Question

Fashion treadmill desks (跑步機辦公室) might actually help improve job performance after employees get used to working while walking, according to new research.

A yearlong study of workers at a company St. Paul, Minn, found that the productivity of 40 treadmill users dropped at first because they were unable to master typing and operating a mouse while walking at a speed of up to two miles per hour.

But within four to six months, measures (測量) of performance-quality, the amount of work done, and the quality of interactions(互動) with workmates rose gradually, according to weekly surveys. At the end of the survey period, workers with treadmill desks improved their performance, which was 0.69 points higher than that before the project began.

For tasks like solving problems or taking conference calls, “ A little bit of walking is useful because it means there’s more blood flow to the brain,” said Avner Ben-Ner, a professor at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management and an author of the study. “ You get more oxygen (氧氣) and it increases the ability to think .”

Treadmill desks have got attention because of research which showed the negative (負面的，消極的)effects of sedentary lifestyles and jobs that leave workers sitting all day. But data on the effectiveness of the desks has been relatively rare.

There are other downsides (不利方面) , as The Wall Street Journal wrote last year, including the possibility of falls and injuries.

Mr. Ben-Ner noted that treadmill users need some time to get used to the ergonomics (人體工程學(xué)) of walking while working, including the proper desk height. His team provided no training to employees, and he said that employers who provide such desks should offer help to get users comfortable on the machines.

“This wouldn’t be very good for people who use a needle for their jobs,” he said. “ But everyone who does brain work knows that if you need fresh ideas, taking a walk helps.”

1.According to the passage, fashion treadmill desks offer users many advantages EXCEPT to_______.

A. improve their quality of work B. increase their amount of work

C. make their health become better and better D. keep good relationships with workmates

2.Which of the following does Mr. Ben-Ner agree?

A. People can do different kinds of work when walking on treadmill.

B. The treadmill desks are fit for people solving difficult problems.

C. The more oxygen you get, the better your mood is.

D. A little walk can make your brain work more actively.

3.The underlined part “sedentary “in Paragraph 6 probably means leading a life with ____________.

A. much sitting B. daily stress C. no money D. great worry

Answer 1