B

Five years ago, David Smith wore an expensive suit to work every day. “I was a clothes addict,” he jokes. “I used to carry a fresh suit to work with me so I could change if my clothes got wrinkled.” Today David wears casual clothes-khaki pants and sports shirt-to the office. He hardly ever wears a necktie. “I’m working harder than ever,” David says, “and I need to feel comfortable.”

More and more companies are allowing their office workers to wear casual clothes to work in the United States. The change from formal to casual office wear has been gradual. In the early 1990s, many companies allowed their employees to wear casual clothes on Friday (but only on Friday). This became known as “dress-down Friday” or “casual Friday”. “What started out as an extra one-day-a-week benefit for employees has really become an everyday thing.” said business consultant Maisly Jones.

Why have so many companies started allowing their employees to wear casual clothes? One reason is that it’s easier for a company to attract new employees if it has a casual dress code. “A lot of young people don’t want to dress up for work,” says the owner of a software company, “so it’s hard to hire people if you have a conservative dress code.” Another reason is that people seem happier and more productive when they are wearing comfortable clothes. In a study conducted by Levi Strauss and Company, 85 percent of employers said that they believe that casual dress improves employee morale. Only 4 percent of employers said that casual dress has a negative impact on productivity. Supporters of casual office wear also argue that a casual dress code helps them save money. “Suits are expensive, if you have to wear one every day,” one person said. “For the same amount of money, you can buy a lot more casual clothes.”

46. David Smith refers to himself as having been “a clothes addict” because _______.

A. he often wore khaki pants and a sports shirt

B. he wanted his clothes to look neat all the time

C. he couldn’t stand a clean appearance

D. he didn’t want to spend much money on clothes

47. The reason why David Smith wears casual clothes now is that _______.

A. they make him feel at ease when working

B. he cannot afford to buy expensive clothes

C. he looks handsome in casual clothes

D. he no longer works for any company

A. All the employers in the U. S. show their approval for casual office wear.

B. Comfortable clothes increase employees’ productivity.

C. A casual clothes code is welcomed by young employees.

D. Many employees don’t like a conservative dress code.

A. Company workers started to dress down about twenty years ago.

B. “Dress-down Friday” was first given as a favor from employers.

C. Dress-down has become an everyday phenomenon since the early 1990s.

D. Many workers want to wear casual clothes to impress people.

50. In this passage, the following advantages of casual office wear are mentioned in the passage except ___.

A. saving employees’ money B. making employees more attractive

C. improving employees’ motivation D. making employees happier

C

Motherhood may make women smarter and may help prevent dementia(痴呆) in old age by bathing the brain in protective hormones(荷尔蒙) , U.S. researchers reported on Thursday.

Tests on rats show that those who raise two or more litters of pups do considerably better in tests of memory and skills than rats who have no babies, and their brains show changes that suggest they may be protected against diseases such as Alzheimer’s(早老痴呆症). University of Richmond