PART A – Text reading and comprehension
Read the text below:
How Unemployment Affects Our Life
Less than fifty percent of the working population in Britain has a full-time, long term job
with a permanent employment contract. People have become forced into part-time work,
self-employment, temporary employment, job sharing. And this is happening all over Europe.
The “job for life” is dead. In the past, our parents and grandparents worked in jobs with security and
a regular salary, but the whole economic situation has changed. Natasha Jacoby, unemployed,
gave up on her teaching career and tells us about her new job:
“I’ve always enjoyed photography. You can learn a lot from experience. I graduated
in English and French but I couldn’t find a job as a teacher. I was feeling very depressed. Some
of my friends told me that my pictures were good. At first, I doubted myself but now I feel
confident. I started to take photographs in October. I’ve also assisted other photographers.
This is a good way to learn. At the moment I’m developing my portfolio so I can get work
doing album covers and magazine photography. I like doing portraits and I enjoy black and
white photography. “
A. Mark the statements T (true), F (false) or NM (not mentioned) according to paragraph 1 and 2 of the text.
1234-
Most of the British population has a permanent job. ___
Jobs for life are a thing of the past. ___
The economic situation is the same as in our parents’ and grandparents’ time. ___
Natasha didn’t find work as a teacher. ___
B. Match the sentence halves according to first part of the text:
1.
The “job for life” concept
a)
is not the same as in the past.
2.
The changes in employment are happening both
b) didn’t have to worry about keeping their jobs.
3.
Our parents and grandparents
c)
4.
The economic situation
d) is dead.
in Britain and in the rest of Europe.
C. Answer the questions below according to paragraph 3 of the text:
1- What did Natasha study?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
2- Is that her present job? Why?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
3- How did she feel when she was unemployed?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
4- How did she decide to become a photographer?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
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