新视野大学英语视听说教程第四册 Unit 4 Task 2: SOHO
The modern concept of small office and home office, or small and home office, often (S1) shorted to SOHO, is concerned with business that employ from one to ten workers. Also (S2) known as a virtual business, the SOHO has not evolved beyond the idea of an (S3) independent business person who has a few support stall members.
Business (S4) enterprises that are large are often called Small and Medium-sized Enterprises.
Before the19th century and the (S5) spread of the industrial revolution around the globe, (S6) nearly all offices were small offices or home offices, with only a few exceptions. Most businesses were small, and (S7) so was the amount of paperwork that went with their business activities.
At the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st, the term “Small or Home Office” and (S8) the acronym SOHO have been used t to great extent by companies that sell products to large number of small business with a small-sized office.
Some products are often designed specifically for the SOHO market. (S9) Many books are written and sold specifically for this type of office to tell people how to equip a small office.
Nowadays many consultants, lawyers, and real estate agents in small and medium- sized towns operate from such home offices.
(S10) In the field of software development, engineers often have to work 20 hours or more at a stretch, so they can hardly adapt to normal office hours. They often work in small offices to have more freedom.
