Getting Ahead Work and money
1. pre-reading
2. reading for gist
Read the texts A and B quickly. Both of them are related
to achieving goals. What is the main theme in each text?
Discuss. When you are presented with several short texts followed
by multiple choice questions:
read the rubric carefully in order to identify the theme
of the texts.
before reading the questions, read each text carefully
and try to understand its general meaning and
purpose.
read the questions focusing on the stem (not the
options); this will help you to identify the answers in
the text.
read the options carefully and check each one against
the evidence in the text.
don’t choose an option just because it contains a
word that is also in the text.
Make sure that the option reflects the meaning of the
text.
3. reading for details
Read the texts A and B again and answer the
questions 1-4. Choose a, b, c or d.
• Which of the following does success depend on and to what
degree?
luck a good education timing financial support
character creativity foresight prudence
for the future
hope A
Against the backdrop of this increasingly
uncertain world, the hopes, dreams
and ambitions of today’s teens seem
particularly fragile. What with financial
crises and looming environmental
catastrophes, young people could be
forgiven for taking a rather dim view of
the future. Thankfully, this isn’t the case.
Despite their differences and the unique
challenges they may be facing, young
people across the globe have one thing
in common: hope. They are optimistic
that the future holds great possibility,
and it is this optimism that will help bring
their dreams to fruition and ultimately
make our world a better place.
Most youngsters dream of success; whether it is on the sports field, in the business world or in the realm of science, young
people are eager to make their mark. In fact, young people have made great strides in numerous fields: Blaise Pascal
invented the first calculator at the age of sixteen; Igor Sikorsky designed the first working helicopter at nineteen, and, more
recently, Bill Gates founded Microsoft at just twenty years of age. Whatever their goals, young people must be supported
and encouraged. By providing young people with all the tools they require for success, we are not only securing their future
but the future of generations to come.
56
5. post-reading
• How far do you agree with text A that young
people today are hopeful and optimistic?
• Do you think that the pursuit of knowledge
contributes more to personal fulfilment or
to achieving success?
Discuss.
a. at the same time
b. the quality of
adapting easily
c. pessimistic
d. effort
e. field
f. fulfilment
4. G UESSING THE MEANING OF
UNKNO WN words
Match the highlighted words in the texts
with their meanings.
1. dim
2. fruition
3. realm
4. simultaneously
5. endeavour
6. flexibility
3. Which misconception about education have
technological advances put an end to?
a. Technological innovations can affect timehonoured
conventions.
b. Education is rooted in practices that have
been around for a long time.
c. The nature of the learning process will
change as a result of new applications.
d. Education is limited by restraints related to
time and place.
4. What will the ultimate purpose of cyberspace
institutions be?
a. the promotion of life-long learning and the
acquisition of knowledge
b. the unlimited provision of learning
opportunities for people of a particular age
c. the promotion of formal learning initiatives
exclusively
d. the pursuit of knowledge as a means of
achieving other more desirable goals
Technological advances have a way of dispelling previously held
misconceptions. One such misconception about education is rooted
in time-honoured conventions. For instance, acquiring an education
has always involved us physically attending a particular educational
institution, for a specific period of time, at a specific age. Advances
in technology, however, have generated revolutionary applications
that could change the face of education as we know it today. Online
learning, otherwise known as electronic learning, may not be new, but
our perception of it is. Initially, overenthusiastic entrepreneurs rushed
into a number of e-learning ventures, which failed to live up to their and
our expectations. However, in view of recent developments in Internet
and multimedia technologies, we have been reassessing the potential
of online learning.
There is presently much talk about cyberspace institutions or
online universities that may, in time, replace traditional educational
establishments. Virtual classrooms will be multi-functional, acting
simultaneously as learning platforms, forums and social networks.
They will be geared towards promoting the acquisition of knowledge
as a life-long endeavour, occurring through global collaboration.
Cyberspace institutions will go a long way towards achieving this as
they will liberate us from the limitations of time and space. Flexibility
of time and location makes e-learning a highly accessible, international
resource. Prospective students will thus, regardless of age, background
or origin, have unlimited access to both formal and informal learning
opportunities. The pursuit of knowledge will consequently become an
end in itself and not a means to an end.
1. pre-reading
2. reading for gist
Read the texts A and B quickly. Both of them are related
to achieving goals. What is the main theme in each text?
Discuss. When you are presented with several short texts followed
by multiple choice questions:
read the rubric carefully in order to identify the theme
of the texts.
before reading the questions, read each text carefully
and try to understand its general meaning and
purpose.
read the questions focusing on the stem (not the
options); this will help you to identify the answers in
the text.
read the options carefully and check each one against
the evidence in the text.
don’t choose an option just because it contains a
word that is also in the text.
Make sure that the option reflects the meaning of the
text.
3. reading for details
Read the texts A and B again and answer the
questions 1-4. Choose a, b, c or d.
• Which of the following does success depend on and to what
degree?
luck a good education timing financial support
character creativity foresight prudence
for the future
hope A
Against the backdrop of this increasingly
uncertain world, the hopes, dreams
and ambitions of today’s teens seem
particularly fragile. What with financial
crises and looming environmental
catastrophes, young people could be
forgiven for taking a rather dim view of
the future. Thankfully, this isn’t the case.
Despite their differences and the unique
challenges they may be facing, young
people across the globe have one thing
in common: hope. They are optimistic
that the future holds great possibility,
and it is this optimism that will help bring
their dreams to fruition and ultimately
make our world a better place.
Most youngsters dream of success; whether it is on the sports field, in the business world or in the realm of science, young
people are eager to make their mark. In fact, young people have made great strides in numerous fields: Blaise Pascal
invented the first calculator at the age of sixteen; Igor Sikorsky designed the first working helicopter at nineteen, and, more
recently, Bill Gates founded Microsoft at just twenty years of age. Whatever their goals, young people must be supported
and encouraged. By providing young people with all the tools they require for success, we are not only securing their future
but the future of generations to come.
56
5. post-reading
• How far do you agree with text A that young
people today are hopeful and optimistic?
• Do you think that the pursuit of knowledge
contributes more to personal fulfilment or
to achieving success?
Discuss.
a. at the same time
b. the quality of
adapting easily
c. pessimistic
d. effort
e. field
f. fulfilment
4. G UESSING THE MEANING OF
UNKNO WN words
Match the highlighted words in the texts
with their meanings.
1. dim
2. fruition
3. realm
4. simultaneously
5. endeavour
6. flexibility
3. Which misconception about education have
technological advances put an end to?
a. Technological innovations can affect timehonoured
conventions.
b. Education is rooted in practices that have
been around for a long time.
c. The nature of the learning process will
change as a result of new applications.
d. Education is limited by restraints related to
time and place.
4. What will the ultimate purpose of cyberspace
institutions be?
a. the promotion of life-long learning and the
acquisition of knowledge
b. the unlimited provision of learning
opportunities for people of a particular age
c. the promotion of formal learning initiatives
exclusively
d. the pursuit of knowledge as a means of
achieving other more desirable goals
Technological advances have a way of dispelling previously held
misconceptions. One such misconception about education is rooted
in time-honoured conventions. For instance, acquiring an education
has always involved us physically attending a particular educational
institution, for a specific period of time, at a specific age. Advances
in technology, however, have generated revolutionary applications
that could change the face of education as we know it today. Online
learning, otherwise known as electronic learning, may not be new, but
our perception of it is. Initially, overenthusiastic entrepreneurs rushed
into a number of e-learning ventures, which failed to live up to their and
our expectations. However, in view of recent developments in Internet
and multimedia technologies, we have been reassessing the potential
of online learning.
There is presently much talk about cyberspace institutions or
online universities that may, in time, replace traditional educational
establishments. Virtual classrooms will be multi-functional, acting
simultaneously as learning platforms, forums and social networks.
They will be geared towards promoting the acquisition of knowledge
as a life-long endeavour, occurring through global collaboration.
Cyberspace institutions will go a long way towards achieving this as
they will liberate us from the limitations of time and space. Flexibility
of time and location makes e-learning a highly accessible, international
resource. Prospective students will thus, regardless of age, background
or origin, have unlimited access to both formal and informal learning
opportunities. The pursuit of knowledge will consequently become an
end in itself and not a means to an end.
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