Test 1

Reading

1. Read the text.

CAREER CHANGES

In the latest in our series on career changes we meet Veronica Paralova and Edwin
Zeedorf who have made very different career moves.
Veronica Paralova
Veronica Paralova left school at 17 with few qualifications. After a job making
school lunches for eight years, on poor pay and working long hours, she realized
that she was no longer motivated and needed to do something different but she
didn’t know what. We asked her how she went about changing her career.
What helped you make up your mind about changing your career?
‘Well, for a while I was focusing on the things I disliked, but someone told me to
think about the things I liked both in my work and in my life. The things that I was
passionate about, the things that excited or challenged me. I loved it when I was
asked to organize things, whether a new menu in the kitchen or a party for a friend.
I realized I enjoyed organizing.’
So what happened next?
‘I started to look around for jobs that involved organizing events or activities, I
found out about event management and thought it would be something I would like
to do. It combined organizing and being hands on, the last thing I wanted was a
desk job.’
Did you need any special training?
‘Yes, I went back to college, just part-time but I did a course called Event and
Project Management. We studied everything from project management to event
law and contracts. It was really interesting. It took two years but at the end, the
college organized a placement with Global Events. The placement lasted for six
months and when it finished they offered me a full-time job.’
What is your favourite part of your new job?
‘I need to be creative, I have to think about the client, their identity and their needs
and come up with something that will catch the eye. It can be as much about
marketing and image as it is about actually organizing the event.’
Do you regret the change in careers?
‘Not at all. I love my new job. The kitchen job was monotonous but now every day
brings a different challenge.’
Edwin Zeedorf
When Edwin Zeedorf decided his job was not motivating him, he made a life-
changing career move. The former Amsterdam-based human resources director
went off to look for a more rewarding challenge. We asked him about his new
career.
You made quite a dramatic career change, didn’t you?
‘Yes, I did. I had always wanted to work in the voluntary sector and now I work for a
charity called Childcare International. I work in the distribution depot and the job
takes me to places that I never dreamt I would visit. Last year I was in Sri Lanka to
distribute supplies to the victims of the tsunami, and this year I have already been
to the Sudan and I am going to Kenya in October.’
How did you choose this charity?
‘I wanted to get out from behind my desk and do something that would make a
difference I suppose. I was lucky, in my previous job I had met the manager of an
organization called Working for Charities. They help people find work with charities
and so when I finally decided to change jobs I contacted her. To start with she
offered me recruitment jobs, but I told her that I wanted to be on the front line. My
skills were limited, I wasn’t a specialist, they really need medical staff and
engineers but I was happy to take anything. So they offered me a driving and
distribution job and here I am.’
What is your favourite part of your new job?
‘I am helping people and that is great. Every day we take food to people who need
it. We work very hard, in very hot weather, so I am very tired but I feel like I am
making a difference.’
Do you regret the change in careers?
‘Not at all. Obviously I don’t get as much money now but the job is very rewarding
and I really enjoy it. I think I will go back to the desk job one day but I will stay in the
voluntary sector for now.’
1.1. Classify the sentences as true or false and say why. 12pts
1 They both worked in their previous jobs for eight years.

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2 They both left their first jobs because they didn’t feel motivated.

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3 They both had to go back to ‘school’ to learn their new jobs.

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4 They both now work at a desk.

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5 Both their jobs involve helping people in some way.

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6 Neither of them have regrets about changing careers.

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Use of the language
1. 7pts
2. 18pts
 3. 7pts

4. Put the verbs in brackets in the present simple or present continuous. 24pts
1. I often _______________ (go) to work by bus.
2. Where __________________________(you/live)?
3. Be quiet! Paulina __________________(study) for her exam.
4. Don't turn off the radio. I __________________ (listen) to it.
5. Tom _____________________ (work) as an architect for a large firm in London. This
month, his company ____________________ (design) a new office building for one of
its main clients.
6. I usually _____________________(play) golf on Saturdays, but today I
_________________________ (play) tennis.
7. Pablo is a journalist - he _____________(write) articles for a well-known newspaper.
Right now, he ______________________ (write) about the economic situation in his
country.
8. Look! Sarah __________________ (drink) a glass of wine. She
______________________(not/usually/drink) alcohol at this time of day.

5. Put the verbs in brackets in the present simple or present continuous. 44pts
1. We _________________ (need) to wait. I ______________________(not/know)
how long.
2. I ______________________ (not/like) this dress. I _______________ (prefer) that
one.
3. I ________________________ (not/understand) what that _____________ (mean).
Can you explain it?
4. Janet __________________ (be) single. She ________________(not/see) anyone at
the moment.
5. Tom ____________________ (think) of emigrating to Australia.
6. Right now, I __________________ (not/see) a problem. I _____________________
(think) everything is fine.
7. Why __________________________ (she/be) here? I ______________________
(not/remember) inviting her.
8. I _________________ (see) that you _______________ (be) very busy at the
moment. I'll come back later.
9. Don't use this tool. It _______________________ (seem) to be broken.
10. _____________________ (you/realise) what that ___________________ (mean)?
11. You__________________ (be) normally a very polite person. Why
______________________(you/be) so rude right now?
12. Josh _______________________ (love) Alice. Unfortunately, Alice
_______________________ (not/think) much of him.
6. Complete the sentences below with a suitable verb and `always', like in the
example. 18pts

browse buy eat look for make misunderstand rain smile

forget talk

1. Peter is always forgetting his keys. It's a real problem.

2. Anna _____________________ on the phone. Her phone bill must be very
expensive!
3. Jeff is a very cheerful person. He ____________________.
4. You'll need an umbrella. It ____________________ in London.
5. Simon _____________________ the Internet. He needs to get out of his room.
6. You _______________________ what I say. Try to listen more carefully.
7. The company have too many customers, so they ________________________ new
staff.
8. Joe _________________________ a chocolate bar. He really enjoys food!
9. You _________________________ the wrong milk! I don't drink full-fat milk.
10. I ________________________ the same mistakes! It's so irritating.

Writing
Write a text presenting yourself and your job following the topics: 18pts

• What do you do?

• What are your responsabilities?
• What’s your job like?
• Do you enjoy your work?
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