Social media is causing problems at work and it's not with the boss.In fact, it's other employees who are annoyed by their fellow workers' personal social media use, and it's starting to hurt productivity ( ) .According to a new survey by work force solutions provider Kelly Services, more than half of workers say social media is affecting workplace productivity in a bad way, with 57 percent believing that mixing personal and professional connections through social media is likely to cause problems. The research showed a growing number of employees feel there is nothing wrong with in some personal Facebook time during the day.Despite the drop in productivity, just employees have been told to stop using social media at work. The study also shows a number of employees are using their personal social med talk about company business.Nearly 15 percent of the employees surveyed think it opinions about work with friends and colleagues on social media. "The reality is that the spread of social media in the workplace is happen rules desr'- manage i'.said Steve Armstrong, senior vice president and genetai, manager for K-eliy S 'e m v employees are quick to see the benefits, employers and managers are still fighting against a large number of complex issues related to privacy, monitoring, and access to sensitive business information.'" The findings are part of the latest survey results from the Kelly Global Workforce Index.Nearly 170,000 people in 30 countries participated in the survey, including almost 23 000 in the US. According to the findings of the survey, we learn more than half of the participants think that _ . A) personal social media use at work is not good for work B) using social media at work is good for workplace productivity C) employees shouldn't use personal social media at work at all D) managers should encourage the use of social media at work
A
Tests are not fun--but they're necessary.But in places like Colorado, Connecticut and New York, we're seeing a new and problematic movement within public education to convince parents to pull their children from participating in any standardized testing.They're opting out of the exams designed to measure how well our schools are teaching our children. Let's look at why some parents are opting out.The most common argument is that standardized testing takes too much classroom time away from instruction.Yes, in too many schools and in too many districts, there is an overemphasis on testing.As a parent, I understand that problem.My daughter came home from public school one day and said class was easy now that "the test" was over.And I thought, "What are we communicating to our kids if they think the test is the most important thing--and once it's over, learning ends?" Those test-crazed districts need to change.But a new study by Teach Plus, an organization that advocates for students in urban schools, found that on average, in grades three and seven, just 1.7 percent of classroom time is devoted to preparing for and taking standardized tests.That's not shocking at all.Most people spend a larger percentage of their waking day choosing an outfit to wear or watching TV. We also shouldn't accept the false argument that testing restricts educators too much, _ innovation in the classroom or takes the joy out of teaching.That line of thought assumes that the test is the be-all and end-all--and if that's the perspective, the joy is already long gone.Teachers enter this profession because they care about kids, believe each one has the ability to succeed and want to teach far beyond minimum proficiency.The most valuable teachers are those who impart knowledge, not just information, and do so in a way that engages students and makes school interesting. "Okay," the opt-out crowd replies, "what about kids who are stressed out and suffering from anxiety because of standardized tests?" You know what? Life can be stressful; it... In the author's eyes, stress _ . A) can be got rid of easily B) should be treated objectively C) is more important than praise D) affects children's development
B
Q: Open Letter to an Editor I had an interesting conversation with a reporter recently -- one who works for you. In fact, he's one of your best reporters. He wants to leave. Your reporter gave me a copy of his resume and photocopies of six stories that he wrote for you. The headlines showed you played them proudly. With great enthusiasm, he talked about how he finds issues, approaches them, and writes about them, which tells me he is one of your best. I'm sure you would hate to lose him. Surprisingly, your reporter is not unhappy. In fact, he told me he really likes his job. He has a great assignment , and said you run a great paper. It would be easy for you to keep him, he said. He knows that the paper values him. He appreciates the responsibility you've given him, takes ownership of his profession, and enjoys his freedom. So why is he looking for a way out? He talked to me because he wants his editors to demand so much more of him. He wants to be pushed, challenged, coached to new heights. The reporter believes that good stories spring from good questions, but his editors usually ask how long the story will be, when it will be in, where it can play, and what the budget is. He longs for conversations with an editor who will help him turn his good ideas into great ones. He wants someone to get excited about what he's doing and to help him , exploring the best ways to report it. He wants to be more valuable for your paper. That's what you want for him, too, isn't it? So your reporter has set me thinking. Our best hope in keeping our best reporters, copy editors, photographers, artists -- everyone -- is to work harder to make sure they get the help they are demanding to reach their potential. If we can't do it, they'll find someone who can. The letter aims to remind editors that they should _ . A) keep their best reporters at all costs B) be aware of their reporters' professional development C) give more freedom to their reporters D) appreciate their reporters' working styles and attitudes
A: C
School uniforms are becoming more and more popular across the U.S.A. That's no surprise,because they offer many benefits. They immediately end the powerful social sorting and labeling that come from clothing. If all students are dressed in the same way,they will not pay too much attention to their clothing,and some of them will not be laughed at for wearing the "wrong" clothes. Some people are against the strict rule of school uniforms,but they do not realize that students already accept a kind of rule -- wanting to look just like their friends. The difference is that the clothing students choose for themselves creates social barriers ; school uniforms tear those barriers down. As in other places,uniforms remind the wearers of their purposes and duties. For example,when a man or woman puts on a police uniform,he or she becomes,for a time,the symbol of law and order. The uniform means to the wearer his or her special duties and sends the same message to everyone the wearer meets. People with different jobs wear uniforms of one kind or another. For students,the school uniform reminds them that their task for the six or seven hours they are in school is to get an education. Some parents are unhappy about uniforms,saying that school uniforms will affect their children's "creativity". First,as noted above,the clothes students choose to wear do not necessarily express their individuality . They just copy their classmates. Second,students have the rest of the day to be as creative as they like. While they're in school,their job is to master reading,writing,and maths; this should take up all the creativity they have. Mastery of those skills will be good for the students to build up their creativity in every way. From the passage we learn that uniforms in general_. A) prevent the wearers from being laughed at B) help the wearers keep their duties in mind C) are seen as a symbol of power D) help to create social barriers
B