’ informal networks. Mr Burt calls the people who form bridges between clusters “brokers”; they resemble Ms Casciaro’s and Mr Sousa Lobo’s affective hubs. In practice, Mr Burt has found that brokers do better than people without the social skills to cross the spaces between clusters.

A book published in English this week, but already a cause célèbre in France, portrays most employees as fools—lovable or otherwise. Corinne Maier’s “Bonjour Laziness” is a worm’s eye view of a corporate world where only three creatures exist: sheep (“weak and inoffensive”); pests (“poisoning the general atmosphere”); and loafers (“their only aim is to do as little as possible”). In the view of Ms Maier, a practising psychoanalyst, pests (ie, jerks) rule the corporate world. (So does being a jerk give you the skills needed to get to the top? And only in France?) The rest can only hope to lie low and await their pension. But, assuming you are lovable, far better, surely, to follow the Burt route: head straight for the water cooler.

26. According to paragraph 1, what has been the traditional attitude to jerks at work?

［A］ Fire them, even if they are good workers.

［B］ Fire them, because they are not good workers.

［C］ Accept them, if they are good workers.

［D］ Accept them, because they are good workers.

27. According to the study mentioned in paragraph 2, why is this incorrect?

［A］ Being liked is more important than being competent.

［B］ Being liked and incompetent is worse than being disliked and competent.

［C］ Being disliked and competent is worse than being liked and incompetent.

［D］ Being liked and incompetent is better than being disliked and competent.

28. What could incompetent jerks be used for in companies?

［A］ To enhance communication between different workgroups.

［B］ For training people to be nice.

［C］ For making companies appear charming.

［D］ To charm people who are not particularly liked.

29. Which of the following is the best definition of “social capital”?

［A］ The ability to use people to your advantage.

［B］ The ability to form social networks.

［C］ The ability to do well in life because you have connections.

［D］ The ability to make business connections.

30. According to the final paragraph, lovable jerks can be considered to be

［A］ sheep.［B］ pests.［C］ loafers.［D］ none of the above.

参考答案：21-25 BDCAD 26-30 CDACD

责任编辑:gaoyan