106 學年度學測英文 第 30 題

Research has proven that weather plays a part in our moods: Warmer temperatures and exposure to sunshine increase positive thinking, whereas cold, rainy days bring anxiety and fatigue. 26, many people believe that bad weather can reduce productivity and efficiency.

There is, however, a significant 27 between such beliefs and the actual effect of weather on people’s performance at work. Using empirical data from laboratory experiments 28 observations of a mid-sized Japanese bank in real life, researchers find that weather conditions indeed influence a worker’s focus. When the weather is bad, individuals tend to focus more on their work rather than thinking about activities they could 29 outside of work. But photos showing outdoor activities, such as sailing on a sunny day or walking in the woods, can greatly distract workers and thus 30 their productivity. The findings conclude that workers are actually most productive when the weather is lousy—and only if nothing reminds them of good weather.