Answer Question based on either English passage : Despite its extraordinary name `ergonomics' is not just something which has been dreamed up by boffins to confuse busy businessmen. It is a practical science which can make and is making a valuable contribution to industry. Research being carried out in this field can increase efficiency, improve product design and make employees more contented. Broadly, ergonomics is the study of the relationship between man and his working environment. It involves designing or redesigning machines and equipments so that due regard is given to the capabilities and limitations -- physical and psychological -- of the human beings who have to use or operate them. In contrast to the more common, traditional policy of `fitting the man to the machine' by selecting and training the best man for each particular job, the ergonomist endeavours to fit the machine to the man-any man. He accepts people, in fact, as he finds them with all their quirks and idiosyncracies, and tries to establish their capabilities as machine operators. He then attempts to allocate to the human operator the functions each can perform best. His object is to enable a person of ordinary abilities to carry out his tasks safely and efficiently, with a minimum of instruction. The ergonomist himself needs a knowledge of a number of sciences and techniques in order to carry out his work.
What is the more common or traditional policy ?
Fitting the man to the machine
The third paragraph names the traditional policy explicitly: "In contrast to the more common, traditional policy of `fitting the man to the machine' by selecting and training the best man for each particular job...". The phrase in the question — more common or traditional policy — is lifted from that sentence, and the policy it introduces is fitting the man to the machine.
The passage sets up a straight contrast: the old approach takes the machine as fixed and adjusts the worker to it through selection and training, while the ergonomist takes the worker as fixed and adjusts the machine. Recognising which half of the contrast the question asks for settles the answer.
Designing and redesigning machines and equipments is the opposite half of that contrast — it is what ergonomics does, described in the second paragraph, not the traditional policy.
Making a valuable contribution to industry is what the first paragraph says ergonomics achieves; it is a claim about the value of the new science, not a policy.
Confusing busy businessmen is what the first paragraph denies — the writer says ergonomics is not something dreamed up by boffins for that purpose.
Hence the more common or traditional policy is fitting the man to the machine.
Similar Questions
Answer Question based on either English passage :
Despite its extraordinary name `ergonomics' is not just something which has been dreamed up by boffins to confuse busy businessmen. It is a practical science which can make and is making a valuable contribution to industry. Research being carried out in this field can increase efficiency, improve product design and make employees more contented.
Broadly, ergonomics is the study of the relationship between man and his working environment. It involves designing or redesigning machines and equipments so that due regard is given to the capabilities and limitations -- physical and psychological -- of the human beings who have to use or operate them.
In contrast to the more common, traditional policy of `fitting the man to the machine' by selecting and training the best man for each particular job, the ergonomist endeavours to fit the machine to the man-any man.
He accepts people, in fact, as he finds them with all their quirks and idiosyncracies, and tries to establish their capabilities as machine operators. He then attempts to allocate to the human operator the functions each can perform best. His object is to enable a person of ordinary abilities to carry out his tasks safely and efficiently, with a minimum of instruction.
The ergonomist himself needs a knowledge of a number of sciences and techniques in order to carry out his work.
The object of an ergonomist is ............
What do you understand by `boffins' ?
An ergonomist himself needs a knowledge of ........................
Ergonomics is the study of ..............
Important Questions from Reading Comprehension
What is the meaning of ‘intrigued’?
What are ice shelves?
What are icebergs?
When the iceberg turns upside down, it appears ________.
The use of science in its simple form has helped man to ____________
