PART I: WRITTEN RECEPTION (70 points)

(ACCESS TO INFORMATION FROM WRITTEN TEXTS)

Read the text below and then answer questions 1–8.

FLEXIBLE WORK

I Mark Taylor works for the TLJ computer company in New York. Until 2020, he worked five
days a week at the office. Then, during the Covid pandemic, the office closed and everyone
worked from home. For Taylor, this was a good arrangement. "At home, I could do all my work
at night," he explained. "And that is when I concentrate really well." So when the office finally
5 opened again, Taylor had a pleasant surprise. "Our boss said we need to work at the office only
two days a week," he said. "The other three days, we are allowed to continue working from home."
II What TLJ now offers its workers is known as "flexible work." Today many companies
allow their workers to do flexible work. "This enables people to choose the work hours that
are best for them. For example, parents of young children often want to start and finish work
10 early so that they can spend the afternoons with their kids," says sociologist Natalie Gibson.
"Flexible work can also enable you to choose where you work. Many people like to spend
at least part of the workweek at the office because they enjoy being with their colleagues.
Studies show that workers who have a flexible job feel happier and more relaxed both at work
and in their personal lives."
15 III There are several types of flexible work. The mix of spending some of the workweek
at the office and the rest at home is the most common type. In another type, workers can
choose to spend four 10-hour days at the office and get a three-day weekend. "Of course, when
different people work at different hours, it can be very difficult for workers to do teamwork,"
says Gibson. "But many companies have a solution. They ask all the workers to participate
20 in 2-hour meetings twice a week. If employees are working from home, they must join these
meetings online. In this way, everyone can keep in touch."
IV Of course, in some jobs people cannot work from home, or choose their work hours.
"Many workers need to be at a specific place at a specific time," says Gibson. "Think, for
example, of people who serve customers at the bank." However, she believes that more and more
25 businesses will offer flexible jobs. "That's because many very good workers apply for these jobs,"
she says. "This means that employers who offer flexible jobs will get high-quality workers."

<u>QUESTIONS</u> (70 points)
Answer questions 1–8 in <u>English</u>, according to the text. In questions 1 and 4, circle the number of the correct answer. In the other questions, follow the instructions.