Questions 47 to 56 are based on the following passage.
Think twice next time someone asks you for "five minutes of
your time" —it could cost you more than you think. A British professor has
(47) a mathematical formula to help people find out
(48) how much an hour of their time is worth. Professor Ian
Walker of Warwick University (49) the value of time after
research showed that over 80 percent of (50) would buy more
time if they could afford it. "Traditionally, salaries have (51)
an indication of how we are valued at work," Walker, an (52)
professor, said in a statement. "However, by looking at salaries
against taxation, the cost of living and (53) variations, we
can see how much an hour of our time is worth whether at work or home." The
formula could help in making (54) , such as whether to cook
a meal or to get a takeaway, or whether to take (55)
transport or a taxi. Visitors to www. Barclaycard. co. uk/timeismoney can find
out the value of an hour of their time by entering their salary, the region
where they work and what kind of work they do. For example, for a professional
working in London and earning 25000 pounds a year, an hour would be worth 6.44
pounds. Cooking dinner would cost 5.37 pounds— (56) to get a
takeaway, once you add the cost of the raw materials needed to make it yourself.
Brushing your teeth comes at 32 pence—perhaps hard to find someone to do it for
you for less. A) given
F) economics
K) cheaper B)
investigated G) students
L)
happily C) regional
H) exactly
M) respondents D) developed
I) psychology
N)
earned E) decisions
J) public
O) easy