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One of my bad habits is saying "busy"when people ask me how I'm doing.Sometimes it's because I actually am busy,but other times it's because that's what I think I'm supposed to say.That's what important people say.That's what people who get promoted say.But working long hours doesn't drive better results. Never taking a vacation won't lead to a promotion.So why are we so proud to talk about how busy we are all the time?

In 2016,researchers from Columbia,Harvard, and Georgetown conducted a study to figure it out. They found busy people are perceived to be of high status,and interestingly,these status attributions are heavily influenced by our own beliefs about social mobility. In other words,the more we believe that one has the opportunity for success based on hard work,the more we tend to think that people who skip leisure and work all the time are of higher standing.

That's why we feel like we have to appear busy,and there's a real perception that if someone is knee-deep in meetings,emails,and stress,then they're probably a big deal.This culture of busyness is making it hard for employees to find work-life balance.According to a recent study,one in five highly engaged employees is at risk of burnout (精疲力竭).

Personally, I'm going to stop saying "busy"when people ask me how I am.It sounds selfrighteous (自以为是的)and sets the wrong tone.Phrases like "I have limited access to email"and "T'l respond as soon as I get back”sound like you're being held against your will from working as opposed to making the most of your time off.

That's why we recently launched the Out of Office Email Generator,a free tool you can use before your next long weekend or tip.You can share loud and proud that you won't be checking email until you're back. Managers need to think twice about emailing their teams on the weekend and talking about how busy they are. Leaders should take time off themselves and encourage employees to do the same.

1.1. What is a reason for the author to be in the habit of saying "busy"when asked how he is doing?

A He just follows successful people's example.

B He is actually proud to be fully occupied.

C He thinks everyone should be devoted to work.

D He believes busyness ensures accomplishments.

解析：选A。A 细节理解题。根据题干关键词saying“busy”when asked how he is doing?可以将答案定位到第一段。第一段第一句指出，当被问到最近怎么样时，作者都会回答说“忙”。接下来的几句话给出了原因，有时是因为作者真的很忙，但有时是因为作者觉得应该这么回答。重要人物都是这么回答的。那些升职的人也是这么回答的。由此可知，作者习惯于回答“忙”是因为成功人士都是这样回答的，他是在效仿他们。故本题选A。

2.2. Why do we tend to think that busy people are of high status?

A Our status can be attributed to our social mobility.

B We hold the belief that hard work leads to success.

C Our own opportunity for success never comes easily.

D We find few people of high status have time for leisure.

解析：选B。B 细节理解题。根据题干关键词busy people are of high status可以将答案定位到第二段。第二段第二、三句指出，人们认为忙碌的人地位高，我们越是相信一个人有机会通过努力工作获得成功，我们就越倾向于认为那些不休息、一直工作的人地位更高。由此可知，因为我们相信努力工作能让我们获得成功，所以我们认为工作忙碌的人地位更高，故本题选B。

3.3. What do we learn about the culture of busyness from a recent study?

A It places employees in endless meetings,emails and stress.

B It compels some 20%of employees to appear always busy.

C It distorts many employees'belief of what a satisfying life is.

D It does much harm to many busy employees'well-being.

解析：选D。D 细节理解题。根据题干关键词the culture of busyness和a recent study可以将答案定位到第三段第二、三句。第三段第二句和第三句指出，这种忙碌的文化使得员工很难找到工作与生活之间的平衡。根据最近的一项研究，每五名高度投入工作的员工，就有一人处在精疲力竭的风险当中。由此可见，高强度的工作会让员工过于疲惫，有精疲力竭的风险，即对他们的健康伤害很大，故本题选D。

4.4. What do such utterances as “I have limited access to email”sound like according to the author?

A One is too busy to check all emails in time.

B One is opposed to the prevailing work culture.

C One is forced by circumstances to stop working.

D One is simply enjoying their time off work.

解析：选C。C 细节理解题。根据题干关键词I have limited access to email可以将答案定位到倒数第二段最后一句。倒数第二段最后一句指出，像“我不方便查阅电子邮件”和“我一回来就回复”这样的表达，听起来就像是你不得不停止工作了，而不是你想充分利用自己的休息时间。也就是说，这样的说法听起来就像是一个人希望继续工作，但是因为某种原因而不得不暂停工作，故本题选C。

5.5. Why did the author and his colleagues launch the Out of Office Email Generator?

A To enable busy employees to spend less time checking emails.

B To ensure employees as well as employers truly have time off.

C To stop managers from talking about how busy their teams usually are.

D To encourage both employers and employees to answer emails promptly.

解析：选B。B 推理判断题。根据题干关键词launch the Out of Office Email Generator可以将答案定位到最后一段。最后一段前两句指出，这就是为什么我们最近推出了“外出电子邮件生成器”。你可以大声而又自豪地分享，在你回来之前，你不会查看电子邮件。接着继续建议经理们尽量不要在周末给团队发电子邮件，或者谈论他们有多忙。建议领导们抽出时间休假，并鼓励员工也这样做。由此可见，作者和他的同事们推出这个“外出电子邮件生成器”是为了确保大家真正有休假时间，而不是休假的时候还要想着处理邮件等事情，故本题选B。