四级真题2021年6月第二套 Passage Two
四级真题2021年6月第二套 Passage Two


①　Success was once defined as being able to stay at a company for a long time and move up the corporate ladder. The goal was to reach the top, accumulate wealth and retire to a life of ease. My father is a successful senior executive. In 35 years, he worked for only three companies.

②　When I started my career, things were already different. If you weren’t changing companies every three or four years, you simply weren’t getting ahead in your career. But back then, if you were a consultant or freelancer (自由职业者), people would wonder what was wrong with you. They would assume you had problems getting a job.
③　Today, consulting or freelancing for five businesses at the same time is a badge of honor. It shows how valuable an individual is. Many companies now look to these “ultimate professionals” to solve problems their full-time teams can’t. Or they save money by hiring “ top-tier(顶尖的) experts” only for particular projects.
④　Working at home or in cafes, starting businesses of their own, and even launching business ventures that eventually may fail, all indicate “initiative,” “creativity,” and “adaptability,” which are desirable qualities in today’s workplace. Most important, there is a growing recognition that people who balance work and play, and who work at what they are passionate about, are more focused and productive, delivering greater value to their clients.
⑤　Who are these people? They are artists, writers, programmers, providers of office services and career advice: What’s needed now is a marketplace platform specifically designed to bring freelancers and clients together. Such platforms then become a place to feature the most experienced, professional, and creative talent, This is where they conduct business, where a sense of community reinforces the culture and values of the gig economy(零工经济), and where success is rewarded with good reviews that encourage more business.
⑥　Slowly but surely, these platforms create a bridge between traditional enterprises and this emerging economy. Perhaps more important, as the global economy continues to be disrupted by technology and other massive change, the gig economy will itself become an engine of economic and social transformation.

1.1. What does the author use the example of his father to illustrate?

A How long people took to reach the top of their career.

B How people accumulated wealth in his father’s time.

C How people viewed success in his father’s time.

D How long people usually stayed in a company.

解析：选C。C 推理判断题。由题干中的 the example of his father 定位到第一段。定位段指出，成功曾经被定义为能在一家公司任职很长时间并获得晋升。目的是到达高位,积累财富,退休后安度晚年。第三、四句提到了作者父亲的亲身经历,用以说明该段前两句的内容,即在其父辈的年代，人们对于成功的定义是怎样的,故答案为 C。

2.2. Why did people often change jobs when the author started his career?

A It was considered a fashion at that time.

B It was a way to advance in their career.

C It was a response to the changing job market.

D It was difficult to keep a job for long.

解析：选B。B 细节理解题。由题干中的 often change jobs 和 the authorstarted his career 定位到第二段第一、二句。定位句提到,当作者开始他的职业生涯时,事情已经不同了。如果你不是每三四年就换一家公司,那么就说明你并未在职业生涯中前进。由此可知，人们频繁换工作是为了促进职业发展,故答案为 B。

3.3. What does the author say about people now working for several businesses at the same time?

A They are often regarded as most treasured talents.

B They are able to bring their potential into fuller play.

C They have control over their life and work schedules.

D They feel proud of being outstanding problem solver.

解析：选A。A 细节理解题。由题干中的 working for several businesses at the same time 定位到第三段第一句。定位句指出,现如今,能够同时为五家企业工作是荣耀的象征。接下来的一句指出这能说明一个人的价值所在。也就是说,能同时为多家企业工作的人通常是有价值的人才，故答案为 A。

4.4. What have businesses come to recognize now?

A Who is capable of solving problems with ease.

B How people can be more focused and productive.

C What kind of people can contribute more to them.

D Why some people are more passionate about work.

解析：选C。C 细节理解题。由题干中的 businesses和recognize 定位到第四段第二句。定位句提到,越来越多的人意识到那些能够平衡工作和娱乐的人，以及做自已喜爱的工作的人,会更加专注和高效，从而为他们的客户提供更大的价值,故答案为C。

5.5. What does the author say about the gig economy?

A It may force companies to reform their business practice.

B It may soon replace the traditional economic model.

C It will drive technological progress on a global scale.

D It will bring about radical economic and social changes.

解析：选D。D细节理解题。根据选项内容和题文同序原则定位到最后一段末句。定位句指出,或许更重要的是,随着全球经济持续受到科技和其他重大改变的干扰,零工经济本身将会成为经济和社会转型的引擎,故答案为 D。