Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the option that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 18 to 22.
The Hybrid Work Revolution
Before 2020, most office workers followed the same routine: wake up, commute to the office, work for eight hours, and return home. (18)__________. Today, millions of employees around the world split their time between working from home and going to the office, and this flexible arrangement is becoming the new normal.
So, what exactly is hybrid work? Simply put, it's a work model where employees divide their week between remote work and office days. Having embraced hybrid work, (19)__________. For example, someone might work from home on Mondays and Fridays but come to the office on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Each company designs its own hybrid schedule based on its needs.
The popularity of hybrid work has grown rapidly because it offers benefits for both employees and employers. Workers value the flexibility—they can avoid prolonged commutes on some days (20)__________. Many people report being more productive at home (21)__________. Parents particularly value hybrid work because it allows them to balance their professional and family responsibilities more easily. Meanwhile, companies can rent smaller office spaces and save money on utilities.
Despite these benefits, hybrid work also creates difficulties. One common problem is communication breakdown. When team members work in different locations, they might miss important information or feel disconnected from colleagues. Some employees struggle with feelings of isolation when working alone at home. There’s also the issue of inequality—the concern is the fact that managers may notice that workers who spend more time in the office (22)__________.
Question 18:
A. In order that the radical transition to the hybrid work model could be ushered in, the conventional workflow shattered the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
B. Because the transition to hybrid work ushered in the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the conventional workflow was shattered eventually.
C. However, so profound was the disruption of the conventional workflow by the COVID-19 pandemic’s onset that it ushered in a radical transition to the hybrid work model.
D. Because the conventional workflow ushered in the radical transition to the hybrid work model, the COVID-19 pandemic’s onset was disrupted profoundly.
