填空题

Pay and productivity, it is generally assumed, should be related. But the relationship seems to weaken (31) people get older. Mental ability declines (32) age. That is the same for the brainy and the dim—and not (33) for humans: it is measurable even (34) fruit flies. (35) minds that keep lively will suffer less than the lazy. In general, the more education you have, the more productive your old (36) will be. Some (37) decline faster than others. According to most studies, people’s numerical and reasoning abilities are (38) their best in their 20s and early 30s. (39) abilities—those that depend on knowledge—may improve with age. For most workers, decreased abilities will (40) to lower productivity; only a minority will find know-how and knowledge outweighs their failing powers. Even those employees who remain highly productive will be likely to shine only in a narrow (41) . Academics notice this. It is less clear that employers do. Studies of supervisors’ ratings show no clear correlation (42) age and perceived productivity. When other employees’ views are (43) into account though, the picture changes: these ratings suggest that workers in their 30s are the (44) productive and hardworking, (45) scores falling thereafter. That is (46) up by studies of work samples, which find lower productivity among the oldest employees. A study for America’s Department of Labor showed job performance peaking at 35, and (47) declining. It varied by industry: the fall was (48) in footwear, but faster in furniture. Intellectual occupations are harder to measure, but the picture is the same. Academics seem to publish (49) as they age. Painters, musicians and writers show the same tendency. Their output peaks in their 30s and 40s. The only (50) is female writers, who are most productive in their 50s.

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