All Jobs Are Important

Growing up in Kansas, I’d jump on my bike and disappear for the day. My friends and
I built ramps and
pretended we were Evel Knievel, the motorcycle daredevil who was big at the time.

1. (B Gaining knowledge about life)

My father was a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning contractor. When I was 7
or 8, I started accompanying him to jobs at schools, offices and homes when school
was out for the summer. By age 10, I was working with him. I was the perfect size
to crawl under houses to install duct work. I’d run into raccoons, mice and other
animals. I learned a lot about life from my father and from listening to the radio
commentator Paul Harvey. At 13, I wanted to work in the local pizza parlour. I lied
and told the owner I was 15 going on 16 so he’d hire me. In a small town, it’s hard
to keep a lie like that going when your boss reads the paper and sees you in a
photo of the baseball team for 13-year-olds.

2. (G Important skills acquisition)

I planned to attend the University of Kansas at Lawrence to study journalism, so I
joined the Army Reserves to help pay for it. Then I found out I got a scholarship.
My time with the Reserves was a great experience, especially for a boy from
southeastern Kansas who hadn’t seen much diversity. It taught me discipline, which
people have said is evident in the way I structure my day. I also learned that it’s
important to accomplish a mission – and to accomplish a team goal while meeting
individual members’ needs.

3. (C Advantages and disadvantages of the first business)

In college, I started a business with my roommate, making fliers for companies and
posting them on campus. We’d get up at 5 a.m. and cover the bulletin boards in
dorms and other buildings.
I was making good money, but owning a company means you can spend a lot of time
collecting money owed to you. I didn’t want to do that when I graduated. I took a
job with a client who owned theme parks and then moved to Six Flags, where I worked
from 1992 to 2006; I was president of three locations, in Illinois, Massachusetts
and New Jersey.

4. (A Eye-opening experience at the construction site)

I decided to try something else, so for the next 18 months I worked for a company
that was building the Burj Dubai (now the Burj Khalifa) skyscraper and the Dubai
Mall. I was based in Chicago but travelled to Dubai a few times. Many people were
there for financial reasons. In the development projects, I would see the
construction workers, mostly from Asia, sleeping on the ground on their breaks. I
was amazed at how little they were paid – under $10 a day – and at how hard they
worked. We take so much for granted in this country.

5. (E Shifts in the business world)

Americans often think their nation is the centre of the business world, but that is
changing. No one in Dubai referred to Wall Street or many of the other things we
view as important. The Middle East and other areas have an energy and a gravity
that many Americans aren’t aware of. When I was offered my current position, I
liked the idea of going from a publicly held company concerned with quarterly
earnings to a private one with longer-term plans. This is a family-owned business,
and the members understand that the Space Needle is a cultural icon and a landmark
that will be here for years. We’re making plans for the 50th anniversary of the
Space Needle, built for the 1962 World’s Fair. My job is also to help this
attraction stay current and prepare for the future. My three children, all under
10, think that my C.E. O. title means that I’m chief elevator operator at the Space
Needle. My wife doesn’t dissuade them of that belief, and they’re not shy about
telling the neighbours. In this organization, no job is more important than any
other, so if they view chief elevator operator as one of the most important jobs, I
would have to agree with that.

A Eye-opening experience at the construction site

B Gaining knowledge about life
C Advantages and disadvantages of the first business
D Never lie to your boss
E Shifts in the business world
F Diversity of Kansas
G Important skills acquisition
H Cultural icons and landmarks are protected by law

A Career in the Video Games Industry?

Initially populated by computer scientists and the self-taught, the video game
design industry used not to offer many routes into its midst. Often, perhaps
unfairly, viewed as just a hobby for young enthusiasts, the video games industry is
now being taken seriously. Surprised? Industry experts aren’t.

It’s not easy though. Video game spin-offs that rapidly follow any new movie
require dozens of team members and months of incredible skill, perseverance and
intricacies. As with almost every industry, it’s tricky to get into − but it is
expanding. Jim Donelly, a spokesman for an online games magazine says: ‘It’s
certainly very difficult to make much headway within big companies, or to influence
any of the really big mainstream games. But the truth is, the industry needs game
designers more than ever. Not just director-level people who orchestrate an entire
game, but the lower-level people who design systems and individual set pieces.’

So, how can you get into such a competitive industry Although many companies prefer
people to have a degree in computer science, Jim disagrees. There is only one
route: make games. The tools are there. You won’t get a job if you haven’t made
something, and you won’t get anywhere independently if you are not making stuff.
Game design is less a job than it is a way of life. Like any creative endeavour it
must be done to be real.’ Another industry expert, John Field, sees other options.
‘There’s a lot to be said for “just doing it”, but it’s really more complicated
than that. There are lots of people who want to work in games, but few who measure
up to the requirements of the industry these days; even fewer who have the creative
talent, technical know-how, vision and entrepreneurial ability to really contribute
to the ever-changing face of an evolving medium.’

Can you do it on your own? ‘Perhaps, but it’s pretty tricky,’says John. ‘However, a
good postgraduate course in games can help, plus provide a year or two of top-
levelsupport and guidance. Most games designers start their careers as programmers,
or artists, progressing their way up the ladder. They are interested in all forms
of entertainment media, plus have a healthy appetite for all areas of the arts and
contemporary culture. They may or may not have spent a few years in the working
world post-graduation, but have realised that games is going to be their “thing”.
They are not merely fans, but are fascinated by the future possibilities of games,
and are aware of the increasing breadth and diversity of the form. And finally,
connections can help. This is often overlooked, but in order to get line ahead in
games – as in many other areas – you need to network.’

6. What is the writer’s main point about the video games industry in the first
paragraph?
A It is reasonable to consider making a living in this field. +
B Young people’s contributions to it should be appreciated.
C It offers a relatively limited number of career options.
D Specialists in this area have failed to value its potential.

7. What does Jim tell us about the video games industry?

A It can be hard to decide which idea will prove successful.
B Many designers are required to take charge of each large project.
C It is worth recognising the value of having a long-term strategy.
D There is room for people with different degrees of responsibility. +

8. What does ‘that’ typed in bold refer to?

A getting a degree in computer science
B making games +
C being independent
D seeing other options

9. What opinion does John express in the third paragraph?

A It is a mistake to believe that the jobs people do in the industry are easy.
B Many people lack the qualities needed to do effective work in the industry. +
C The industry could benefit from people who have a strong desire to work in it.
D The industry is changing too rapidly for people to keep up with it.

10. What does ‘overlooked’ typed in bold mean?

A not considered +
B understood
C not used
D required

Volunteers

11. John (B was warned of a possible danger)

This was the first volunteering project I worked on overseas and Green life
volunteers proved to be a good choice. I decided for the Bird Conservation project,
which is run by Osa Birds: Research and Conservation. Most of the time I did basic
maintenance jobs and fed the birds. ‘They can break coconuts with their beaks and
they’ll take your finger off so be careful,’ our boss advised. So, I chopped
bananas and then used a long fork to pass the fruit in to the birds without risking
my fingers.

12. Teresa (A found that there was a wide choice of opportunities)

For many years I had fantasised about spending December on a white, tropical beach
on a remote island. I finally found my slice of paradise in the Seychelles when my
dream came true last year, though not exactly in the way I had envisaged. I had
been feeling burnt out from work and wanted to escape winter and learn new skills.
Volunteer projects seemed a good option. Narrowing my search criteria to marine
research helped cut down the thousands of options out there and I eventually joined
a coral protection project to help determine the long-term impact of rising sea
temperatures on the ecosystem.

13. Patricia (E thought that she had gained as much as she had given)
Imagine spending the summer as I did, working on the edge of the active volcano in
Hawaii. I had once been on a ranger-guided walk there with my family. I had been
terrified. However, as I relaxed, I slowly realised that the ranger’s job was
something I’d like to do too. So, a few years later I applied and got a volunteer
ranger job. I found living there surprisingly laid back, as well as exciting. After
a crash course in geology, I was given the volunteer ranger uniform and began the
job. On the first morning I found myself in front of a group of visitors. Suddenly
I was the ‘authority’, delivering a talk on the volcanic past and present of the
islands. As a volunteer I was making the park come alive for the visitors, and they
in return made Hawaii come alive for me.
14. Helen (C says her family had influenced her choice of work)
After a month of study, I wanted to get away for a bit. My dad is an artist and
often does paintings of tropical birds. I’d always wanted to find out more about
them. From the Internet I found that a farm which breeds parrots was looking for
volunteers. I arrived in the middle of a panic situation – a storm had knocked the
electricity out, and the generator, needed for keeping the eggs warm, was nearly
out of petrol. After visiting several garages, we found some and dashed back just
in time. I really enjoyed my stay. Some hosts lay down strict rules on the amount
of work expected but luckily mine, Darryl, preferred to set out projects which he
wanted my help with.

15. Kate (H was shown sympathy by someone on her project)

During my stay in Guatemala, I volunteered to work on a plantation. One day, my
supervisor, René inspected my scratched hands and asked gently if I needed gloves.
I gathered my strength and told him that gloves might indeed help. Then I grasped
my knife and resumed my attack on the invading roots that were constantly
threatening to drag the fragile new cacao plantation back into the rainforest. In
the sticky red earth, everything grows – the trouble is that it is rarely what you
planted. Walking through the plantation, René had to point out to me the treasured
cash crops of coffee, cacao and macadamias. To my eye, they were indistinguishable
from the surrounding jungle.

16. Anne (F had only one disadvantage which was not important)
Volunteering for a coral reef conservation project was the perfect way for me as an
ocean lover and passionate scuba diver to help and protect our surroundings. Within
24 hours of our group’s arrival, we lived and breathed coral, not just under water
but also in the camp – with 52 coral types to master and up to three research dives
a day. If there was a downside, it was the seemingly endless chores in the camp,
but I didn’t mind. But the experience was, overall, incredible. I couldn’t even
imagine it in my wildest imagination.

Which volunteer _____ ?

A found that there was a wide choice of opportunities
B was warned of a possible danger
C says her family had influenced her choice of work
D was not aware of all aspects of natural life around her
E thought that she had gained as much as she had given
F had only one disadvantage which was not important
G appreciated the broad-mindedness of her boss
H was shown sympathy by someone on her project

Task 4
Read the text below. Choose from (A – H) the one which best fits each space (17–
22). There are two choices you do not need to use. Write your answers on the
separate answer sheet.

I was 12 years old when I first saw a show in my local leisure centre. I was
fascinated by the fact that everything came in about ten lorries and they basically
built a theatre from scratch. I was very curious as I (17) (E watched the whole
thing being put together) and I found it hugely exciting.

The more I found out about technical theatre (18) (B the more interested I
became) . However, what I really wanted was to get involved and start working as
part of a stage management team.

I left school when I was 16 and because I had quite a lot of experience I was able
to get a job as an assistant stage manager in a theatre in London. I worked there
for about a year and then did some freelance work in Cornwall and went on tours
around the country. The work was quite sporadic but the money was good; (19) (G in
one month I could earn enough to last me six months). Working on tour was intense
but really good fun. A typical Monday would see us arrive at about 8 o’clock in the
morning and open up the lorries. While the cast were getting ready (20) (D we would
get on with any necessary maintenance jobs) .

After a couple of years touring I decided to return to London and go to college to

study technical theatre. I studied for a year but I realised that it wasn’t very
useful to me. I had learnt a lot more from my years working. It was a course for
people (21) (A who didn’t know anything about the theatre) . Theatres are looking
for people with proven ability and who know what they are doing. I did some more
freelance work in London for a while and now I work for a production company.

I really like what I do. There are of course a number of disadvantages; I don’t
like the hours and the disruption to my personal life that working evenings can
cause. Also (22) (C there’s quite a lot of instability and insecurity to the job)
and the money is not always good. But I would highly recommend it to others

A who didn’t know anything about the theatre

B the more interested I became
C there’s quite a lot of instability and insecurity to the job
D we would get on with any necessary maintenance jobs
E watched the whole thing being put together
F because there are so many more people to organise
G in one month I could earn enough to last me six months
H what interests them the most on your CV is your last job

Task 5
Read the text below. For questions (23–32) choose the correct answer (A, B, C or
D). Write your answers on the separate answer sheet.

Advertising for Work

An out of work (23) (A accountant) was seen advertising his services on a placard
outside a busy London station last week. This unusual tactic is (24) (C
reminiscent) of scenes from New York’s Wall Street during the great Depression of
the 1930s. Daniel Bell decided to try this drastic approach after months of looking
for a (25) (D job) using more traditional methods. He said he had sent out hundreds
of CVs and applied to over 70 different jobs but only had five (26) (A
interviews) , none of which were successful. Now he says he has nothing to lose and
hopes to impress prospective (27) (A employer) with his initiative.

He plans to stand outside the station with his sign during the rush hour and giving
out (28) (D business) cards for as long as it takes to get a job. After just two
days he had received three invitations to attend interviews so the plan seems to be
(29) (A working) He admits, however, that his presentation has received mixed
reaction ‘Most people seem embarrassed and try to look the other way, while others
clearly think I am being (30) (B ridiculous) and more than one person openly
pointed and laughed at me.

‘I don’t care though,’ he says, ‘they might find themselves being made (31) (C
redundant) by the end of the month. ‘I couldn’t even imagine that one day I would
be (32) (B laid) .

23 A accountant B account C acquaintance D acquirer

24 A remedial B remembrance C reminiscent D recognition
25 A work B occupation C profession D job
26 A interviews B intercessions C interactions D interests
27 A employer B employee C worker D employment
28 A admission B postal C invitation D business
29 A working B functioning C operating D idling
30 A reliable B ridiculous C relaxed D reserved
31 A restricted B recruited C redundant D replace
32 A laid on B laid off C lied to D lay off

Digital Nomads
What is a digital nomad? In the past two years Samantha and Justin (33) (C have
lived) and worked in more than
20 countries.
J.: ‘We started this year in South America. We lived in Peru, in Santiago Chile,
Argentina.’
S.: ‘Croatia, Innsbruck Austria, Portugal, Italy, Norway…’
J.: ‘Which is really pretty…’
S.: ‘And then we were on (34) (C –) Reunion Island for two months’
J.: ‘Off Madagascar…’

Throughout that time both (35) (D has held) down the same jobs. Justin runs a
digital creative agency and Samantha works for a California-based startup. They
only need an internet connection to do their jobs. This gives them the freedom to
live (36) (D anywhere) in the world.

They call (37) (B themselves) ‘digital nomads’.

Today people working (38) (A remotely) like this number in the millions.

J.: ‘We are not on vacation, we live pretty normal lives so it gives us opportunity
to integrate and become locals and try (39) (C on) different flavours of life’.

Visas can be an issue though. Justin and Samantha usually stay on tourist visas.
This gives them only a (40) (A limited) amount of time in each country.

But some countries are starting to embrace this type of workers. Estonia is (41) (B
launching) a special visa which allows people (42) (A stay) for a year. Some
estimates recon by 2035 there could be 1 billion location independent workers.

33 A has lived B lives C have lived D living

34 A a B the C – D any
35 A is holding B have held C were held D has held
36 A where B nowhere C somewhere D anywhere
37 A their B themselves C them D they
38 A remotely B remote C remoteness D remoted
39 A for B In C on D up
40 A limited B limiting C limit D limits
41 A launched B launching C launch D been launched
42 A stay B to stay C staying D stayed

TASK 6
Read the text below. For the empty spaces (35-40) choose the correct answer (А, В,
C or D). Write your answers on the separate answer sheet.

GAS PRICES KEEP RISING

If you go past any gas stations on your way to school, you have probably noticed
that gas prices have been changing almost every day. Those prices have been going
up and up. In some parts of the country, gas now (35) (В costs) more than $ 3 per
gallon. The average price for a gallon of gasoline (36) (В has jumped) to more
than $ 2.90 a gallon. It was $ 2.51 cents a gallon a month ago and $ 2.24 cents a
gallon a year ago.

Experts say there (37) (В are) a few reasons why gas is so expensive. One reason is
that the cost of crude oil, which is used to make gasoline, has been going up.
Also, the amount of gasoline that the country has saved up (38) (C is shrinking) .
Another reason is that there are problems in the Middle East, where a lot of oil
comes from.

Because gas prices are getting so high, many people are driving less. Some people
are planning to save money and gas by (39) (A taking) shorter trips for summer
vacation. The cost of airplane tickets has been going up too, because planes need a
lot of fuel.

The prices for other things also are going up. Truckers who bring products to
stores are paying more for gas, so they (40) (C have to) charge the stores more
money. That means stores must charge higher prices for the things they sell.

35 A cost В costs C will cost D has cost

36 A have jumped В has jumped C jumped D had jumped
37 A is В are C was D were
38 A shrinks В shrink C is shrinking D was shrinking
39 A taking В taken C take D took
40 A is to В must C have to D will be able to

KING TUT ON THE MOVE

Artefacts from the tomb of King Tut — the 'Boy King' of ancient Egypt — are
travelling this fall and winter to four U.S. cities. King Tut (41) (D ruled) Egypt
from about 1361 to 1352 B.C. He was one of the youngest pharaohs, a type of ancient
Egyptian king, to rule Egypt. King Tut became ruler of Egypt when he was 10. He
died at about age 19.

King Tut's tomb is one of only a few (42) (D pharaohs') tombs that remained almost
untouched for thousands of years. When King Tut died, he (43) (C was mummified) and
buried in a tomb with many objects his followers thought he would need in the next
life. His tomb was discovered in 1922.

The travelling exhibit (44) (A includes) 130 objects. About 60 of the objects came
from King Tut's tomb. Others came from the tombs of other Egyptian pharaohs. The
exhibit alsoincludes high-tech scans of King Tut's mummy. The scans helped
scientists (45) (A learn) about the how the young king looked and how he might have
died.

After reviewing the scans, most scientists think that King Tut died of an infected
broken leg. For a long time, scientists thought he (46) (A died) from being hit on
the head.

41 A rule В rules C has ruled D ruled

42 A pharaoh's В pharaoh' C pharaohs's D pharaohs'
43 A mummify В is mummified C was mummified D will be mummified
44 A includes В included C include D is included
45 A learn В learns C to learn D learning
46 A died В had died C die D would die
TASK 6
Read the text below. For the empty spaces (35-46) choose the correct answer (А, В,
C or D). Write your answers on the separate answer sheet.

DROUGHT THREATENS HUGE MAN-MADE LAKE

Since 1935, millions of people (35) (C have enjoyed) fishing, boating, and swimming
in the huge man-made Lake Mead. But long droughts and high demand for
water (36) (В are causing) water levels to drop in the 250-squaremile lake. Some
scientists worry that if Lake Mead's water level (37) (D keeps) dropping, the lake
could dry up in as few as 13 years.

Lake Mead (38) (A was created) when the Hoover Dam was built and part of the
Colorado River was dammed. Part of the lake is in Nevada and part of it is in
Arizona.

Lake Mead also is called a reservoir; it (39) (A stores) water for homes, farms,
and businesses in places such as Nevada, Arizona, and California. Also, water from
the lake (40) (В is used) to create electric power for many people in Nevada and
Arizona.

About 96 percent of the water in Lake Mead comes from melted snow that (41) (В
falls) each year in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Wyoming. Most of that melted
snow flows into the Colorado River and then into Lake Mead. In the past few years,
though, there (42) (C has been) less water flowing into Lake Mead. Some scientists
think that is because our climate (43) (C is growing) warmer.

But towns still (44) (D need) the same amount of water they (45) (В have always
needed) . Some areas need more water because their populations (46) (C are growing)
. So too much water is coming out of Lake Mead and not enough is flowing in.

35 A has enjoyed В enjoyed C have enjoyed D had enjoyed

36 A causes В are causing C is causing D was causing
37 A to keep В keeping C kept D keeps
38 A was created В were created C has been created D are being created
39 A stores В store C stored D to store
40 A uses В is used C was used D are being used
41 A fell В falls C fall D fallen
42 A was B is C has been D will be
43 A grows В growing C is growing D grown
44 A needed В needs C needing D need
45 A has always needed В have always needed C always needed has D always has needed
46 A is growing В were growing C are growing D was growing