Outdoor Offices: Wave of the Future? 新浪潮：戶外辦公室 An office might not be the most productive area to get your work done. 辦公室可能並不是一個讓你完成工作最有效率的地方。
Most people who spend their days stuck inside an office know that it can get a little boring sometimes. Day after day of sitting in an uncomfortable chair waiting for the workday to be over can be hard. Now, some forward-thinking companies are taking steps to make job environments more comfortable for their workers. Recent research has shown that being surrounded by trees, grass, and plants helps people become more productive. Therefore, it seems only natural that some companies would want to increase efficiency▼ by surrounding their employees with nature. Office spaces that are outdoors have all the necessities of a modern office such as electricity, plugs▼, and Wi-Fi, but they are built closer to nature. The spaces range from small tables outdoors in a park, to actually having desks and computers set up outside. While there are worries related to rain and other forms of bad weather, working outside seems to be a lot less stressful▼ than being trapped inside all day. So far, outdoor offices have been a big hit at companies that have set them up. Maybe one day, you will get to set up your office outside.
▼efficiency n. 效率 ▼plug n. 插座（非正式用法）；插頭（英式用法） ▼stressful a. 充滿壓力的，緊張的
1. productive a. 富有成效的；多產的 The boss usually holds the meeting in the morning, because everyone feels more productive at that time. 老闆通常在早上開會，因為大家都覺得那個時候比較有效率。
2. stuck a. 動不了的，困住的；束手無策的 We were stuck in a traffic jam for over an hour on our way home. 我們在回家的路上因交通堵塞而受阻了一個多小時。
3. uncomfortable a. 不舒服的 Allen feels uncomfortable in his new suit. 艾倫覺得穿著新西裝很不舒服。
4. forward-thinking a. 有前瞻性的，有遠見的 = forward-looking Our company needs someone who is dynamic and forward-thinking to lead us. 我們公司需要一個有活力和具前瞻性的人來領導。 * dynamic a. 充滿活力的；動力的
5. research n. 研究 The research shows that men find it easier to give up smoking than women. 研究顯示，男人比女人更容易戒菸。
6. be surrounded by... 被……所圍繞 surround vt. 包圍；圍繞 The president was surrounded by a group of reporters. 總統被一大群記者所包圍。
7. necessity n. 必需品，日用品 Lots of families can't even afford to buy some basic necessities of life. 許多家庭甚至買不起基本的生活必需品。
8. electricity n. 電 The rent is only NT$5,000 a month, but water and electricity are not included. 房租一個月只要新臺幣五千元，但不含水電。
一步一步慢慢來（one step at a time）！ 與 step 相關的用法有哪些？ 本文 "Now, some forward-thinking companies are taking steps to make job environments more comfortable for their workers." 中的片語 take steps 表「做些必要的事來防制某事的發生」，也就是我們常說的「採取……手段（措施）來防制……」。另外，與 step 相關的片語還有 be / keep / stay one step ahead (of sb/sth)，表「（比某人／某物）領先一步」。例：
The government is taking steps to provide better street lights in order to prevent crimes at night. （政府正採取措施提供更好的路燈來防止夜間犯罪。）
Prices stay one step ahead of wages. （物價領先於工資。）
The secret of success in business is to get one step ahead of the other firms, and stay there. （商場上的祕訣就是要領先其他公司並保持住。）
