Lesson 3

Rational Cloze
Studying black bears
After years studying North America’s black bears in the straight way, wildlife biologist Luke Robertson
felt no closer to understanding the creatures. He realised that he had to (1) their trust. Abandoning
scientific detachment, he took the daring step of forming relationships with the animals, bringing them
food to gain their acceptance.
The (2) this has given him into their behaviour has allowed him to dispel certain myths about bears. (3)
to popular belief, he contends that bears do not (4) as much for fruit as previously supposed. He also (5)
claims that they are ferocious. He says that people should not be (6) by behaviour such as swatting
paws on the ground, as this is a defensive, rather than an aggressive, act.
However, Robertson is no sentimentalist. After devoting years of his life to the bears, he is under no (7)
about their feelings for him. It is clear that their interest in him does not (8) beyond the food he brings.
Answer

1 A catch 2 A perception 3 A Opposite 4 A care

B win B awareness B Opposed B bother
C achieve C insight C Contrary C desire
D receive D vision D Contradictory D hope

5 A concludes 6 A misguided 7 A error 8 A expand

B disputes B misled B doubt B spread
C reasons C misdirected C illusion C widen
D argues D misinformed D impression D extend

Correct form of verb

Training sports champions What are the abilities that a (0) PROFESSION sports person needs?
To guarantee that opponents can be (1) COME, speed, stamina and agility are essential, not to mention
outstanding natural talent. Both a rigorous and comprehensive (2) FIT regime and a highly nutritious diet
are vital for top-level performance. It is carbohydrates, rather than proteins and fat, that provide athletes
with the (3) ENDURE they need to compete. This means that pasta is more (4) BENEFIT eggs or meat.
Such a diet enables them to move very energetically when required. Failure to follow a sensible diet can
result in the (5) ABLE to maintain stamina. Regular training to increase muscular (6) STRONG is also a
vital part of a professional’s regime, and this is (7) TYPE done by exercising with weights. Sports people
are prone to injury but a quality training regime can ensure that the (8) SEVERE of these can be
minimised.
(0) professional

1 3 5 7
2 4 6 8

Comprehension
You are going to read a magazine article in which five career consultants give advice about starting a
career. For questions 1 – 6, choose from the consultants (A – E). The consultants may be chosen more
than once.
Starting out on your career
Are you a graduate trying to plan out the best career path for yourself? We’ve asked five careers
consultants to give some tips on how to go about it.
depth of knowledge. If you are a graduate,
Consultant A spending five or six years in the same job is not
A university degree is no guarantee of a job, and too long provided that you take full advantage of
job hunting in itself requires a whole set of skills. the experience. However, do not use this as an
If you find you are not getting past the first excuse for apathy. Graduates sometimes fail to
interview, ask yourself what is happening. Is it a take ownership of their careers and take the
failure to communicate or are there some skills initiative. It is up to you to make the most of
you lack? Once you see patterns emerging it will what’s available within a company, and to
help you decide whether the gaps you have monitor your progress in case you need to move
identified can be filled relatively easily. If you on. This applies particularly if you are still not
cannot work out what the mismatch is, get back sure where your career path lies.
to the selection panel with more probing
questions, and find out what you need to do to Consultant D
bring yourself up to the level of qualification that It is helpful to think through what kind of
would make you more attractive to them: but be experience you need to get your dream job and
careful to make this sound like a genuine it is not a problem to move around to a certain
request rather than a challenge or complaint. extent. But in the early stages of your career you
need a definite strategy for reaching your goal,
Consultant B so think about that carefully before deciding to
Do not be too dispirited if you are turned down move on from your first job. You must cultivate
for a job, but think about the reasons the patience to master any role. There is no
employers give. They often say it is because guarantee that you will get adequate training,
others are ‘better qualified’, but they use the and research has shown that if you do not
term loosely. Those who made the second receive proper help in a new role, it can take 18
interview might have been studying the same months to master it.
subject as you and be of similar ability level, but
they had something which made them a closer Consultant E
match to the selector’s ideal. That could be A prospective employer does not want to see
experience gained through projects or vacation that you have changed jobs every six months
work, or it might be that they were better at with no thread running between them. You need
communicating what they could offer. Do not to be able to demonstrate the quality of your
take the comments at face value: think back to experience to a future employer, and too many
the interviews that generated them and make a moves too quickly can be a bad thing. In any
list of where you think the shortfall in your company it takes three to six months for a new
performance lies. With this sort of analytical employee to get up to speed with the structure
approach you will eventually get your foot in the and the culture of the company. From the
door. company’s perspective, they will not receive any
return on the investment in your salary until you
Consultant C have been there for 18 months. This is when
Deciding how long you should stay in your first they begin to get most value from you – you are
job is a tough call. Stay too long and future still fired up and enthusiastic. If you leave after
employers may question your drive and six months it has not been a good investment –
ambition. Of course, it depends where you are and may make other employers wary
aiming. There can be advantages in moving
sideways rather than up, if you want to gain real
Which consultant makes the following statements?
Keep your final objective in mind when you are planning to change jobs. 1.
It takes time to become familiar with the characteristics of a company you have joined. 2.
You should demonstrate determination to improve your job prospects. 3.
Make sure your approach for information is positive in tone. 4.
It is not certain that you will be given very much support in your job initially. 5.
Stay optimistic in spite of setbacks. 6.
Promotion isn’t the only way to increase your expertise. 7.
Ask for information about your shortcomings. 8.
Some information you are given may not give a complete picture. 9.
It will be some time before you start giving your employers their money’s worth. 10.

Grammar revision
Correct the following sentences.

1 We don't have much boxes to carry.

2 I'm afraid I have a bad news.
3 Four persons were injured in the car crash.
4 We had a very good travel across Europe.
5 I love to eat some bananas when I am really hungry.
6 Jane's parents are some very nice people.
7 Thank you very much. That was very nice dinner.
8 French are famous for their culinary talents.
9 He was told to go in the bed and stay there until he was better.
10 I have visited United States on many occasions and I really enjoyed it.
11 The half of the money I gave to my sister so that she could buy a dress.
12 Most of tourists come to this part of Germany for the outdoor activities.
13 Both us were extremely tired after our walking holiday in Greece .
14 I didn't see nothing.
15 We spent much money on things we will never need.
16 Mr Elliot knows all on his street.

Writing
Homework is an inevitable part of school. Students often have questions about why homework is
assigned, how beneficial it is and how homework helps them in their studies.
In about 150 words, write an essay on why homework is necessary.

Outline
1. There’s a long-running - on the benefits of -.
2. Although many people think homework is -. It does bring many benefits to students.
3. Firstly – important as it reinforces – learned at school.
4. By practising the – and – regularly – help you grasp the – better
5. It - consolidate the knowledge – already studied – develop their intelligence
6. Homework – cultivate responsibility -
7. Students – complete - by teachers.
8. Completing it on time – train students to become more -.
9. Helps in self-progression –
10. Doing homework daily – every subject learned at school
11. You – independent
12. When you work on your homework by yourself – automatically train yourself to be independent
13. In conclusion – homework is essential – students’ life as it not only help students in learning but
also in developing good moral values.