 allows the expertise of older workers to be put to use
3 appeal to distinct groups of older workers
4 older people are good at running their own business
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