VII. Read the text carefully, then fill in each numbered blank with one suitable word
(2p)
Society has changed in many ways since the introduction of computers, and
people's lives at home and at the office have been (1) _____ . Most people are
working for fewer hours per week than they (2) _____ to, and manufacturers and
advertising agencies are becoming much more interested in (3)_____ people spend this
extra leisure time. One recent report stated that (4) _____ the number of hobbies had
not increased, each hobby had become more specialized.
A second (5)_____ is that nowadays, many managers would rather spend time
with their families than stay (6)_____ in the office every day. Home life seems to be
just as important as working. Some companies now make managers (7) _____ their
annual holidays even if they don't want to, because this leads to such an (8) _____ in
their performance if they have some rest.
In spite of these changes, some people are working harder than ever before. The
standard of exams is getting higher, and increased competition is (9)_____ it harder to
get into university than it was 20 years ago. School children and students are now
having to work so hard that in many cases they work (10) _____ hours than their
parents.