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For any given task in Britain there are more men than are needed. Strong unions keep them there in Fleet Street, home of some London’s biggest dailies, it is understood that when two unions quarrel over three jobs, the argument is settled by giving each union two. That means 33 per cent overmanning, 33 per cent less productivity than could be obtained.
A reporter who has visited plants throughout Europe has an impression that the pace of work is much slower here. Nobody tries too hard. Tea breaks do matter and are frequent. It is hard to measure intensity of work, but Britons give a distinct impression of going at their tasks in a more leisurely way.
But is all this so terrible? It certainly does not improve the gross national product or output per worker. Those observant visitors, however, have noticed something else about Britain. It is a pleasant place.
Street crowds in Stockholm. Paris and New York move quickly and silently heads down, all in a hurry. London crowds
tend to walk at an easy pace (except in the profitable, efficient City, the financial district).
Every stranger is struck by the patient and orderly way in which Britons queue for a bus: if the saleswoman is slow and out of stock she will likely say, ‘oh dear, what a pity’; the rubbish collectors stop to chat (聊天) and call the housewives “Luv.” Crime rises here as in every city but there still remains a gentle tone and temper that is unmatched in Berlin, Milan or Detroit.
In short, what is wrong with Britain may also be what is right. Having reached a tolerable standard, Britons appear to be choosing leisure over goods.
36. What happens when disputes over job opportunities arise among British unions?
A) Thirty three per cent of the workers will be out of work.
B) More people will be employed than necessary.
C) More jobs will be created by the government.
D) The unions will try to increase productivity.（B）
37. What does the reporter who has visited plants throughout Europe think about Britain? ________.
A) Tea breaks do not affect the intensity of work in Britain.
B) Britons do their work in an unhurried sort of way.
C) The pace of work in Continental Europe is much slower than in Britain.
D) Britons give the impression of working intensively.（B）
38. “The breaks matter” (Para. 2, Line 2) indicates that ________.
A) they are an important aspect of the British way of life
B) they are greatly enjoyed by British workers
C) they can be used by the workers as an excuse to take time off from work
D) they help the workers to be on good terms with each other（A）
39. The word “this” (Para. 3, Line 1) the author means to say that ________.
A) there are more men on any given job than are needed
B) 33 per cent overmanning leads to 33 per cent less productivity
C) it is difficult to measure the intensity of work
D) Britons generally do not want to work too hard（A）
40. By “what is wrong with Britain may also be what is right” (Para. 6, Line 1) the author means to say that ________.
A) quarrels between unions will help create jobs
B) a leisurely way of life helps Britons increase productivity
C) the gentle tone and temper of the people in Britain makes it a pleasant place
D) Britons will not sacrifice their leisure to further increase productivity（D）
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