原文During an interview for one of my books, my interviewer said something I still think about often. Annoyed by the level of distraction(干扰)in his open office, he said, “That’s why I have a membership at the coworking space across the street —so I can focus. "His comment struck me as strange. After all, coworking spaces also typically use an open office layout (布局). But I recently came across a study that shows why his approach works The researchers examined various levels of noise on participants as they completed tests of creative thinking. They were randomly divided into four groups and exposed to various noise levels in the background, from total silence to 50 decibels(分贝),70 decibels, and 85 decibels. The differences between most of the groups were statistically insignificant; however, the participants in the 70 decibels group—those exposed to a level of noise similar to background chatter in a coffee shop-significantly outperformed the other groups. Since the effects were small, this may suggest that our creative thinking does not differ that much in response to total silence and 85 decibels of background noise. But since the results at 70 decibels were significant, the study also suggests that the right level of background noise—not too loud and not total silence—may actually improve one’s creative thinking ability. The right level of background noise may interrupt our normal patterns of thinking just enough to allow our imaginations to wander, without making it impossible to focus. This kind of "distracted focus" appears to be the best state for working on creative tasks. So why do so many of us hate our open offices? The problem may be that, in our offices, we can't stop ourselves from getting drawn into others’ conversations while we’re trying to focus. Indeed, the researchers found that face-to-face interactions and conversations affect the creative process, and yet a coworking space or a coffee shop provides a certain level of noise while also providing freedom from interruptions. 32. Why does the interviewer prefer a coworking space? A. It helps him concentrate. B. It blocks out background noise. C. It has a pleasant atmosphere. D. It encourages face-to-face interactions. 33. Which level of background noise may promote creative thinking ability? A. Total silence. B. 50 decibels. C. 70 decibels. D. 85 decibels. 34. What makes an open office unwelcome to many people? A. Personal privacy unprotected. B. Limited working space. C. Restrictions on group discussion. D. Constant interruptions. 35.What can we infer about the author from the text? A. He's a news reporter. B. He’s on office manager. C. He's a professional designer. D. He's a published writer. 译文在我的一本书的面试中，我的面试官说了一些我仍然经常想的话。他对自己开放式办公室的分心程度感到恼火，他说：“这就是为什么我在街对面的共享办公空间拥有会员资格，这样我就可以集中注意力了。”他的评论让我觉得很奇怪。毕竟，共享办公空间通常也使用开放式办公室布局。但我最近发现了一项研究，表明了他的方法为什么有效 研究人员检查了参与者在完成创造性思维测试时的各种噪音水平。他们被随机分为四组，暴露在不同的背景噪音水平下，从完全静音到50分贝、70分贝和85分贝。大多数组之间的差异在统计学上不显著；然而，70分贝组的参与者——那些暴露在类似于咖啡店背景噪音水平的噪音中的人——明显优于其他组。由于影响很小，这可能表明我们的创造性思维在应对完全静音和85分贝的背景噪音时没有太大差异。 但由于70分贝的结果是显著的，这项研究还表明，适当的背景噪音水平——不要太大，也不要完全沉默——实际上可能会提高一个人的创造性思维能力。适当水平的背景噪音可能会打断我们的正常思维模式，刚好让我们的想象力漫游，而不会让我们无法集中注意力。这种“分散注意力”似乎是从事创造性任务的最佳状态。 那么，为什么我们中有这么多人讨厌我们开放的办公室呢？问题可能是，在我们的办公室里，当我们试图集中注意力时，我们无法阻止自己被他人的对话所吸引。事实上，研究人员发现，面对面的互动和对话会影响创作过程，然而，共同工作空间或咖啡店在提供一定程度的噪音的同时，也提供了不受干扰的自由。 32.为什么面试官更喜欢共享办公空间？ A.这有助于他集中注意力。B.它能屏蔽背景噪音。 C.这里气氛宜人。D.它鼓励面对面的互动。 33.哪种水平的背景噪音可以提高创造性思维能力？ A.完全沉默。B.50分贝。C.70分贝。D.85分贝。 34.是什么让开放式办公室不受很多人欢迎？ A.个人隐私不受保护。B.工作空间有限。 C.对小组讨论的限制。D.不断的打断。 35.我们能从课文中推断出作者的哪些情况？ A.他是一名新闻记者。B.他是办公室经理。 C.他是个专业设计师。他是一位出版作家。

1 段译 关于该政策的第一份官方数据显示，政府对软饮料征收的糖税带来的资金是部长们最初预测的一半。

The Government's sugar tax on soft drinks has brought in half as much money as Ministers first predicted it would generate, the first official data on the policy has shown. 句译 关于该政策的第一份官方数据显示，政府对软饮料征收的糖税带来的资金是部长们最初预测的一半。

2 段译 该税于2016年4月首次宣布，适用于每100毫升含糖量超过5克的软饮料，旨在帮助减少儿童肥胖（肥胖）。据信，今天的儿童和青少年摄入的糖是建议水平的三倍，使他们面临更高的患病风险。

First announced in April, 2016, the tax which applies to soft drinks containing more than 5g of sugar per 100ml, was introduced to help reduce childhood obesity (肥胖).句译 该税于2016年4月首次宣布，适用于每100毫升含糖量超过5克的软饮料，旨在帮助减少儿童肥胖（肥胖）。 It is believed that today's children and teenagers are consuming three times the recommended level of sugar, putting them at a higher risk of the disease.句译 据信，今天的儿童和青少年摄入的糖是建议水平的三倍，使他们面临更高的患病风险。

3 段译 最初，预计糖税每年为财政部带来5.2亿英镑的收入。然而，前六个月的数据显示，它的收入还不到这个数字的一半。目前，预计在截至2019年4月的一年中，它将产生2.4亿英镑的收入，用于学校体育。

Initially the sugar tax was expected to make £520m a year for the Treasury. 句译 最初，预计糖税每年为财政部带来5.2亿英镑的收入。However, data of the first six months showed it would make less than half this amount. 句译 然而，前六个月的数据显示，它的收入还不到这个数字的一半。At present it is expected to generate £240m for the year ending in April 2019, which will go to school sports. 句译 目前，预计在截至2019年4月的一年中，它将产生2.4亿英镑的收入，用于学校体育。

4 段译 此前，超过一半的商店出售的软饮料被制造商降低了糖含量，这样他们就可以避免纳税。根据财政部的数据，由于制造商努力避免收费，现在饮料中的糖含量减少了4500万公斤。自4月以来，饮料公司被迫根据含糖量的不同，为生产或进口的每升含糖饮料支付18便士至24便士的费用。

It comes after more than half of soft drinks sold in shops have had their sugar levels cut by manufacturers (制造商) so they can avoid paying the tax. 句译 此前，超过一半的商店出售的软饮料被制造商降低了糖含量，这样他们就可以避免纳税。Drinks now contain 45 million fewer kilos of sugar as a result of manufacturers' efforts to avoid the charge, according to Treasury figures. 句译 根据财政部的数据，由于制造商努力避免收费，现在饮料中的糖含量减少了4500万公斤。Since April drinks companies have been forced to pay between 18p and 24p for every litre of sugary drink they produce or import, depending on the sugar content.句译 自4月以来，饮料公司被迫根据含糖量的不同，为生产或进口的每升含糖饮料支付18便士至24便士的费用。

5 段译 然而，一些高糖品牌，如经典可口可乐，已经接受了糖税，并因担心惹恼消费者而拒绝改变。果汁、牛奶饮料和大多数酒精饮料是免税的，年生产量低于100万升的小公司也是免税的。

However, some high sugar brands, like Classic Coca Cola, have accepted the sugar tax and are refusing to change for fear of upsetting consumers. 句译 然而，一些高糖品牌，如经典可口可乐，已经接受了糖税，并因担心惹恼消费者而拒绝改变。Fruit juices, milk-based drinks and most alcoholic drinks are free of the tax, as are small companies manufacturing fewer than 1m litres per year.句译 果汁、牛奶饮料和大多数酒精饮料是免税的，年生产量低于100万升的小公司也是免税的。

6 段译 据一位政府官员称，今天的数据显示，糖税通过为体育设施和学校的健康饮食筹集数百万英镑而产生了积极影响。帮助下一代拥有一个健康、活跃的童年非常重要，该行业正在发挥其作用。

Today's figures, according to one government official, show the positive influence the sugar tax is having by raising millions of pounds for sports facilities (设施) and healthier eating in schools. 句译 据一位政府官员称，今天的数据显示，糖税通过为体育设施和学校的健康饮食筹集数百万英镑而产生了积极影响。Helping the next generation to have a healthy and active childhood is of great importance, and the industry is playing its part.句译 帮助下一代拥有一个健康、活跃的童年非常重要，该行业正在发挥其作用。

32. Why was the sugar tax introduced?翻译 32.为什么要征收糖税？

A. To collect money for schools. 翻译 为学校募捐。

B. To improve the quality of drinks.翻译 提高饮料的质量。

C. To protect children's health.翻译 保护儿童健康。

D. To encourage research in education.翻译 鼓励教育研究。

33. How did some drinks companies respond to the sugar tax?翻译 33.一些饮料公司如何应对糖税？

A. They turned to overseas markets.翻译 他们转向海外市场。

B. They raised the prices of their products.翻译 他们提高了产品的价格。

C. They cut down on their production.翻译 他们减少了生产。

D. They reduced their products' sugar content.翻译 他们降低了产品的含糖量。

34. From which of the following is the sugar tax collected?翻译 34.食糖税是从下列哪一项征收的？

A. Most alcoholic drinks.翻译 大多数含酒精饮料。

B. Milk-based drinks.翻译 奶基饮料。

C. Fruit juices. 翻译 果汁

D. Classic Coke.翻译 经典可乐。

35. What can be inferred about the adoption of the sugar tax policy?翻译 35.关于食糖税政策的采用，可以推断出什么？

A. It is a short-sighted decision.翻译 这是一个短视的决定。

B. It is a success story.翻译 这是一个成功的故事。

C. It benefits manufacturers.翻译 这有利于制造商。

D. It upsets customers.翻译 这让客户感到不安。

答案 32.C 33.D 34.D 35.B   温馨提示：选项可点击，红色为错误选项，绿色为正确选项