Kate Yakovleva

click here to
go to the Reading Bank
courses home
Нажав на
page
Reading 66
You are going to read an article about offices. For questions 20–34, choose
from the offices (A–D). The offices may be chosen more than once.

Of which office is the following stated?

20. Some of the staff like it and some don’t.

21. Advice from an expert has had a good effect.
22. Staff there benefit from the range of work involved.
23. Some members of staff prefer unsuitable furniture.
24. A particular rule has been beneficial.
25. The air quality is better than might be expected.
26. It is often either very hot or very cold.
27. Staff can work in privacy if they want to.
28. There is not enough room for every member of staff to work.
29. It would be better if the furniture were arranged differently.
30. Evidence of the company’s achievements is visible.
31. Staff can control the temperature effectively.
32. Staff appear to be under pressure.
33. Working here is like being on display.
34. The staff have made it a pleasant place to work in.

IS YOUR OFFICE WORKING OK?

Fresh air and the right chairs are the key to a happy, healthy workforce, according to a
new survey. We went to four contrasting offices, to find out how healthy and happy they
were as working environments. On our expert panel were a building health consultant; an
ergonomist, who studies peoples working conditions; and an occupational psychologist.
Here are their verdicts.

Page 1
OFFICE A
ADVERTISING AGENCY
Building Health Consultant: This office is about as simple as it could possibly be; no
central heating, no mechanical ventilation, windows opening straight onto the street. It is
difficult to see why this space works but the occupants, who are part of a small, dynamic
team, appear to have few complaints. They adapt to the changing seasons by opening
doors and roof panels or switching on electric radiators - pretty much, perhaps, as they do
in their own homes. This may be the key: a team of seven people have created a happy,
homely working environment and do not have to put up with any externally imposed
bureaucracy.

Ergonomist: The furniture here has evolved; no two pieces match. Much of it actually
creates bad working postures. Chairs are old, most aren’t adjustable and many are
broken. Although in that way this environment is poor, the personnel have a varied work
schedule, which they control - office work, out meeting clients, making presentations, and
so on. This variety reduces the risk of fatigue, boredom or muscular problems.

Occupational Psychologist: Staff are delighted with the variety of work and the versatility
of the office space. They said their office was ‘just the right size’ — small enough to know
what colleagues were doing, large enough to be able to be on your own and focus on
personal work. I found the office attractive and fun, simultaneously conveying images of
efficiency and creativity.

OFFICE B
NEWS SERVICE
Building Health Consultant: While the office may not be very exciting, it appears
comfortable and is not disliked by the staff. The air quality and general maintenance
standards appear to be good. A ‘Recycle Waste Paper’ policy has been received
favourably by staff and has led to a greater interest in recycling in general.

Ergonomist: I was not surprised to learn that the company had already employed the
services of an ergonomist. Chairs are excellent, lighting and computer equipment are
good. Space provision is good, although the layout could be improved. But the
environment is impersonal and unstimulating, with grey, bare walls.

Occupational Psychologist: Walls are bare apart from year planners and a poster
describing maternity rights. Most staff have been there for at least five years and
relationships are satisfactory. The office could be improved if desks were positioned to
make the sharing of information easier. Proof of success or information on forthcoming
projects could be displayed on the walls.

Page 2
OFFICE C
BANK
Building Health Consultant: An office that produces mixed reactions from those working
in it. The feeling inside is akin to being in a glass case, viewed by, and viewing, countless
similar exhibits. Despite relatively small space, the air did not appear to be stale due to
effective air-conditioning.

Ergonomist: The office area is, sadly, very standard and totally uninspiring. The desks are
adequate, but only just. Not all the chairs being used for computer operation conform to
requirements but this is user choice. Computer screens are often on small desk units with
lowered keyboard shelves; this is no longer considered appropriate for modern equipment.

Occupational Psychologist: Staff are mutually supportive and well served by technology.
Numerous communications awards are on display. The wood coloured panelling and
brown carpet give a slightly sombre effect. The office is a buzz of activity.

OFFICE D
NEWSPAPER
Building Health Consultant: It is difficult to say anything good about this building. The
air-conditioning control is very crude, resulting in large variations in temperature. The
space is cluttered and most people have inadequate desk space. The office is very dusty -
there are plenty of places for dust to lodge. The shed-type roof also collects dust, which, if
disturbed, showers those sitting below.

Ergonomist: The furniture would be more at home in a carpentry workshop than in a high-
tech industry. Most of the chairs are of little value to keyboard users, particularly those who
are shorter than about 1.75 m. Many chairs are old, lack suitable adjustment and have
armrests that prevent the user from getting sufficiently close to the desk.

Occupational Psychologist: Old brown chairs, soiled carpets, dust and dirt everywhere.
A lot of scope for improvement - the place needs a good tidy-up, individual success could
be more recognised and the air conditioning needs to be improved immediately. Few
conversations were going on when we visited; everybody seemed stressed and driven by
deadlines. The company needs to adopt a policy of team-working.

Источник задания: CAE Practice Tests 2 (old format)

Page 3
 Reading 66 — Keys
20 C 25 C 30 C
21 B 26 D 31 A
22 A 27 A 32 D
23 C 28 D 33 C
24 B 29 B 34 A

EXPLANATIONS

OFFICE A
ADVERTISING AGENCY
Building Health Consultant: This office is about as simple as it could possibly be; no
central heating, no mechanical ventilation, windows opening straight onto the street. It is
difficult to see why this space works but the occupants, who are part of a small, dynamic
team, appear to have few complaints. They adapt to the changing seasons by opening
doors and roof panels or switching on electric radiators - pretty much, perhaps, as they do
in their own homes. This may be the key: a team of seven people have created a happy,
homely working environment and do not have to put up with any externally imposed
bureaucracy.

Ergonomist: The furniture here has evolved; no two pieces match. Much of it actually
creates bad working postures. Chairs are old, most aren’t adjustable and many are
broken. Although in that way this environment is poor, the personnel have a varied work
schedule, which they control - office work, out meeting clients, making presentations, and
so on. This variety reduces the risk of fatigue, boredom or muscular problems.

Occupational Psychologist: Staff are delighted with the variety of work and the versatility
of the office space. They said their office was ‘just the right size’ — small enough to know
what colleagues were doing, large enough to be able to be on your own and focus on
personal work. I found the office attractive and fun, simultaneously conveying images of
efficiency and creativity.

OFFICE B
NEWS SERVICE
Building Health Consultant: While the office may not be very exciting, it appears
comfortable and is not disliked by the staff. The air quality and general maintenance
standards appear to be good. A ‘Recycle Waste Paper’ policy has been received
favourably by staff and has led to a greater interest in recycling in general.

Page 4
Ergonomist: I was not surprised to learn that the company had already employed the
services of an ergonomist. Chairs are excellent, lighting and computer equipment are
good. Space provision is good, although the layout could be improved. But the
environment is impersonal and unstimulating, with grey, bare walls.

Occupational Psychologist: Walls are bare apart from year planners and a poster
describing maternity rights. Most staff have been there for at least five years and
relationships are satisfactory. The office could be improved if desks were positioned to
make the sharing of information easier. Proof of success or information on forthcoming
projects could be displayed on the walls.

OFFICE C
BANK
Building Health Consultant: An office that produces mixed reactions from those working
in it. The feeling inside is akin to being in a glass case, viewed by, and viewing, countless
similar exhibits. Despite relatively small space, the air did not appear to be stale due to
effective air-conditioning.

Ergonomist: The office area is, sadly, very standard and totally uninspiring. The desks are
adequate, but only just. Not all the chairs being used for computer operation conform to
requirements but this is user choice. Computer screens are often on small desk units with
lowered keyboard shelves; this is no longer considered appropriate for modern equipment.

Occupational Psychologist: Staff are mutually supportive and well served by technology.
Numerous communications awards are on display. The wood coloured panelling and
brown carpet give a slightly sombre effect. The office is a buzz of activity.

OFFICE D
NEWSPAPER
Building Health Consultant: It is difficult to say anything good about this building. The
air-conditioning control is very crude, resulting in large variations in temperature. The
space is cluttered and most people have inadequate desk space. The office is very dusty -
there are plenty of places for dust to lodge. The shed-type roof also collects dust, which, if
disturbed, showers those sitting below.

Ergonomist: The furniture would be more at home in a carpentry workshop than in a high-
tech industry. Most of the chairs are of little value to keyboard users, particularly those who
are shorter than about 1.75 m. Many chairs are old, lack suitable adjustment and have
armrests that prevent the user from getting sufficiently close to the desk.

Page 5
Occupational Psychologist: Old brown chairs, soiled carpets, dust and dirt everywhere.
A lot of scope for improvement - the place needs a good tidy-up, individual success could
be more recognised and the air conditioning needs to be improved immediately. Few
conversations were going on when we visited; everybody seemed stressed and driven by
deadlines. The company needs to adopt a policy of team-working.

Page 6