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Starting all over again

1. Why do you think some people decide to change their lifestyles? Read the article and try to find the answer in each case. Which speaker(s):

moved to a new area?

turned a hobby into a business?

gave up financial security to work for their dream?

had to study in order to change career?

prefer a slower pace of life?

is planning to expand their business?

had to learn a new language?

is starting to become successful?

Starting All Over Again A Bill: I was an accountant at a large accounting firm in the city. I spent all my time glued to the computer screen, even at home. That meant I rarely spent any time with my family. Then, one day it hit me that I was missing out on the truly important things in my life. My kids were growing up fast and I felt I wasn’t playing a large enough role in their lives. I knew that it was time to give up that rat race and get back to basics. So, we sold our town house and moved to a cottage in the country, where we have a small market garden. Gardening had been a hobby of mine when I was younger but when I was working, I just didn’t have the time. Now I have all the time in the world. Financially, life is more difficult, but I think it’s safe to say that the whole family is much happier now that we’ve escaped from the hectic pace of city life.   B Jean: Ever since I can remember, I’ve enjoyed making my own clothes. My friends were always commenting on my original designs, so I often made clothes for them as well. It never occurred to me that I could make a living until a friend of a friend asked me to make her a wedding dress and offered to pay me. Suddenly more and more people started approaching me and asking me to make clothes for them. It soon reached the point where I was spending all my spare time at the sewing machine and my designs were bringing in more money than my job! I handed in my notice at work and rented a small shop with a flat above which I turned into my workshop. I’m happy to say that business is booming: I now employ ten people and I’m about to open a second branch!   C Ann: I used to work as a sales manager in a large department store. It was quite a good job, but not very rewarding. I knew I wanted to change my career: the trouble was, I didn’t know what to do. Then my sister suggested that I become a nurse, as I am good with people and I don’t faint at the sight of blood! The more I thought about the idea, the more it appealed to me, so I decided to have a go at it. Of course, it meant that I had to retrain. I spent three years at nursing college, which was really hard work. I was permanently exhausted, as I had to work regular shifts on hospital wards as well as attend lectures and complete coursework. It was worth the effort, though. Now I have a job I enjoy and which makes me feel that I’m really making a difference.   D Sally: When I finished university I decided to take a year off and work abroad. It was a decision which changed my life. I got a job teaching English in Spain, so I packed my clothes, stored everything else and headed for the Mediterranean. I didn’t speak a word of Spanish at first, so it took a while to settle in. The pace of life was different, too: much slower and more relaxed than in England. Most of all, though, I noticed the difference in climate and the way that affected my personality. Being under a clear blue sky and a blazing sun gave me more energy than I’d ever had before. I felt positive and content. After a few months, I knew that I didn’t want to leave, so I made up my mind to settle there and sent for the rest of my belongings. I’ve been here for three years now; I’m fluent in Spanish and I have a tan all year round!   E Stewart: The most important lesson I’ve learnt in my life is that you have to take risks. If there is something you really want to do, you have to give it a try, even if it means giving up the security of receiving a monthly pay cheque. I had always wanted to write, but with all my commitments, I simply couldn’t find the time. Finally, I decided to follow my dream and that meant the job had to go. It’s been really hard work, but I’m managing to sell enough stories and articles to pay the bills. Now, there’s a publisher interested in my first novel: Life just couldn’t be better!

2. Match the phrases from the text with the phrases with the similar meaning:



A

a) to miss out on the truly important things in life; b) to give up that rat race; c) to play a large enough role in life; d) get back to basics; e) it’s safe to say; f) have all the time in the world; g) to escape from the hectic pace of life; h) to be glued to the screen; i) to hit sb; 1. not to be able to take one’s eyes off the screen; 2. to run away from a too fast/ speedy tempo of life; 3. not to see/ pay attention to really important things in life; 4. to return/ come back to the most essential things in life; 5. to refuse from hectic everyday life and furious competition at work; 6. to be the master of one’s time, to be able to distribute the time according to your own wish; 7. to be influential, to influence one’s life; 8. to strike, to come to one’s mind suddenly; it’s possible to say;

B

a)It never occurred to me; b) to make a living; c) to approach sb; d) to hand in the notice at work; e) business is booming; f) I’m about to open a second branch.
  1. to earn money for living;
  2. to come near;
  3. I’m going to open a second branch;
  4. to resign, to quit one’s job;
  5. I never thought about smth;
6. business is expanding;

C

a) to retrain; b) to have a go at smth; c) rewarding; d) to be permanently exhausted; e) The idea appealed to me. f) to faint at the sight of blood g) to work regular shifts; h) to attend lectures; i) to be good with people; j) to make a difference; 1. to be sociable, easy-going; 2. to lose consciousness when you see blood; 3. to try, to make an effort; 4. I liked the idea. 5. to be useful, worthy; 6. to get another qualification; 7. to be tired all the time; 8. to mean a lot to sb; 9. to be present at the lecture; 10. to work at night or during the day according to the schedule;

D

  1. to take a year off;
  2. to store things;
  3. to head for the Mediterranean;
  4. to take a while;
  5. to settle in;
  6. to affect one’s personality;
  7. to feel positive and content;
  8. to make up one’s mind;
  9. belongings;
  10. to be fluent in Spanish;
a) possessions, things that sb owns or has; b) to speak Spanish quickly and correctly; c) to take some time; to be time-consuming; d) to gather things; to put sth somewhere and keep it there to use later; e) to fell self-confident and pleased/ satisfied; f) to decide; g) to influence one’s character/ inner world; h) to make a break for a year; i) to set off/ set out for the Mediterranean; j) to move into a new home, job, etc. and start to feel comfortable there

E

a) to take risks; b) to give up security; c) to give smth a try; d) with all my commitments; e) to follow the dream; f) the job had to go;   1) to refuse from something safe; 2) I had to quit/ refuse from my job; 3) to pursue the dream; 4) to venture, to do sth even though you know that sth bad could happen as a result; 5) with all my duties; 6) to try; to attempt at smth;

3. Match the synonyms:

a) positive b) essential c) rewarding d) relaxed e) secure f) permanently g) hectic h) booming i) appealing j) content 1) safe 2) slow and calm 3) constantly 4) satisfied 5) self-confident 6) important, basic 7) attractive, pleasant 8) flourishing, expanding (about business) 9) worthy 10) too fast and chaotic

4. Paraphrase the sentences using the words from the previous text:

a) I decided to run away from the too fast tempo of living in the city and to refuse from the competitive working life.

b) Now I have returned to the most essential things in my life and that means a lot to me.

c) I earn money from writing stories for a glossy (a fashionable magazine).

d) At first it seemed very difficult to refuse from all my duties but I ventured, tried and now I think it was worth trying because I feel self-confident and satisfied.

e) They say if you want to pursue your dream, you have to quit your job. But this idea isn’t attractive to me.

f) One morning I woke up and realized that my job wasn’t worthy. I had to work either in the day or at night according to the schedule and had to be present at the lectures at college. I was constantly tired. I felt that it influenced my character and behaviour for I became furious and deeply depressed at the same time. So I made up my mind to change my lifestyle. I always dreamt to live abroad, so I tried and set out for the Mediterranean. It took me some time to start feeling comfortable in a new place and to get used to the climate, but I’m absolutely delighted.

 

 

Study the active vocabulary

1. to give up that rat race;

2. to escape from the hectic pace of life;

3. to make a living;

4. to earn money for living;

5. to hand in the notice at work;

6.to resign, to quit one’s job;

7. to retrain;

8. to have a go at smth;

9.to make an effort;

10. the idea appealed to me;

11.to work regular shifts;

12. to affect one’s personality;

13. to be time-consuming;

14. to give smth a try;

15. with all my commitments;

16. to pursue the dream;

 

 


Date: 2015-04-20; view: 2478


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