Without most people realizing it, there has been a revolution in office work over the last ten years. Before that time, large computers were only used by large rich companies that could afford the investment. With the advancement of technology, small computers have come on to the market which are capable of doing the work which used to be done by much larger and more expensive computers, so now most smaller companies can use them.

　　The main development in small computers has been in the field of word processors, or WPS as they are often called. 40% of British offices are now estimated(估计) to have a word processor and this percentage is growing fast.

　　There are many advantages in using a word processor for both secretary and manager. The secretary is freed from a lot of daily work, such as re-typing letters and storing papers. He or she can use this time to do other more interesting work for the boss. From a manager’s point of view, secretarial time is being made better use of and money can be saved by doing daily jobs automatically outside office hours.

　　But is it all good? If a lot of daily secretarial work can be done automatically, surely this will mean that fewer secretaries will be needed. Another worry is the increasing medical problems related to work with visual display units(显示器). The case of a slow loss of sight among people using word processors seems to have risen greatly. It is also feared that if a pregnant woman works at a VDU for long hours, an unborn child in her body might be killed. Safety screens to put over a VDU have been invented but few companies in England bother to buy them.

　　Whatever the arguments for and against word processors, they are a key feature of this revolution in office practice.

　　1. Ten years ago, large computers were only used by large companies because ________ .

　　A. small companies did not have enough money to buy such expensive computers

　　B. large computers could not do the work that small companies can do today

　　C. large computers did not come on to the market

　　D. small companies did not need to use this new technology

　　2. According to the writer, the main progress made in office work over the last ten years is ________ .

　　A. the saving of time and money

　　B. the use of computers in big companies

　　C. the wide use of word processors

　　D. the decreasing number of secretaries

　　3. We can infer from the passage that with the use of word processors ________ .

　　A. some secretaries will lose their jobs

　　B. daily jobs can be done automatically outside office hours

　　C. medical problems related to work with a VDU have increased

　　D. the British companies will make less money

　　[答案与解析]

　　1. A。第一段第一、二句即本题答案出处。 2. C。第二段即本题答案出处。 3. A。第四段第二句即本题答案出处。

　　(文/艾群；英语辅导报高三版2003-2004学年第8期；版权归英语辅导报社所有，独家网络合作伙伴新浪教育，未经许可，不得以任何形式进行转载。)