Reading Unit12

<span class='text_page_counter'>(1)</span>1. Read the passage about how Mai chose her career, and do the tasks that follow. I had always dreamt of working in a bank because I thought I would earn a lot of money. I was told that I had to try hard to make my dream come true. I burnt the midnight oil and finally had some success. First, I was accepted to a prestigious secondary school in Ha Noi. There, I gained not only knowledge but also a number of skills including team work, cooperation, and interpersonal skills. I also became much more organised, thanks to the mountains of work which had to be completed to meet the strict deadlines. I felt I was lucky to have such supportive peers and excellent teachers. My next achievement was when I gained admission to the Banking Academy of Viet Nam. After three years, I graduated and was awarded a degree in banking. But I realised that I wasn't suited to a nine-to-five job in a bank, even though I was still interested in the subject of finance. Feeling confused, I decided to talk to my parents and my closest friend. Interestingly, I learned that I had the qualifications, skills, and above all, the aptitude for a teaching career. And now I'm a lecturer for the Banking Academy where I graduated. a. Find the words/phrases in the passage that mean: 1.. permission to enter. _____________________. 2.. obtained. _____________________. 3.. a natural ability to do something. _____________________. 4.. times when something must be finished. _____________________. 5.. not knowing what to do. _____________________. b. Answer the questions. 1.. Why did the author want to work in a bank?. 2.. How did she prepare for her future career?. 3.. What are her major achievements?. 4.. What qualification did she receive?.

<span class='text_page_counter'>(2)</span> 5.. Why did she change her mind?. 6.. Which of her skills do you think best suit her final choice?. 2. Read the letter from Duong to Jenny, and answer the questions that follow by choosing A, B, C , or D. Dear Jenny, It’ s great to learn that you have been granted a scholarship to study at Queens’ College, a prestigious part of Cambridge University, and that you will be able to pursue your dream of becoming a biologist. Congrats! I’ve been accepted to the maths class at Ha Noi High School – one of the best schools in Ha Noi. I love maths and I hope to become a mathematician one day. I know the route ahead is not smooth because I’ll have to take courses in maths, physics, and computing. My dad said I need not only a bachelor’s degree, but ideally a doctoral one if you want to get a good job. I’d love to work at the Institute of Mathematics like my dad because, due to his work at the institute, he has also been invited to teach in several universities in France. Alternatively, I can choose applied mathematics and work in finance for an international company. Moreover, my mother said I also need soft skills like teamwork skills, interpersonal skills, and communication skills to do either of those jobs. Luckily, my new school provides many extracurricular classes which I can take part in to relax and to pick up those skills. Anyway, there’s plenty of time for me to make detailed plans. I’ve decided to take a break for a while. Wish you were here to go with me to Da Nang. Duong 1. Jenny is going to study at Queens’ College because __________. A. She has been granted a scholarship B. She wants to study biology there C. It’s a prestigious college in the UK D. all of the above 2. Which of the following is most likely NOT true in Ha Noi High School? A. It’s one of the best schools in Ha Noi. B. It has also non-academic subjects. C. It merely focuses on providing knowledge. D. It provides both good knowledge and skills. 3. Duong wants to work in the Institute of Mathematics because __________. A. he can earn a lot of money B. he can travel to many countries C. his dad is a mathematician D. he loves mathenatics 4. He intends to obtain __________. A. a doctoral degree only B. a doctoral degree and necessary skills C. a bachelor’s degree and the necessary skillsD. a master’s degree and the necessary skills 5. An example of soft skills can be __________. A. driving a car B. communication skills C. knowledge D. a sense of humour 6. The word extracurricular mostly means __________. A. academic B. compulsory C. additional D. outside.

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