Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the best answer to each of the questions.

[I] The rise of remote work has transformed the modern workplace, offering flexibility and a better work-life balance for employees around the world (Bloom et al., 2015). [II] This trend, accelerated by technological advancements and the COVID-19 pandemic, allows employees to work from home or any location with internet access (Gajendran & Harrison, 2007). [III] While remote work provides numerous benefits, it also presents challenges that organizations and employees must address to remain productive and engaged. [IV]

One of the main benefits of remote work is increased flexibility. Employees can manage their time more effectively, which often leads to higher job satisfaction and reduced stress. Furthermore, remote work eliminates the need for daily commutes, saving time and reducing transportation expenses. Many employees report feeling more empowered to control their schedules, allowing them to better balance personal and professional responsibilities.

However, remote work also comes with significant challenges. Isolation is a common issue, as employees miss out on face-to-face interactions and team bonding, which are important for mental well-being and collaboration. Studies have shown that prolonged isolation can lead to feelings of loneliness, reducing job satisfaction and affecting mental health (Ozcelik & Barsade, 2018). Additionally, remote workers may struggle to maintain boundaries between work and personal life, leading to overwork and burnout.

To make remote work successful, companies need to implement strategies that support employee well-being and productivity. Providing tools for virtual collaboration, setting clear work-life boundaries, and encouraging regular team check-ins can help mitigate the challenges of remote work. By balancing flexibility with structured support, organizations can create a sustainable remote work environment that benefits both employers and employees (Larson & DeChurch, 2020).

(Adapted from Remote Work and Employee Well-being by Bloom, Ozcelik, and others)

Our parents’ jobs

(Nghề nghiệp của bố mẹ chúng ta)

1. Listen and read.

(Nghe và đọc.)

Lan: Come in, Mark. Did you find my place easily?

Mark: Yes, I actually met your dad in the street and he showed me the way. He said he was on his way to work.

Lan: That's right. My dad is a factory worker, so he works in shifts. Today he's on the night shift.

Mark: Working night shifts must be really hard. When does he sleep?

Lan: He goes to bed right after he comes home in the morning when there's no one at home. My mum's usually at work then. She teaches at a primary school.

Mark: Working with kids must be fun.

Lan: Yes, she loves her job though teaching can be tiring. Getting up in front of the class and putting up a performance every day seem so stressful.

Mark: I agree. My mum used to be a teacher, but she gave up her job to look after me and my brother.

Lan: How about your dad?

Mark: He has a nine-to-five job. He's an accountant at a bank.

Lan: Working with numbers must be difficult.

Mark: Yes, but it's not just numbers. You need to learn so many regulations and build good working relationships with clients.

Lan: I guess he often goes on business trips.

Mark: Not really, but he works overtime. He sometimes comes back home when I'm already in bed.

Lan: You're good at maths, so you should follow in his footsteps.

Mark: Definitely not. Neither I nor my brother wants to become an accountant. I'm interested in computer programming because it opens up so many job opportunities. What about you, Lan?

Lan: Well, I love working with children, so I want to become a primary school teacher like my mum.

Mark: Didn't you say last year you wanted to become a scientist?

Lan: (laughing) Yeah…

2. Read the conversation again and put a tick (✓) in the appropriate column.

(Đọc lại đoạn hội thoại và đánh dấu (✓) vào cột thích hợp.)

3. Match the words/phrases to make phrases mentioned in 1.

(Nối các từ/cụm từ để tạo thành các cụm từ được đề cập ở phần 1.)

4. Complete the sentences with phrases or clauses in the box based on the conversation in 1.

(Hoàn thành các câu với các cụm từ hoặc mệnh đề trong khung dựa vào đoạn hội thoại ở bài 1.)

1. In Lan's opinion, being an accountant is _______.

2. Mark wants to study computer programming _______.

3. Lan likes to work with children, _______.

4. Lan's mum loves her job _______.

3. Read the adverts again and choose the most suitable headline for each one.

(Đọc lại các quảng cáo và chọn tiêu đề phù hợp nhất cho mỗi quảng cáo.)

A. Shop assistants wanted

B. Volunteers needed

C. Job vacancies: Teaching assistants

D. Babysitter wanted

E. Want to be a product reviewer?

4. Read the adverts again and decide which job is most suitable for the following people. Write 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5.

(Đọc lại quảng cáo và quyết định công việc nào phù hợp nhất với những người sau đây. Viết 1, 2, 3, 4 hoặc 5.)

1. Read the texts and answer the questions.

(Đọc văn bản và trả lời các câu hỏi.)

UNUSUAL JOBS

Around the world, there are some jobs that may seem quite strange and surprising to you.

Train pushers

In Japan, the railway system is huge and everyone there uses trains. This makes them overcrowded most of the time. During rush hour, railway station attendants called 'pushers' or 'oshiya' do the strangest job in the world - they push passengers into trains. They have to do this because of the large number of commuters who wish to arrive at their desired locations on time. That's why they must endure the pain in squeezing themselves inside the train.

Cleaners of the world's highest building

Have you ever wondered how the world's tallest building, Burj Khalifa, in Dubai, is cleaned? It takes a team of 36 window cleaners a total of three months to clean the tower's reflective windows. Working from the height of more than 800 metres, the cleaners face huge challenges especially during bad weather. They must be the bravest cleaners in the world.

Golf balls divers

Every year in the UK, millions of golf balls get lost in the water around golf courses. This gave rise to the demand for golf ball divers whose job is to dive deep into the lakes and ponds around golf courses to find the lost balls. Most of them are professional scuba divers, but they spend long hours crawling around in mud and carrying heavy buckets. On average, they find 5,000 balls per lake. After cleaning them, they resell or recycle the balls. Sounds dangerous, doesn't it?

Which job... (Công việc nào…)

1. requires bravery and no fear of heights?

(đòi hỏi sự dũng cảm và không sợ độ cao?)

2. helps people to be on time?

(giúp mọi người đến đúng giờ?)

3. requires good diving skills?

(yêu cầu kỹ năng lặn tốt?)

1. Read the text. Match each section (A-C) with a heading (1-5). There are TWO extra headings.

(Đọc văn bản. Nối mỗi phần (A-C) với tiêu đề (1-5). Có HAI tiêu đề dư.)

1. Boosting students' confidence

(Tăng cường sự tự tin của học sinh)

2. Building their professional network for future careers

(Xây dựng mạng lưới nghề nghiệp cho sự nghiệp tương lai)

3. Improving their study results in class

(Cải thiện kết quả học tập trên lớp)

4. Developing students' skills for future jobs

(Phát triển kỹ năng cho sinh viên cho công việc tương lai)

5. Helping students to enjoy the work environment

(Giúp sinh viên thích thú với môi trường làm việc)

Today, more and more students are doing part-time jobs while they are still studying at secondary school. Having a job while at school can benefit secondary school students in several ways.

A. ___________

To begin with, students can gain and develop important skills that may be useful in their future careers. The real work environment can help students learn more new skills as well as improve existing ones such as communication, teamwork, or problem-solving skills. For example, if a student works as a waiter or waitress, he or she can learn how to greet and communicate with customers. Those who are equipped with various life skills can perform better in their future jobs.

B. ___________

In addition, having a part-time job can provide students with more experience and then boost their confidence. Students will become more confident if they have opportunities to work together with different groups of people. As we may know, a teaching assistant will help the teacher prepare and present the lesson or mark students' assignments. Students who apply for the post of a teaching assistant are required to meet and interact with the teachers, young pupils, or even parents at various age levels. This can develop their classroom experience as well as confidence.

C. ___________

Finally, those who have a part-time job can build more relationship for their careers in the future. The opportunities to meet in-person and talk to other people in society will help students create a strong connection with people who may be their employers, colleagues, or customers later in their life.

2. Read the text again. Mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer.

(Đọc lại văn bản. Đánh dấu chữ cái A, B, C hoặc D để chỉ ra câu trả lời đúng.)

1. Which of the following skills is not mentioned?

A. Communication skills.

B. Marketing skills.

C. Teamwork skills.

D. Problem-solving skills.

2. The word 'equipped' in Section A is closest in meaning to ______.

A. supported

B. improved

C. provided

D. produced

3. The word 'they' in Section B refers to ______.

A. parents

B. groups of people

C. teachers

D. students

4. Why does the writer mention 'a teaching assistant' in Section B?

A. To introduce a new job for students who want to work.

B. To give an example of developing confidence for working students.

C. To explain why students want to work as teaching assistants.

D. To show the challenges of becoming a teaching assistant.

5. Which of the following is true about the text?

A. Having a part-time job may develop students' relationship.

B. Students should not work while they are at school.

C. If students start working part-time, they may be punished.

D. It's difficult for working students to talk to someone because they are so busy.

2. Read the text. What three things does it mention that a RADA student learns?

(Đọc văn bản. Ba điều mà một sinh viên RADA phải học là gì?)

RADA

A

Becoming a truly great actor requires talent, hard work and hours of study. In Britain, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) ¹ _____ trained and produced many of the country's most famous actors since it was established in 1904, but just how does RADA turn passionate young hopefuls into respected professionals?

B

One of the methods RADA teaches is the Stanislavski acting technique. The technique was devised ² _____ the famous Russian actor Konstantin Stanislavski in 1911, after he had been performing in theatres ³ _____ over thirty years. It requires actors to really live the role that they are playing. The actors not ⁴ _____ have to learn the lines that they have to say, but also recreate everything about reate everything about the character's life.

C

But if modern audiences would be surprised to discover that students learn an acting technique that is over a century old, they might ⁵ _____ astonished to discover that they also study a form of theatre that has been around for over two millennia: Greek tragedy. The Greeks used to study playwriting and acting and produced some important theoretical works on the subject. Their ideas are still considered very relevant today and anybody ⁶ _____ wants to obtain a degree from RADA has to study them.

D

RADA students also spend many hours training their voices and learning ⁷ _____ use their bodies to communicate in the same way that a musician learns how to play an instrument. A RADA student's objective is to use their creativity to transform written words into a three-dimensional character. Evidently, becoming an actor is ⁸ _____ serious business and definitely not for people who are only interested in fame.

3 USE OF ENGLISH Complete the text about RADA. Write one word in each gap.

(Hoàn thành văn bản về RADA. Viết một từ vào mỗi chỗ trống.)

Read the text. Match paragraphs (A-C) with questions (1-6). Each paragraph matches two questions.

(Đọc văn bản. Nối các đoạn văn (A-C) với các câu hỏi (1-6). Mỗi đoạn phù hợp với hai câu hỏi.)

In which paragraph does the author mention...

1 an extra received on top of the wages?

2 something that might give away the identity of the worker?

3 a trend which has changed employment prospects?

4 typical consumer behaviour?

5 the difficulty of finding a job in the field?

6 a good reason for doing the job?

A secret job in the retail trade

A

I am in a supermarket, doing my best to look like any other shopper browsing the shelves. My mission on this trip is to buy something I fancy from the bakery, which means I'll have to interact with the person at the counter. I'm hoping to pass off the handwritten notes I'm carrying as a shopping list, because no one must know why I am here. I have to keep my identity secret because I am a mystery shopper.

B

My job involves visiting five to ten different stores a day and scoring them on, among other things, their appearance and cleanliness. With the €20 I am given to spend at each store, I purchase the obligatory item that enables me to assess the service I receive at the checkout. Adding the value of my purchase to the €225 I make in a typical day of eight hours of visits and two hours filing reports, I earn more than enough to live on.

C

However, assignments paying as well as mine are becoming few and far between due to the soaring demand in my line of work. Retailers increasingly need to maintain standards so as to offer consumers a quality shopping experience and keep them from turning to the internet. However, to date, there are more than half a million mystery shoppers registered in the UK, making competition for jobs very fierce. Today it isn't only other shoppers I hide my identity from; even my friends and family don't know who I work for.

a. Read the listicles and write the correct heading for each section.

(Đọc các danh sách và viết tiêu đề chính xác cho mỗi phần.)

- Leadership and Teamwork Skills

(Kỹ năng lãnh đạo và làm việc nhóm)

- Multitasking

(Đa nhiệm)

- Problem-solving Skills

(Kỹ năng giải quyết vấn đề)

- Stress Management

(Kiểm soát căng thẳng)

Five Important Skills and Characteristics to be a Pilot

Pilots need lots of different skills to be successful. Here are five things that all good pilots should have.

Communication Skills

Pilots need to be able to calmly explain information to people working and traveling on planes.

Confidence

Pilots need to believe in their abilities. They have to make quick decisions that can affect a lot of people.

(1)

There are lots of things pilots must be doing at all times. They need to think about fuel, speed, passengers, and more, all at the same time.

Math Skills

Pilots need to be able to do math quickly and accurately if they have to make changes to their speed or direction.

(2)

Pilots need to stay calm at all times and adapt to different situations and problems.

Being a pilot is a complex and difficult job, and these five skills and characteristics are essential to being a great pilot.

Five Things You Need to be an Architect

To be a good architect, you need a lot of knowledge and skills. These are the five key things you need to enter

this field.

Knowledge of Art and Design

Architects have to draw detailed designs for buildings and areas on paper or using computer software.

(3)

Architects work with teams of engineers and construction workers. They must listen to them and tell them what to do.

Knowledge of Construction Laws

Architects must know about building regulations and what they are allowed to build.

(4)

Designing buildings is difficult, and problems can come up during the process. Architects need to think of creative solutions to those problems.

Knowledge of Popular Styles and Designs

Architects need to make designs that people will really like. To do this, they need to research new and interesting styles.

Do you want to become an architect? Then you will need to develop these things.

b. Now, read and answer the questions.

(Bây giờ hãy đọc và trả lời các câu hỏi.)

1. What skill is NOT mentioned in the listicle about being a pilot?

(Kỹ năng nào KHÔNG được đề cập trong danh sách về việc trở thành phi công?)

A. stress management

(quản lý căng thẳng)

B. leadership skills

(kỹ năng lãnh đạo)

C. problem-solving skills

(kỹ năng giải quyết vấn đề)

2. According to the listicle about pilots, what two things must they be able to do fast?

(Theo danh sách về phi công, họ phải làm được hai việc gì nhanh?)

3. The word them in the listicle about being an architect refers to________

(Từ they trong danh sách về việc trở thành một kiến trúc sư đề cập đến)

A architects

(kiến trúc sư)

B. pilots

(phi công)

C. engineers and workers

(kỹ sư và công nhân)

4. Why do architects need to know about building laws?

(Tại sao kiến trúc sư cần biết về luật xây dựng?)

5. Which of the following can be inferred about architects from the listicle?

(Điều nào sau đây có thể được suy ra về kiến trúc sư từ danh sách?)

A. They mostly work alone.

(Họ chủ yếu làm việc một mình.)

B. They do some of their work on computers.

(Họ thực hiện một số công việc trên máy tính.)

C. Being an architect is easier than being a pilot.

(Làm kiến trúc sư dễ hơn làm phi công.)

c. Listen and read.

(Nghe và đọc.)

a. Read Hannah's essay about her mom's job. What does Hannah think about nine-to-five jobs?

(Đọc bài luận của Hannah về công việc của mẹ cô ấy. Hannah nghĩ gì về công việc từ chín đến năm giờ?)

1. She thinks they're great for everyone.

(Cô ấy nghĩ chúng rất tốt cho tất cả mọi người.)

2. She thinks they're good for some people, but not everyone.

(Cô ấy nghĩ chúng tốt cho một số người, nhưng không phải cho tất cả mọi người.)

3. She thinks a work-life balance is better than a nine-to-five job.

(Cô ấy nghĩ cân bằng giữa công việc và cuộc sống sẽ tốt hơn công việc từ 9 giờ sáng đến 5 giờ chiều.)

My mom is an accountant. She keeps track of the money that her company makes and spends. It's a nine-to-five job, and she really likes it. However, some people prefer not to work a nine-to-five job. This kind of job has both advantages and disadvantages.

My mom's job has some pretty good advantages. One advantage is that she gets a regular salary, which means she makes the same money each month. This helps her save money and plan for the future more easily. Moreover, the job comes with great perks, such as a company outing each year, dinners and parties, health insurance, and even a gym membership. In addition, the work-life balance of a nine-to-five job is not terrible because you have evenings off, and you don't usually work on the weekends.

On the other hand, I think there are some disadvantages of working a nine-to-five job, too. If you want to make more money, it can be pretty difficult. Your salary is the same each month. You have to get promoted to a higher position or leave and find a job with a higher salary. In contrast to my mom's job, some nine-to-five jobs don't offer good benefits at all. Finally, some people don't like the work-life balance of nine-to-five jobs. My mom has to work about 40 hours each week, which is quite a lot, and the hours aren't usually flexible.

In summary, there are some good benefits to my mom's nine-to-five office job, but not every job has them. It's great to have a regular salary and perks, but some people might prefer a better work-life balance.

Tạm dịch

Mẹ tôi là nhân viên kế toán. Cô theo dõi số tiền mà công ty cô kiếm được và chi tiêu. Đó là một công việc từ chín đến năm giờ và cô ấy thực sự thích nó. Tuy nhiên, một số người không thích làm công việc từ 9 giờ sáng đến 5 giờ chiều. Loại công việc này có cả ưu điểm và nhược điểm.

Công việc của mẹ tôi có một số thuận lợi khá tốt. Một lợi thế là cô ấy nhận được mức lương đều đặn, nghĩa là cô ấy kiếm được số tiền như nhau mỗi tháng. Điều này giúp cô tiết kiệm tiền và lên kế hoạch cho tương lai dễ dàng hơn. Hơn nữa, công việc này còn đi kèm với những đặc quyền tuyệt vời, chẳng hạn như chuyến đi chơi cùng công ty hàng năm, bữa tối và tiệc tùng, bảo hiểm y tế và thậm chí là thẻ thành viên phòng tập thể dục. Ngoài ra, sự cân bằng giữa công việc và cuộc sống của một công việc từ 9 giờ sáng đến 5 giờ sáng không có gì đáng lo ngại vì bạn có những buổi tối được nghỉ và bạn thường không làm việc vào cuối tuần.

Mặt khác, tôi nghĩ cũng có một số bất lợi khi làm công việc từ 9 giờ sáng đến 5 giờ chiều. Nếu bạn muốn kiếm nhiều tiền hơn, điều đó có thể khá khó khăn. Lương của bạn mỗi tháng đều như nhau. Bạn phải được thăng chức lên vị trí cao hơn hoặc nghỉ việc và tìm một công việc có mức lương cao hơn. Ngược lại với công việc của mẹ tôi, một số công việc từ chín đến năm giờ không mang lại lợi ích gì cả. Cuối cùng, một số người không thích sự cân bằng giữa công việc và cuộc sống của những công việc từ 9 giờ sáng đến 5 giờ chiều. Mẹ tôi phải làm việc khoảng 40 giờ mỗi tuần, khá nhiều và thời gian thường không linh hoạt.

Tóm lại, công việc văn phòng từ 9 giờ sáng của mẹ tôi có một số lợi ích tốt, nhưng không phải công việc nào cũng có. Thật tuyệt vời khi có mức lương và phúc lợi đều đặn, nhưng một số người có thể thích sự cân bằng giữa công việc và cuộc sống hơn.

b. Match the bold words in the text with their definitions.

(Nối những từ in đậm trong văn bản với định nghĩa của chúng.)

1. _____________: a short trip that you go on with a group of people, usually for fun or education

(một chuyến đi ngắn mà bạn đi cùng một nhóm người, thường là để giải trí hoặc học tập)

2. _____________: able to change to suit new situations

(có khả năng thay đổi cho phù hợp với hoàn cảnh mới)

3. _____________: a job

(một công việc)

4. _____________: the time you spend working compared with the time you spend with your family, relaxing, etc.

(thời gian bạn làm việc so với thời gian bạn dành cho gia đình, thư giãn, v.v.)

5. _____________: money that employees receive for doing their job

(tiền nhân viên nhận được khi thực hiện công việc của mình)

6. _____________: something, in addition to money, that people receive for doing their job

(thứ gì đó, ngoài tiền, mà mọi người nhận được khi thực hiện công việc của mình)

c. Now, read and answer the questions.

(Bây giờ hãy đọc và trả lời các câu hỏi.)

1. What's a benefit of earning a regular salary?

(Nhận lương đều đặn có lợi ích gì?)

A. You make a lot of money.

(Bạn kiếm được rất nhiều tiền.)

B. It's easier to plan your budget.

(Lập kế hoạch ngân sách của bạn dễ dàng hơn.)

C. You don't work a lot.

(Bạn không làm việc nhiều.)

2. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as an advantage of working a nine-to-five job?

(Điều nào sau đây KHÔNG được đề cập như một lợi thế khi làm công việc từ chín đến năm giờ?)

A. great work-life balance

(sự cân bằng tuyệt vời giữa công việc và cuộc sống)

B. a fixed amount of money

(một số tiền cố định)

C. health insurance

(bảo hiểm y tế)

3. The word This in paragraph 2 refers to ____________.

(Từ This ở đoạn 2 đề cập đến)

A. a nine-to-five job

(một công việc từ chín đến năm giờ)

B. a perk

(một đặc quyền)

C. getting a regular salary

(nhận lương đều đặn)

4. How can people with nine-to-five jobs increase their salary?

(Làm thế nào những người có công việc từ 9 giờ sáng đến 5 giờ chiều có thể tăng lương?)

A. get a different job

(kiếm một công việc khác)

B. work more hours

(làm việc nhiều giờ hơn)

C. work harder

(làm việc chăm chỉ hơn)

5. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

(Điều nào sau đây có thể được suy ra từ đoạn văn?)

A. Working faster doesn't mean more money.

(Làm việc nhanh hơn không có nghĩa là nhiều tiền hơn.)

B. You always work 40 hours a week.

(Bạn luôn làm việc 40 giờ một tuần.)

C. Very few jobs have great perks.

(Rất ít công việc có đặc quyền tốt.)

d. Listen and read.

(Nghe và đọc.)

Five sentences have been removed from the text below. For each question, choose the best one (A-H) to fill in the blank (1-5). There are three extra sentences which you do not need to use.

(Năm câu đã bị xóa khỏi văn bản dưới đây. Đối với mỗi câu hỏi, hãy chọn câu trả lời đúng nhất (A-H) để điền vào chỗ trống (1-5). Có ba câu bổ sung mà bạn không cần phải sử dụng.)

Three Important Skills that Make a Good Counselor

If you want to be a good counselor, it is important to practice and develop the skills below.

(1) _____ People will talk to you about many difficult issues. You need to actively listen to them to understand their problems. (2)______ This will encourage people to share their thoughts and emotions with you.

Good counselors also need to have good problem-solving skills. (3) _______ You need to understand their

problems and find suitable solutions. And one solution may work for one person but not for another. (4)_____

Finally, good counselors need to be organized. (5)__________ Being organized will also help you remember past conversations and know when to change your method.

All in all these skills will allow you to become a good counselor.

A. So, you need to use different methods and adapt when necessary.

(Vì vậy, bạn cần sử dụng các phương pháp khác nhau và điều chỉnh khi cần thiết.)

B. Counselors need to be good listeners.

(Người tư vấn cần phải là người biết lắng nghe.)

C. A counselor needs to know the law well.

(Người tư vấn hoặc cần phải hiểu biết rõ về pháp luật.)

D. You will work with many people who have different problems.

(Bạn sẽ làm việc với nhiều người có những vấn đề khác nhau.)

E. Counselors are one of the few jobs that have the ability to change people's lives.

(Cố vấn là một trong số ít công việc có khả năng thay đổi cuộc sống con người.)

F. You need to arrange appointments with many people.

(Bạn cần sắp xếp cuộc hẹn với nhiều người.)

G. It is also important to be patient and allow people to talk freely.

(Điều quan trọng là phải kiên nhẫn và cho phép mọi người nói chuyện thoải mái.)

H. Knowing when to get extra help is also important.

(Biết khi nào cần được giúp đỡ thêm cũng rất quan trọng.)

1. Read the title and look at the pictures. What do you think the text is about? Listen/Watch and read to check.

(Đọc tiêu đề và nhìn vào hình ảnh. Bạn nghĩ văn bản nói về điều gì? Nghe/Xem và đọc để kiểm tra.)

2. Read the text. Complete each sentence with NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the text.

(Đọc bài khoá. Hoàn thành mỗi câu sau với không quá ba từ lấy từ bài đọc.)

LANDING YOUR DREAM JOB!

Have you ever wondered what it could be like to do your dream job? We interviewed two people who found theirs!

Jenna: I've always been someone who loves interacting with other people and I also have a strong interest in technology. Therefore, I was really motivated to find a job where I could use my communication skills. Fortunately, I found a perfect job, working as a social media manager for a small local company. I've done this job for almost twelve months, and I love it. I get to write interesting online posts and come up with social media strategies to help our company get more attention online. It’s home-based, too, which is great because I feel much more creative when I It can work from my own space. Of course, I still have tight deadlines to meet, and I need to be flexible, too. Occasionally, I have to go to the office for catch-up meetings to get updates on new project developments, for example, but luckily that doesn't happen very often. All in all, I love my job!

Peter: Since I was a child, computers have always fascinated me, and I loved learning about all of the amazing things I could do with them. As I grew up, I started to take more interest in working with computers and using them. I began by making simple quiz apps and programmes for taking notes, and then when I finished high school, I went to university and completed a course in software development. That course helped me develop my technical abilities and problem-solving skills. When I got my degree, I finally found a job as a software developer at an IT company in the capital city, and I couldn't believe my luck. Now, I get to do what I love - something I have been doing for years for free - and get a great salary. What's even more attractive is that since I joined the company, I've had the chance to work on widely-used software with millions of downloads worldwide. It's really been a dream come true!

• strategy • creative • catch-up meeting  • fascinate • technical • problem-solving • degree

1. Jenna is in charge of developing _____ to raise her company's online profile.

2. Jenna sometimes attends _____ to get information about how projects are progressing.

3. Peter developed his technical skills while obtaining his _____.

4. Peter now earns a _____ something that he has always done for free.

3. Read the text again. Then decide if each of the statements (1-5) is T (true), F (false) or DS (doesn't say).

(Đọc lại bài khoá. Sau đó quyết định xem các phát biểu sau (1-5) là T (đúng), F (sai), hay DS (không nói).)

1. Jenna has been a social media manager for more than a year.

2. Jenna has friends who are also social media managers.

3. Jenna works from home.

4. Peter started developing software at university.

5. Peter has worked on some very popular software since he became a staff member in the company.

3. Think. Read the note. What types of information are missing in the gaps (1-5)?

(Suy nghĩ. Đọc ghi chú. Loại thông tin nào còn thiếu trong các chỗ trống 1-5?)

Name: Andy Johnson

Qualifications:

• A degree in 1) _____ from the University of Huddersfield

Hobbies: 2) _____ and game designing

Skills:

• A natural problem-solver

• Good organisational skills

• Ability to 3) _____ in three different programming languages

Work experience:

• Worked at a(n) 4) _____ doing repairs

• Finished a(n) 5) _____ internship at a local IT company

1. Read the CV. What do you think a CV is? What is it for?

(Đọc CV. Bạn nghĩ CV là gì? Nó dùng để làm gì?)

2. a) Read Adam Smith's curriculum vitae (CV). Match the headings (1-7) to the information sections (A-G).

(Đọc CV của Adam Smith. Nối các tiêu đề (1-7) với thông tin ở các phần (A-G).)

1. Personal Interests

2. Education

3. Skills

4. Work Experience

5. Personal Details

6. Profile Description

7. References

3. Read Adam's CV again and complete the sentences (1-5). Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.

(Đọc CV của Adam lần nữa và hoàn thành các câu (1-5). Viết KHÔNG QUÁ HAI TỪ cho mỗi câu trả lời.)

1. Adam is currently studying to complete a(n) _____.

2. Adam worked with a(n) _____ as a trainee.

3. At The TechCo, Adam fixed company _____.

4. Adam has designed his _____.

5. Adam has contributed articles to some well-known _____.

Reading (Đọc hiểu)

4. Read the text. Choose the option (A, B, C or D) that best fits each gap (1-5).

(Đọc bài khoá. Chọn đáp án (A, B, C hoặc D) phù hợp với mỗi chỗ trống (1-5.)

Living the Dream

We all have our dream job, but just what is it like to do your dream job every day? We asked two people who are living their dreams every day. Let's read about their experiences!

Daniel, social worker

I have always been passionate about helping others in my community. After completing my degree in social work, I began working as a social worker and have been doing it for almost five years now. It can be emotionally challenging at times. but the reward of seeing people's lives change for the better is what keeps me 1) _____ to work hard every day. I always try to make a positive difference in someone's life, no matter how small it may be. Knowing that I am able to make a positive 2) _____ on someone's life makes me feel good. My advice to anyone who is 3) _____ a career in social work is to have a strong support system in place and take care of yourself mentally and physically.

Sarah, entrepreneur

I have always been driven to create something new and make an impression on the world. Starting my own business has been a dream of mine since I was young, 4) _____ I decided to take a leap when I graduated from university three years ago. It has been an incredible journey so far. Being an entrepreneur requires a lot of hard work and dedication, but its all worth it when you see your dream become reality. Every day. I wake up excited to work on my business and see it grow. My advice to anyone considering starting their own business is to have a clear vision and to be prepared for the challenges 5) _____ come with being an entrepreneur. But most importantly, don't be afraid to take risks!

1. A. reliable   B. flexible         C. motivated   D. cooperative

2. A. change     B. impact          C. connection D. outcome

3. A. considering                        B. thinking

    C. studying                               D. viewing

4. A. for             B. so                   C. such               D. since

5. A. in which B. who                             C. that                D. what

2. Read the summary and answer the questions.

(Đọc tóm tắt và trả lời câu hỏi.)

1. What is a 'frog' in the summary? What does 'eat that frog" mean?

(Tóm tắt “ếch” là gì? 'Ăn con ếch đó' nghĩa là gì?)

2. How can making lists help you at work? What two lists does the author suggest?

(Việc lập danh sách có thể giúp ích gì cho bạn trong công việc? Tác giả gợi ý hai danh sách nào?)

3. Why should you imitate what other successful people do?

(Tại sao bạn nên bắt chước những gì người thành công khác làm?)

EAT THAT FROG!

You're almost at the end of school and close to going on to further education or entering the job market. In his book, Eat that Frog!, time management expert Brian Tracy outlines some simple tips to help you reach your full potential and stop you burning out.

1. EAT THAT FOG

Imagine the scenario-you've taken up a new job or started a new course, but you're overworked. You've got  so many things to do. Your frog is your biggest, most difficult and important task, the one you're most likely to  put off until later. Make sure it's the first job you do, and keep at it until it's done.

2. WRITE DOWN YOUR GOALS

Set out your objectives. Make a list of ten goals you'd like to achieve in the next twelve months. If you could only achieve one goal, which one would have the most positive effect on on your life? Focus on that objective first and get down to work straight away.

3. WRITE A TO-DO LIST

Get organised. Before you get on with your work, if you take ten minutes to map out exactly how you will spend your time, you can increase your output by 25 percent. Planning can save you time especially when you're working to a deadline.

4. DEVELOP THE RIGHT HABITS

Improve your career prospects by observing what successful people do. Imitate their behaviour: be punctual, think for yourself, speak your mind. Do these things day in, day out until they become second nature. Then you'll be on your way to becoming a successful person, too.

3. Complete the list below with the verbs in red in the text. Then listen, check and repeat.

(Hoàn thành danh sách dưới đây với các động từ màu đỏ trong đoạn văn. Sau đó nghe, kiểm tra và lặp lại.)

1. achieve a goal

2. __________ sth day in, day out

3. __________ the job market

4. __________ your career prospects

5. __________ your output

6. __________ your full potential

7. __________ your mind

8. __________ for yourself

9. __________ to a deadline