1.It Is Not Possible to Be Independent Just After You Leave School
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For those who decide to seek employment after leaving school at seventeen, the world of work can be an exciting yet challenging place.But with the right attitude and hard work, finding a job that gives you an income and a level of independence you never had before is entirely within reach.Take some time to think about the kind of work you want to do.
Do you aim to start in an entry level position and work your way up? Or do you simply want to start earning, and perhaps decide on another career later?
Job Seeking
Searching for a job can take many forms. From checking your job centre to browsing job websites, from viewing shop notice boards to reading job sections of newspapers. Ask any contacts or friends you have if they know of any vacancies.
You can also ask in shops and restaurants themselves, remembering to take a copy of your CV with you.
If you do carry out such visits, ensure you are smartly dressed; a great first impression can really help land a job.The kinds of jobs you might apply for include waitering/waitressing, office assistant, data inputting, manufacturing and cleaning.
You may find that some jobs are out of bounds to you until you reach eighteen – for example working in a bar – but there are many other opportunities for finding work at seventeen.Being a school leaver seeking their first full time job can be a challenging experience. You may not get a job straight away. But be prepared to treat job seeking as a job in itself, and you will give yourself the very best chance of finding work.
(adapted and accessed in December 2017)
I
READING
ASay if the following sentences are TRUE or FALSE. Choose a sentence from the text to justify your answer.
1.It is not possible to be independent just after you leave school.
______
2.The best way to find a job is going to a job centre.
______
3.The way you dress can determine whether you get the job or not.
______
4.Finding your first job is not an easy task.
______
BChoose the best explanation for the underlined expressions.
1.“… a level of independence you never had before is entirely within reach.”
a.is probably easy to get
b.is not impossible to achieve
c.is out of reach
2.“Do you aim to start in an entry level position and work your way up?”
a.make progress
b.work hard
c.go on working
3.“You may find that some jobs are out of bounds to you…”
a.perfect for you
b.more difficult to get
c.not allowed to you
CMatch the words from the text with their definitions. Two do not apply.
a. money received from work or investments1. seek (line 1) / b. unoccupied positions or jobs
2. income (line7) / c. attempt to find
3. vacancies (line 16) / d. testingone’sabilities
4. challenging (line24) / e. holidays
f. anemptyspace
II
WRITING THROUGH READING
1.Write a short exposition (around 120 words) in which you state your opinion on the importance of having a job before going to university.
III
LANGUAGE USE
- Complete the sentences with a modal verb from the box.
1.Most teenagers______make up their minds about a future career.
2.I ______succeed in getting the job if I prepare for the interview.
3.You ______make a first good impression! It is vital to get a job.
4.You ______wear eccentric clothes to a job interview.
5.If you want, you______send your CV by email.
BChoose the correct option in the following sentences.
1.My sister doesn’t speak any languages. She can’t / mustn’t be thinking about being an interpreter.
2.She has finally got the job of her dreams. She must / can be very happy.
3.It can’t / mustn’t have been Mary who got the promotion. She was absent most of the time.
4.Martha is very pessimistic. She doesn’t believe she must / may have been hired.
CFill in the gaps with the present perfect, the past perfect or the past perfect continuous.
1.My sister ______(be) in the same company for ten years.
2.She ______(finally/work) her way up and is now a managing director.
3.I was surprised ather promotion because she ______(do) that job
for just a few months.
4.Mrs Gibbs ______(try) to get a promotion for ages when she finally got it.
5.I ______(wait) for my friend for hours when I realised
she ______(already / leave).
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I. READING (80 p)
A. (4X8 p)
1.False. “…finding a job that gives you an income and a level of independence you never had before is entirely within reach.”
2.False. “Searching for a job can take many forms.”
3.True. “… a great first impression can really help land a job.”
4.True. “Being a school leaver seeking their first full time job can be a challenging experience.”
B. (3X8 p)
1.b; 2.a; 3.c.
C. (4X6 p)
1.c; 2.a; 3.b; 4.d;
II. WRITING THROUGH READING (40 p)
Open answers.
III. LANGUAGE USE(80 p)
A. (5X6 p)
1.cannot; 2.may; 3.must; 4.shouldn’t; 5.can.
B. (4X5 p)
1.can’t; 2.must; 3.can’t; 4.may.
C. (5X6 p)
1.has been
2.has finally worked
3.had been doing
4.had been trying
5.had been waiting… had already left
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