Money talk has long been considered unacceptable in the workplace, but it’s not just social norms that have kept such conversations in the dark. According to a 2011 survey, almost half of all American workers are either 1 prohibited or strongly discouraged by their employers from discussing their pay with coworkers.

　　2 when it’s not against the rules, experts warn 3 bringing up the pay scale with people in your office. For one, says career coach Carin Rockind, “if management ever found out, it makes you look 4 and could backfire.”

　　Rockind emphasizes that these 5 usually lead to disappointment and lower job satisfaction. A study by the National Bureau of Economic Research reached the same 6 The researchers gave a random set of University of California employees 7 to a website that 8 University workers’ salary information. 9 workers who discovered that they made less than average 10 reported lower job satisfaction, there was no 11 increase in reported satisfaction among those who found out that their earnings were above average.

　　Pamela Teagarden, an expert in corporate behavioral psychology, says that salary comparison conversations often 12 because most workplaces 13 in what is known as a “Prisoner’s Dilemma.” 14 cooperating, colleagues are forced to compare and compete because everyone is trying for the next promotion, for the 15 .” Comparing salaries only 16 that dynamic, 17 a team’s ability to work together toward a common goal. To avoid this problem, Teagarden recommends that companies 18 other, non-monetary, “extrinsic motivators,” like encouraging friendship among coworkers and valuing employees’ opinions.

　　Rockind also emphasizes this non-monetary 19 . “There’s a 20 in our society that money leads to happiness,” Rockind says. “But it’s actually the other way around: It’s not that money leads to happiness; it’s that happy people make more money.”

　　1. [A] expressly [B] generally [C] implicitly [D] inevitably

　　2. [A] Only [B] But [C] Hence [D] Even

　　3. [A] over [B] against [C] for [D] on

　　4. [A] depressed [B] dissatisfied [C] eccentric [D] furious

　　5. [A] rumours [B] whispers [C] conversations [D] concepts

　　6. [A] decision [B] determination [C] conclusion [D] solution

　　7. [A] right [B] opportunity [C] credit [D] access

　　8. [A] listed [B] raised [C] performed [D] extended

　　9. [A] When [B] Since [C] While [D] If

　　10. [A] ultimately [B] essentially [C] immediately [D] cheerfully

　　11. [A] astonishing [B] considerable [C] reciprocal [D] dramatic

　　12. [A] increase [B] arise [C] proceed [D] suspend

　　13. [A] manipulate [B] manage [C] involve [D] operate

　　14. [A] Other than [B] No more than [C] More than [D] Rather than

　　15. [A] win [B] wealth [C] reputation [D] praise

　　16. [A] interferes [B] reinforces [C] breaks [D] activates

　　17. [A] undermining [B] influencing [C] shaping [D] paralyzing

　　18. [A] carry on [B] focus on [C] insist on [D] put on

　　19. [A] trend [B] fashion [C] approach [D] motivator

　　20. [A] prototype [B] convention [C] tradition [D] belief

　　參考答案

　　1. A 2. D 3. B 4. B 5. C 6. C 7. D 8. A 9. C 10. A

　　11. C 12. B 13. D 14. D 15. A 16. B 17. A 18. B 19. C 20. D