Задание 13 ЕГЭ по английскому языку: страница 2
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Gap year
Once only a common occurrence in Europe, embarking on a year-long break, or gap year, before starting college has become almost mainstream in the U.S. Even former presidents’ children took a year off before attending university. And now college graduates are increasingly taking a gap year before graduate school.
By the time students graduate from college, they may have been going to school for some 20 years. The idea of charging right into another two to seven (or more) years of academia, depending on a student’s post-graduate goals, can be daunting. Educational burnout is a real possibility for some. A gap year allows students to take a breather – to rest, recharge, refresh, reinvigorate and reflect on the next step in life.
“It’s a very American mindset to keep going and going and going,” says Yulia Fires, a founder of a consulting firm that provides support for students taking a gap year. “I call it the ‘conveyor-belt mindset’ of kindergarten through high school, into college, into grad school, then you get a career, and then you retire … We are obsessed, as a culture, with productivity. People need to be more deliberate with their choices, and a gap year offers that time for deep reflection, and also for deliberate action to inform their grad school choices.”
No longer are the only options graduate school or a job. The gap year offers a third, just-as-productive option, which can include travel, volunteering, internships, experiential learning opportunities, or working professionally to gain experience in one’s chosen field. The possibilities are endless. “The magic of a gap year is in trying different things and awakening interests or skills that may have stayed dormant in your college years,” Fires says.
While little official data has been kept on gap years, especially pre-grad school, the Gap Year Association says gap years are increasing in popularity in the U.S., as evidenced by a booming industry of gap year programs.
This organization also conducted the first-ever nationwide study on the effects of a gap year experience. While the survey was of students who had participated in a gap year before starting college, some of the data can be applied to pre-grad-school “gappers” – especially regarding the motivation for taking a gap year. Of the gappers surveyed, 92 percent cited a desire to gain life experience and personal growth; 85 percent wanted to travel, see the world, and experience other cultures; and 81 percent wanted a break from the traditional academic track.
“Put it in this perspective. You’re 22 years old. What is a year in the grand scheme of your life, and for the purpose of discovery and maybe a little adventure or education?” Fires says. “When you survey people who have done it, they say they wouldn’t give it back for the world.”
To get the most out of a gap year, planning ahead is key. Students should figure out what they want to do, where they want to go, what goals they hope to achieve and how much they are able to spend – and then establish a timeline with a firm end date.
Whether the year will include travel, volunteering, a job, or time for quiet self-improvement, students can opt to participate in structured programs, or tailor their own self-directed year. While there is no right or wrong way to take a gap year, it is important that students remain engaged and spend that time doing something that will further their personal, academic or professional development. In my opinion, people deserve to take some time out to pursue other interests tangential to their career path and just good for their mental well-being.It is implied that continuing into graduate school without a break may …
1) bring positive results for some. 2) help students achieve their goals. 3) result in feeling ill and exhausted. 4) add up to 20 years to education. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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Video games as social spaces
I imagine most parents of gamers have hollered to their children to stop playing games and be with people. Their children seem totally secluded, sitting all alone, and staring blankly at a screen for hours at a time. Children need to talk to each other, to have conversations, to get out into the world. That’s how we make friends, parents assert. I often hear parents say that video games don’t count as healthy communication; their kids aren’t talking about anything real when they play, they’re just talking about the game or yelling at one another.
Two researchers studied exactly this in 2006. They looked at over 5,800 messages sent while playing an online multiplayer game and examined whether these messages were socio-emotional or task-oriented. Socio-emotional messages are ones which help players connect with one another, such as “Thanks for the help,” and “Wow, that was funny.” Task-oriented messages are focused on the game itself, such as “How do you open this door?”
They found that there were more than 3.2 times as many socio-emotional messages as task-oriented ones. Additionally, these emotion-based messages were over 2.6 times more likely to be positive than negative. That means that, contrary to parents’ fears, the vast majority of the messages people sent while playing were used to interact with others in a positive way. Although the method of communication is different, the messages sent and connections built are the same.
Even if players were to only spend time talking about the game itself, games would still be a great way to bond with other people. Lots of families have weekly “game nights” in which they play board games to spend time with one another. I spent a few hours playing card games with my family last week and, even though most of the conversation was centered on the games themselves, it was undeniably a bonding experience.
Many teens go to each other’s homes to play video games in the same room. Shared experiences like these are so good at helping people connect that some therapists even use tabletop games as group therapy. In fact, research has shown that many people who meet while playing games online do end up spending time with those people.
There is also evidence to suggest that video games can be safe places to experiment with social interactions for vulnerable people, such as the ones with autism spectrum disorders or those with social anxiety. Video games and other online spaces are “safe” for these individuals because they allow people to communicate when they want to, with little or no pressure to respond and without requiring them to be in the same physical space with others.
Successful conversations require a wide variety of skills that many take for granted, such as reading body language, understanding tone of voice, maintaining eye contact, and rapidly responding to information. Online video games can allow players to talk to others and make friends at their current ability level, even when they are not emotionally or physically able to leave their homes. This can help build the skills and confidence necessary to try it in person.
Children and teens are spending more and more time playing video games online with their friends. For most, this is a positive experience, allowing them to communicate with others even when they are unable to physically be with them. This unconventional method of communication is helpful in fostering connections while building the skills and confidence necessary to interact face-to-face. Video games are a large part of the lives of young people and should be recognized as a source of social support.This in paragraph 2 (Two researchers studied exactly this in 2006) refers to …
1) parents’ attitudes to video games. 2) emotions expressed by parents. 3) communication in video games. 4) players’ attitudes to each other. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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Learning environment
When you think of education, you likely picture a classroom setting with a teacher upfront by the board and students watching the lecture or lesson. The typical picture of in-person learning has shifted greatly, however, with the advent of online learning and the power of technology. But is it really so powerful?
For anyone who is questioning whether online learning or in-person instruction is better, I am going to share the advantages and disadvantages of each learning environment.
Let’s consider some of the benefits of in-person learning. Some people look forward to the academic experience they have when they are in-person with their peers and instructor. For some, it’s because it allows for hands-on learning and collaboration with peers at the same time and in the same place. For others, they may feel more comfortable asking questions in-person. When it comes to college, some students want the experience of living in a dorm, sitting in lecture halls, partaking in labs, and engaging in social activities.
In-person learning is aimed to provide a distraction-free environment. Entering a classroom comes along with fewer distractions. The space is designed and intended for learning and since a teacher is there, you may feel more inclined to focus. It can be harder to be distracted by cell phones or anything else inside a classroom.
On the other hand, when it comes to learning within an institution’s walls, students have no say as to when or where the class is offered. You simply receive a schedule and have to be there at that time. This can clash with one’s existing responsibilities. Moreover, since you have to be in a designated space at a certain time for traditional in-person learning, you have to factor in commuting time (and costs).
Online learning is much more flexible. Since education takes place online, you have more flexibility in setting your own schedule. This is especially the case with pre-recorded lectures. Even without pre-recorded lectures, you have more flexibility in your schedule because you don’t have to commute anymore to a location to learn. For students in many countries, obtaining an education seems like a dream when there are no physical school locations or geographical barriers to making it to a specific place. With online learning, access to education has been maximized, allowing people from all over the world to join. As such, you can learn alongside students from different countries and connect to people from every corner of the globe, and when it comes to doing so in an educational setting, students benefit from diverse perspectives. Additionally, you could connect with someone in another location that might become your next business partner or employer.
Next, compare the price. In the case of college, in-person learning tends to be much more expensive than online alternatives. That’s mostly because schools have high overhead costs, but they also can charge the tuition and fees that they want to, especially when they are privately owned. Given less overhead costs, online education tends to be much more cost-effective than in-person learning. In some cases, online learning can be totally free, such as from online platforms.
When comparing in-person learning to online learning, it’s hard to say that one is better than the other. That’s because it typically comes down to a student’s preference. As you can see, there are advantages and disadvantages to both styles of learning. Depending on your unique situation, you can determine which environment feels more fitting for you and your goals.The author considers that people prefer in-person learning to online learning because …
1) there are more interesting lectures. 2) it is easier to do laboratory work. 3) it involves more interaction. 4) instructors are more available. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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Part-time work while studying
Oxbridge students are actively discouraged from working during term time, but others have no choice. More than two thirds of students rely on loans, but they don’t cover all the living expenses, which means that those who don’t have financial support from their parents are forced to take on work. For many, wages from part-time work are the only way they can make ends meet. It’s tough and it’s often the students’ academic work that loses out.
This year, many freshers will be asking a familiar question: how much can they work during term time before it impacts their degree – and what kind of jobs are most suitable?
The best and most understanding employers tend to be universities themselves. Many students have part-time jobs in cafés, bars and shops on campus. You can also work on an ad-hoc basis as a guide on open days and during freshers’ week. These will be at least minimum wage and are likely to offer a healthy number of hours to fit easily around studies.
Longer term part-time jobs tend to provide a steady, though lower income. However, you may need to consider how flexible your hours will be. My friend who worked part-time as a waitress says that although she liked meeting people in the city, the work was often unreliable. “Once I didn’t get a shift for two months and it was too late in the year to get a new job. I was really short of money,” she says.
However, be careful what you sign up for. Hannah Brown runs Manchester University’s “job shop”, which offers advice to students and advertises posts. She says more and more students are looking to work at university, but they should be careful. Her team don’t advertise anything over 20 hours a week and their advice is not to work more than 15. “We always advertise flexible jobs and avoid anything commission-based,” she says.
Before you commit to a job, make employers aware of your timetable. “There have been numerous times where I’ve been put on a shift at the same time as a lecture or seminar,” says Josh Chapman, a third-year journalism student at Sheffield Hallam. “That can be difficult, because you miss out on information and teaching.”
Meanwhile, jobs in retail and childcare – such as school pick-ups – offer more sociable hours. My other friend says studying before shifts is better than being too tired to do it at the end of the day. “I had less time to play with, so if I had work at 1 p.m., I’d get up at 8 a.m. and get four hours of studying in before I went.”
Prioritise your health. Remember that you’re paying to be at university and get a degree, so don’t let your job make you weary. If you are exhausted, you will not have the energy to study. Night club and bar work can mess with sleeping patterns.
Students from wealthier backgrounds can use their time to do relevant voluntary work and get involved in extracurricular activities. This is one reason why socioeconomic background is such a big predictor of job market success. However, Juan Garcia, employability and development adviser at Queen Margaret University, thinks part-time work that complements study can greatly enhance students’ employability after they graduate, and they should seek paid internships.
For those who achieve this, working is one way to get ahead. Onwa Wonci worked 20 hours a week while studying at university. She says it wasn’t easy, but she was committed. The employer offered her a full-time job in her final year. She wouldn’t have a job now if she hadn’t gone through those struggles. You work hard for some time, but then your efforts are rewarded.These in Paragraph 3 (“These will be at least minimum wage …”) refers to …
1) jobs on campus. 2) university open days. 3) part-time jobs outside the uni. 4) volunteer work. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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What are soft skills?
Every career has a job description. Employers like to make clear the experience, education and skills they are looking for in an employee, so they can ensure a good fit. But in addition to “hard skills” that come from your education and work experience, employers want to know if you have the personality and character it takes to do well in the workplace and in your specific role. These less-technical skills are called “soft skills”.
Unlike other parts of your job duties, soft skills are traits that aren’t trained. They are interpersonal skills like communication, empathy, collaboration, problem solving and conflict resolution. These skills are all essential for employees in any organization. We all work with people in a variety of ways, and teams are the norm in almost every company. Hiring professionals and supervisors need to know you will get along with, support and effectively connect and collaborate with co-workers to complete tasks.
Simply put, hard skills may get you an interview, but soft skills can help you get the job and keep it. The soft skills that set you apart from others may also lead to future incentives or promotions.
Soft skills are an excellent way for you to differentiate yourself in a job search. If your technical skill is on a par with other candidates, your ability to communicate and build a connection with hiring managers can be the decisive factor.
You’re probably wondering which soft skills will set you apart from other applicants. Most hiring managers agree that communication skills are at the top of their list. While you don’t have to be an amazing speech-deliverer, employers want to know that you can handle disagreements, portray ideas in presentations or conversations and write coherently.
Conflict resolution and collaboration are other key areas hiring managers value. But don’t be fooled – working well with others isn’t just about keeping a calm office. The ability to develop relationships that benefit both parties is a big part of becoming an influential and effective employee. While it is true that many of these traits are ingrained, don’t worry too much if these don’t come naturally to you. There are plenty of ways to learn and grow as you prepare for a job.
Showing your soft skills isn’t impossible, it just takes a little work. Not only do you have to emphasize your soft skills in interviews but share specific examples to illustrate how you apply them in your life and on the job. You can recall times when you worked on a team project where members had conflicting views and share how you handled it.
Were you the leader who made sure all voices were heard, and then helped mediate and resolve the conflict? Maybe you were one of the team and you took the role of helping evaluate each view and coming to consensus. Maybe you were the one to support the person whose idea was not used but was successful afterwards. These are all examples that can be highly relevant to employers making hiring decisions.
When it comes to your résumé, leveraging your soft skills may sound tricky, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, how you communicate on your resume and cover letter are great examples of your soft skills. Start by making sure your résumé and cover letter are typo-free and grammatically sound. Remember to show, and not just tell. Saying you’re an excellent communicator has much less impact than giving concrete examples of times where your communication ability was excellent. Anyone can say they are amazing. It’s up to you to prove it.Why are proper soft skills necessary?
1) They make you an interesting personality. 2) They help establish contact with bosses. 3) They allow you to do tasks quickly. 4) They may give you an advantage over others. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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The culture shock of being an international student
For any student, moving away from home can be a bit scary. But I did not expect student life in Scotland to be all that different from my home of the Netherlands. After all, we get the same news and TV shows online. Many students find the northwest climate can affect them a lot. You may find the grayness and dampness, especially during the winter months, difficult to get used to. However, when I moved from Amsterdam to study at the University of Stirling, I began to realise that a few minor issues were catching me off balance. I was suffering a minor cultural shock.
In my first year, I quickly found out my English was not as good as I had assumed. Most of my roommates were born and raised in Scotland, and I constantly found myself having to ask people to repeat themselves. Their Scottish accents did not help and I was mispronouncing names and places all the time. I also got confused about minor cultural things. Much to my flatmates’ amusement, it took me two Christmases to figure out that mince pies are not actually filled with minced beef.
The linguistic barrier meant that public transport was tricky at first. I found the lack of information about bus prices and how and where to get tickets really surprising. It turned a simple 15-minute journey into a daunting task.
Then I had to adjust to a new social life. I was surprised by the campus culture in the UK – in the Netherlands, most universities don’t have one main campus where you can attend university, as well as live and exercise all in the same place. But here, you never have to leave campus if you don’t want to. I had to adapt to everyone being so close to each other all the time.
Parties are different here too. In the Netherlands, the less effort you put into getting ready, the better. I’d normally slip on my trusty Converse shoes, along with some clothes I could get away with wearing to class tomorrow, and wear minimal make-up. But, in my experience, partying is more formal in the UK. Your make-up needs to be flawless and your hair needs to be immaculate. You’ll preferably be wearing a dress and heels, too. I was constantly having to borrow clothes off my friends just to fit in. Parties finish early and everyone just wanders off, whereas in my country that would be the time I’d leave the house.
But it is not all early closing times and strange pastries. Social behaviours may also confuse, surprise or offend you. For example, you may find people appear cold, distant or always in a hurry. Cultures are built on deeply-embedded sets of values, norms, assumptions and beliefs. It can be surprising and sometimes distressing to find that people do not share some of your most deeply held ideas, as most of us take our core values and beliefs for granted and assume they are universally held.
However, I have found lots of pleasant surprises in the UK too – and so have many other international students I know. My friend Agnes was taken aback by how sociable people are. She says she was shocked when complete strangers started talking to her at the bus stop. I, personally, was surprised by how smartly male students in Sterling dress compared to my home country.
Culture shock can knock your confidence in the beginning. But you are not alone in taking time to adapt, and soon you start to come to grips with all experiences. Studies suggest that taking a gap year or studying abroad can positively influence your brain to make you more outgoing and open to new ideas. Looking back, most of the ones I experienced made good stories to tell my friends.Which of the following was NOT mentioned as a reason for author’s culture shock?
1) Language problems. 2) Local food. 3) Living on campus. 4) Traffic jams. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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Punctuality
There are few habits as infuriating as someone making us wait. But, despite what may be running through your mind as you’re kept waiting again, it’s unlikely your friends and colleagues are just being selfish or do not care about the time. A look into the causes of lateness (or tardiness) offers a glimpse into a mind that may be malfunctioning.
Perceptions of unpunctual people are almost always negative. “It is easy to perceive them as disorganised, chaotic, rude and lacking in consideration for others,” says Harriet Mellotte, a behavioural therapist in London. “Outside of my clinical practice, others being late can particularly get under my skin!”
But, many late people are at least somewhat organised and want to keep friends, family and bosses happy. The punctually-challenged are often excruciatingly aware and ashamed of the damage their lateness could do to their relationships, reputations and careers. Some excuses are fairly universally accepted – an accident or ailment, for example. But others aren’t so easy to swallow. Some late people will pass it off as a symptom of being concerned with loftier matters than time-keeping or having the body clock of a night owl rather than a lark.
Personality differences could also dictate how we experience the passing of time. Jeff Conte, a psychology professor at San Diego State University, ran a study in which he separated participants into Type A people (ambitious, competitive) and Type B (creative, reflective, explorative). He asked them to judge, without clocks, how long it took for one minute to elapse. Type A people felt a minute had gone by when roughly 58 seconds had passed. Type B participants felt a minute had gone by after 77 seconds. “Being consistently late might not be your fault. It could be your type. The punctually-challenged often share personality characteristics such as optimism, low levels of self-control, anxiety”, he says.
Dr Linda Sapadin, a psychologist from New York, says some persistent lateness comes from “an obsessive thinking problem”. The procrastinator focuses on a fear attached to the event or deadline for which they are running late. Rather than figuring out how to get beyond the fear, the fear becomes the excuse – usually expressed with a ‘but’ statement. For instance, you might tell yourself, “I wanted to be on time for that event but I couldn’t decide what to wear; I started to write an article but I was afraid my colleagues would find it not good enough,” she explains. “Whatever comes after the ‘but’ is what counts,” says Sapadin. She suggests changing the word ‘but’ to ‘and’. ‘But’ denotes opposition and blockage; ‘And’ denotes connection and resolution, she explains, so “the task becomes less frightening.”
Dr Sapadin started on her path to punctuality by identifying and adapting the very thing that seemed to always make her late. “Instead of getting angry or upset because a friend or a loved one is always late, you can take a stand and set boundaries,” she says. “Talk about what you will do if the other person isn’t on time. Tell your late friend you’ll go into the movie without them if they’re more than ten minutes late. Tell that colleague who never turns his part of the project in on time that it just won’t be included next time – and the boss will know about it.”
For me, a turning point came when a good friend drew her line in the sand. I was an hour late for a run in our local park. “That was it,” she said. “The truth is, I’m not going to make any more plans with you.” And so she set in motion the best thing for me: she put an end to my perpetual lateness.The expression “get under my skin” (paragraph 2) means …
1) disappoint. 2) irritate. 3) depress. 4) surprise. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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Attendance requirements
Studying at university can be very different from school, sixth form or college. Your term time will be different, as will your classes. Whether attendance is mandatory or not will also vary. Your classes will be divided into lectures and seminars. You will also have study sessions and inductions each year. Failure to attend mandatory sessions could have implications on your progression towards your degree, so it is important to understand what is mandatory and what is not.
Most universities do care about attendance. Universities generally associate good attendance with good academic performance, and therefore strongly encourage students to attend all of their seminars and lectures. Many universities will have an attendance threshold which students must reach. Likewise, module tutors may use a register to log and monitor the attendance of students for each seminar and lecture.
The real world has attendance requirements, too. If you don’t meet those expectations, you will get penalized. Jobs, for example, have required attendance. If you skip a day of work because you’re not up to it, you will probably face consequences. You have to be actively present to achieve your career goals, you can’t coast through your career like you may in college. College prepares you for the real world, so class attendance benefits your education and your future. That’s why many people think class attendance should be mandatory – to ensure students are engaged in their academic studies.
But, even without required attendance, it is your job to show up. Tests often reflect lectures, so being in class can help you more easily answer test questions. Most classes use participation to discuss topics in class, which goes beyond just needing to know it for tests. Attendance also makes it easier to work with fellow students and professors, so as to better understand the topics.
Active participation is not just for jobs and school. It can help you in life as well. Attending class would help emphasize that people need to be active in their role in society. This includes participating in things like elections, community service, and volunteering.
Most notably, we must pay for the classes we take, so missing a class means we hurt ourselves by wasting money, time, and educational opportunities. Not everyone gets to attend a uni, so why not take advantage of this opportunity?
On the other hand, if attendance is not required, you can choose whether or not to get out of bed in the morning and make your way to class. I must admit that there are days I may really want to choose not to go to class. But it is required, so I feel as though I have no choice at all. Maybe I feel a cold coming on but can’t make it to a doctor for a sick note, or I had to work extra late at my part-time job the night before. Most frequently I need some extra time to catch up on the overwhelming amount of homework I have been assigned in all of my classes.
Regardless of the reason, the choice should be mine. I understand that going to class is beneficial in many ways. But burnout is real. Many full-time students work just to make ends meet, and you can’t always predict illnesses well enough to get a university approved absence.
The requirement to attend classes can negatively affect grades and cause a great deal of stress for students that are under enough stress already. Many students who are not able to attend every single class still deserve a decent grade, and they work very hard to maintain one. We are adults. We are choosing to further our education. Therefore, we should also be given the choice to attend class or not – without it being detrimental to our grades.Which is NOT mentioned about university attendance in the text?
1) Attendance is considered to be connected with achievement. 2) Teachers use a special document to mark students’ attendance. 3) Failure to attend all lectures may result in dropping out of school. 4) There is usually a minimum number of classes students must attend. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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Family
Growing up, I didn’t really dream of being a wife or mother. But one vision of a future family was in my mind like an internal live photo: five kids sit behind me in a car as we head west, my husband behind the wheel, and all of us laughing and singing to our favourite music bands. The order of the artists doesn’t matter; everyone gets a turn. This trip will take days, the sky blushing from rose to plum to highway-lit black several times before we’re done.
It’s taken me 30 years to realize that this idyllic image of a future family, made of subconscious odds and ends, was not actually just a figment of my imagination. The summer after I turned 10, my parents packed up our van, and drove my sisters and me to California to meet relatives we’d seen only in pictures.
Of course, the fantasy conveniently left out some unpleasant realities from our trip: five days of truck-stop showers, and four nights spent sleeping in bucket seats at rest stops to save money. Yet it captured the essence of how I experienced those who were closest to me. Family offered guaranteed belonging and protection from loneliness.
If you didn’t have friends – and I struggled to make and keep them beginning in junior high school – family meant never spending a Friday night alone. And when the world incited more panic than peace in your bones, when your nervous system needed to be bubble-wrapped, family meant everything. They left their job at the factory floor to pick you up, or answered your frantic calls from the school’s payphone, and talked you down until everything felt light and airy. The youngest and most anxious of three girls, I’d been born into a family of people who stretched their love over mine, covering me as I moved through a world that constantly overwhelmed me.
I have my own family now, and it looks a bit like my vision. Three kids and a minivan, littered with remnants of kids’ meals, and a spouse who adores telling you how to make every little step. The five of us can barely make the 15-minute drive to a supermarket, let alone to California, without name-calling and “accidental” kicking or fights over who picks the next song.
In this family, where we listen to pop, rock and rap alongside a mash-up of gospel hits, where we talk about feelings, I am deeply loved, needed and known. But there are times when I still feel lonely. Not in the weekend-plans way, but in the overwhelming feeling that I wasn’t built for this role and what it requires. I had always thought of family as something that could protect you from loneliness, but what I’m realizing now is that loneliness also creeps in when you can’t meet your family’s needs – even when some of those needs mirror your own.
When one child requires an extremely busy schedule while another suddenly needs an activity or trip to cheer up, or when one works best while humming and another can’t find their headphones fast enough – I need to stop, do some breathing exercise, and save the day. But nothing in my brain says: Hang in there, you can do this! Instead, my own personal brand of black-and-white thinking declares: You can’t do this. You don’t even fit here, in the very family you helped create.
I know that isn’t true. I do fit here, even when it’s hard. The five of us are built into each other, in ways I’ll never be able to measure or name.
I guess we have to “go through good times and through bad” in the family. Here I’m teaching my kids to read. Here’s the strawberry cake I baked from scratch.
Here we are, thinned out and tired, with not enough answers, wishing the world was less of an affront to our way of being. Here we are, much more than a collection of needs. But when we feel like a collection of needs, let us be a family.It is implied that the author’s parents …
1) had a limited budget. 2) visited relatives regularly. 3) enjoyed travelling. 4) spent summers in California. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12–18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.
Coffee decaffeination processes
Every day it seems that medical researchers come out with a new study about coffee, how it is extremely unhealthy for you and/or full of amazing benefits. The focus of most of these studies is more particularly about the effects of caffeine on human health. As caffeine, coffee’s most potent element, is a stimulant, it can produce both positive and negative effects. It can wake you up in the morning, but it can also lead to sleeplessness, a racing heartbeat, and anxiety.
It is therefore no surprise that many people have decided to cut caffeine out of their diets. As for me, I have grown to like the taste of coffee, but to me the main purpose of drinking it is to get an extra jolt of energy. That is why I will admit to a certain prejudice against decaf, perhaps prompted by bad experiences with weak and tasteless brew, because it is true that the actual process of removing caffeine from coffee can degrade the taste beyond repair.
Early decaffeination attempts involved soaking the green beans in water and then using various solvents to separate the caffeine in the resulting water solution. The beans were then re-introduced to the caffeine-free solution in order to absorb some of the flavor they had lost. Solvents used included benzene, chloroform, and trichloroethylene, all of which were later found to have toxic effects. In the 1970s, dichloromethane came into use to replace the earlier solvents before it too was deemed possibly carcinogenic.
In response to these concerns about solvents, some coffee companies began to run the water solution through charcoal filters as a means of removing the caffeine. The so-called Swiss Water Process, developed in Switzerland in the 1930s, goes one step further. After a batch of coffee beans has been steeped in hot water, that water is filtered, and then is used to soak the next batch of beans to be processed. In this way, the beans lose caffeine as they soak, but lose less of their flavor.
Yet another method that aims to safely remove caffeine from coffee beans involves a fascinating compound procedure. The solvent used in this method is neither water nor one of the earlier toxic solvents. Instead, caffeine in the coffee beans is dissolved by means of carbon dioxide. In order to accomplish this, the carbon dioxide must become a supercritical fluid, created when it is compressed and heated to the point that it has the same density in liquid and gaseous forms.
As this supercritical CO2 is passed through the beans, it can penetrate them because of its gaseous properties, and yet is able to dissolve the caffeine they contain because of its liquid properties.
In 2004, Brazilian scientists identified a new strain of coffee beans with a naturally low level of caffeine. They found three coffee plants from Ethiopia that contain almost no caffeine as they seem lack an enzyme necessary to caffeine production. If these plants can be crossed with commercial strains of coffee plants, we may one day see more coffee on the market that is naturally low in caffeine.
With these advances, and the current methods of decaffeination, decaf junkies are sure to be able to get their fix of coffee that not only tastes great, but won’t keep them up half the night.
As for me, I do want to stay up half the night, so I’ll stick to my full-strength brew.The author believes that caffeine in coffee …
1) is part of a healthy diet. 2) is quite low. 3) can’t be removed completely. 4) may determine its taste. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12–18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.
How to choose the right career
The old saying ‘find a job you love and never work a day in your life’ puts a great deal of pressure on people who are trying to choose the right career. Can you really find one that is so enjoyable it won’t even feel like work?
Well, that might be a bit of an exaggeration. No matter how much effort you put into picking an occupation, there are days when it will feel like work. However, there will be others when you will think, ‘I would do this even if I weren’t getting paid.’ The trick is to choose a career that has many more great days than ones that aren’t so great.
With thousands of occupations to pick from, to increase the odds of career satisfaction, find one that is a good fit for your interests, aptitudes, work-related values, and personality type. It is also essential that you enjoy the majority of the job’s duties, the earnings are acceptable, and the job outlook (that is the potential future of the profession) is good. Here’s how to go about making a good match.
Your first order of business is to learn as much as possible about yourself. If you think you know all there is to know, the results of a self-assessment will be eye-opening. A career development professional, for example, a career counselor or career development facilitator, can help you with this step, but don’t be discouraged if you can’t afford to hire one.
Many public libraries offer free career planning services. If your local library doesn’t, the librarian can recommend local agencies that offer career counseling. Instead of meeting with a counselor, there are also free or low-cost career assessments available online. If you attended college, consider contacting that institution’s career services office. As an alumnus, you may be able to access them. In addition, academic programs that train career counselors often have students work with clients at little-to-no cost to gain experience.
The results from your self-assessment will include a list of occupations that are a good fit for you based on all the factors it examined, but the quest to find the right career doesn’t end here. While some of the occupations may be nearly perfect for you, others may be all wrong. Even though they are a good match for your personality type, interests, values, and aptitude, they may be unsuitable in other ways. For example, the job duties may not appeal to you, the outlook may be poor, or the required education or training could be more than you are willing to complete.
Make an informed decision by exploring each of the careers on your list. Read descriptions of the occupations and ignore your prejudices. Unless you have personal experience or have done prior research, there’s still a lot to learn before you can decide whether a career would be right for you.
After finding out what it would be like to work in an occupation, see what the educational requirements are. If they don’t match your educational goals, cross them off your list. If you’ve always dreamed of going to college, don’t pick an occupation for which you only need a high school diploma.
Finally, you will do yourself a disservice if you don’t consider the job outlook. Investing time in training for a career only to find out there are limited opportunities will waste your time, effort, and money.
After narrowing down your list to just a few careers, it is time to dig a little deeper. Continue your research by conducting informational interviews with people who work in the occupations you are seriously considering. Getting their perspectives can help you make a more informed decision and study for the career that is ideal for you.Which aspect of a satisfactory occupation is NOT mentioned in Paragraph 3?
1) It suits your individuality. 2) The pay is adequate. 3) What you do is easy. 4) Job prospects are bright. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12–18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.
Highlands Express
The journey began on a September evening in London as a black cab rushed me to Euston station. I had a weekend to myself, and I meant to make the most of it by hitting the famous Highlands of Scotland on a Caledonian Sleeper, a working train also affectionately known as the Deerstalker Express. I saw it as an escape from hectic city life.
A train is a very public place, but a berth on the sleeper is one of the most private. I was shown to my little first-class cabin - a little bed, little basin, window, night light and an extra blanket, trim as a toy house. I took a nibble in the comfortable, modern dining car, and retired to bed. London had slipped away, and it was black out there. I pulled the blind, put out the lamp, and arranged myself for sleep.
The train pulled into the station at 9:43 a.m. The centre of Fort William, I quickly learned, is but a street of fishing and hiking shops, with a spiky Victorian church, a handsome stone hotel, and a lake running alongside it. Before I took a cab to the hotel, I wandered up High Street to find the local paper and a cup of tea. A few hours later, I found myself standing up to my knees in the River Lochy, fishing with the expert assistance of a local guide, Martin Brown. The hotel staff was quite helpful and had arranged the outing with Martin. My aim was to learn the basics of fly-fishing. While Martin effortlessly handled yards and yards of fishing line so that his fly touched a small pool across the river, I splashed my fly into the river a few yards off. My first few casts were a mess, but I gradually improved. Soon, I hooked something. The rod grew heavy and lively. Eventually, I got very cold feet and aching arms and some sense of the pleasures of fishing, just as I had hoped.
That evening, after Martin dropped me off at the hotel, I found a place to sit among the armchair atolls in the oceanic great hall. Later, I was summoned to my table in one of the dining rooms, walls hung with prints. My meal was unassuming but tasty. I had a bit of meat pie, and a bit of cheese.
The following morning, I struck out on the well-marked walk that takes just a few hours but plunges you immediately into the grandeur of the Highlands. In the distance I saw an odd sight: a group of hikers dancing madly about the stream, waving their arms and shaking their heads.
I spread my coat on the grass and settled down to my picnic - superior crab sandwiches provided by the hotel. In a moment, I was on my feet, slapping my face and rubbing my hair while grabbing up my sandwiches with a free hand. I had forgotten the bane of the Highlands: flies, which are particularly active in late summer.
At Fort William’s excellent West Highland Museum, housed in a late Georgian building on Cameron Square, you can learn how people left a mark on this ancient landscape. They worked its trees and stones, leaving beautiful ax heads from the Stone Age, Celtic jewellery, the blade of a bronze sword. There are suggestions of myth and magic, the cement that connected people to their surroundings and the darker world beyond: amulets, cures, and trophies. And there are objects so rare and weird that they seemed to have dropped from the world beyond: so-called drift-seeds, which floated ashore from the West Indies and were turned into charms, odd-shaped or queerly colored pebbles that drew fevers, or brought a loved one home.
It was not yet dark when the London sleeper slid out of Fort William Station. I did not brood for long on the triumphs and tragedies of Highland history. When I next opened my eyes, I saw the huddled rooftops of suburban London, and a cheerful attendant, passing me a cup of tea.It in Paragraph 3 (and a lake running alongside it) refers to the …
1) lakeshore. 2) street. 3) shop. 4) church. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12–18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.
My experience with ChatGPT
A few weeks ago, I asked ChatGPT to write an article and I have to say, it exceeded my expectations. Not only did ChatGPT write a comprehensive article, but it also included helpful headlines for each section. Since then, I’ve been thinking a lot about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and what it could mean for the future world.
I’ve been keeping up with news about AI developments, but ChatGPT really stood out to me. While there are other models out there doing similar things, there must be a reason why ChatGPT made such big headlines. I think it’s because people like me started using AI models for the first time and got very tangible results. However, as useful and unique it can be, I do have some concerns.
After receiving the article from ChatGPT, I requested another one using similar keywords. ChatGPT delivered, but the resulting article was 62% similar to the first one. I doubt this would happen if I asked two people to write an article using the same keywords. As humans, we all have unique minds and experiences that shape our thoughts and words. Each person’s creativity is unique because it requires unique brain networks to fire simultaneously.
It’s no surprise that ChatGPT lacks originality, since it’s trained on millions of pieces of information from various sources. AI relies on pre-existing information to produce content. In contrast, humans learn in various ways and may draw different conclusions from similar experiences.
Another challenge with AI is intolerance. AI algorithms are only as good as the data they’re trained on, which can lead to intolerant results. Microsoft experienced this firsthand in 2016 when their AI chatbot on social networks became racist and misogynistic within 24 hours.
Even OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, acknowledges the limitations of AI. They warn that it “may occasionally generate incorrect information,” “may occasionally produce harmful instructions or biased content,” and has “limited knowledge of the world and events after 2021.”
The last limitation is telling. Is it possible for an AI chatbot to “live in the present?” Today’s reality is so fragmented and dependent on individual perspectives that even humans struggle to identify the truth. How can scientists train an AI model to differentiate truth from falsehood? If this were possible (let alone easy), why haven’t humans mastered this ability yet?
I wonder to what extent technological innovation occurs for the sake of innovation itself, rather than to address and solve a specific problem. Are we using AI to solve significant global issues, or are we merely using it to fix inconveniences?
Recently, I read news about a robo-dog for people with visual impairment. Equipped with AI, it talks and aids them in navigating cities. Why were living service dogs not good enough?
Apparently, they are expensive to train and maintain, so the answer technology offered was – what else? – robots. That would be quite reasonable, but 90% of vision loss is preventable or treatable with spectacles or eye surgery. Millions of people have visual impairment because they don’t have access to such treatments, making it a significant and global problem. Shouldn’t we use our resources to prevent and treat vision loss in the first place?
We have built a world so dependent on technology and so obsessed with growth that we are now willing to put a price on the only thing that makes us unique in this world: our brain. While we have not fully comprehended its capabilities, we are trying to make a digital copy of it. Are we sure we know what this means?What does the expression “made such big headlines” in paragraph 2 (“…there must be a reason why ChatGPT made such big headlines”) mean?
1) Wrote good headlines for articles. 2) Was widely discussed in the media. 3) Was better than other models. 4) Was used by many people. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12–18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.
British food
Foreigners often laugh at the British. They say, “In Britain you get hot chips with everything!” But even the British don’t eat chips with their meals. To prove that, we decided to let you read an extract from a letter written by Pete Phrase, the chief cook at Daphne’s in London, to his foreign friends.
“…I am always both amused and annoyed when I hear foreign people criticise British food. “It’s unimaginative,” they say. “It’s boring, it’s tasteless with totally overcooked vegetables.” I have a theory about British cooking, and I was interested to read that several famous cookery writers agree with me. My theory is this. Our basic ingredients, when fresh, are so full of flavour that we haven’t had to invent sauces and complex recipes to disguise their natural taste. What can compare with fresh peas or new potatoes just boiled (not overboiled) and served with butter? Why drown spring lamb in wine or cream or yoghurt and spices, when with just one or two herbs it is absolutely delicious?
If you ask foreigners to name some typically English dishes, they will probably say “fish and chips” and then stop. It is disappointing, but true, that there is no tradition in Britain of eating in restaurants, because our food doesn’t lend itself to such preparation. British cooking is found in the home, where it is possible to time the dishes to perfection. So it is difficult to find a good English restaurant with reasonable prices.
It is for these reasons that we haven’t exported our dishes, but we have imported a surprising variety of cuisines from all over the world. In most cities in Britain you’ll also find Indian, Chinese, French and Italian restaurants. In London you’ll also find Indonesian, Lebanese, German, Spanish, Mexican, Greek… Cynics will say that this is because we have no “cuisine” ourselves, but, well, you know what I think!”
Traditional British food is usually described as plain, conservative and unvaried. There are many popular jokes about it. “The British Empire was created as a by-product of generations of desperate Englishmen roaming the world in search of a decent meal,” remarks American journalist Bill Marsano.
Indeed, classic British dishes are not too dainty, but they are nourishing, natural and tasty, a lot of attention here is paid to the food quality. Residents of Great Britain prefer local food to imported products, so nearly all fish, milk and meat products are produced within the country and vegetables are grown by local farmers.
Meals during a day in Britain traditionally include breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper. Dinner is always the most substantial meal during the day. For dinner the British often have soup and then the main course, such as meat, poultry or fish with vegetables or mashed potatoes. It is followed by a dessert, for example, the most ubiquitous apple pie. Meat dishes are presented in British cuisine in a large variety. Probably, the most delicious of them is succulent roast beef, which is grilled and served with vegetables, roast potatoes or Yorkshire pudding. Apart from beef, the British cook steaks of pork, lamb and sometimes turkey or chicken.
Supper in Britain is the last meal of the day, and usually it consists of something light, for example, a bowl of cream soup, naturally, often skipped.
As for drinks, it’s impossible to imagine British cuisine without tea. Contrary to popular belief, tea is not always served with milk. The British drink tea with and without sugar, with lemon, cinnamon, honey and so on. But tea and milk is a classic combination, not a favourite of mine, though.”According to Pete Phrase, the British haven’t invented complex recipes because they …
1) prefer to use mainly basic ingredients. 2) appreciate the original taste of the products. 3) use a variety of sauces and spices for flavour. 4) always choose only fresh components. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12–18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.
College food
Choosing a college? Well, you may want to look more closely at what’s being served. Not just in the classrooms but also the cafeterias.
What you eat and drink in college can make a big difference during college and well beyond. College may be the first time that you are away from Mommy and Daddy and are making decisions about what to put in your mouth on your own. It is when you are potentially programming some of your habits for life. You may also still be growing in college, which makes good nutrition especially important. According to a study published in the journal Preventive Medicine, overweight and obesity rates increase by more than 15% for first-year college students.
Healthy may not be the first thing you think of when you picture college eating. Instead, it may be late-night takeout, food from bags, ketchup as a vegetable, cereal for dinner and Nutella on everything. Oh, and when the cafeteria’s vegetable-of-the-day is mushroom, it may actually be “mush” served in a room. The same study found that 95% of college students fail to eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables, and more than 60% report not getting enough physical activity.
That is why the Healthier Campus Initiative appeared. As science has shown, once your eating habits are established, changing them can be very difficult. Yes, knowledge and a diploma aren’t the only things that you can get for life from college. That means that collegiate eating and drinking could be contributing to the continuing obesity epidemic and the host of diet-related chronic diseases that keep growing in many countries.
College applicants seem to become more and more aware of this. Back when I was applying to college, the only thing I knew about college meal plans was that they involved meals and a plan. Oh, and that they could be quite costly. By contrast, a survey conducted in 2015 showed nearly 1 in 5 potential college applicants indicated that a college’s health and wellness offerings were “likely” or “extremely likely” to alter their decisions of whether to apply to that college. And 23% felt that access to such offerings would be “absolutely essential when deciding where to apply.” Among female high schoolers, 51% deemed it either absolutely essential or very important. Modern kids are smart.
Therefore, take heed, colleges and universities. They say that a way to one’s heart is through the stomach. This may apply to the brain as well and the checkbook for college tuition. If colleges want to attract the best and brightest, they may want to make sure they are serving the yummiest and the healthiest.
Of course, not all campuses around the country have joined the Initiative yet. That doesn’t mean that all other campuses are serving just hot dogs. However, you may want to be vigilant about what colleges and universities are serving. For example, ask to see their menus and accompanying nutrition information. This should include ingredients and frequency at which they are served. An apple a year will keep no doctor away. Determine what food is available off-hours or away from the cafeteria. This should include water fountains and healthy vending machines. Know who is supplying the food and from where the food comes.
Certainly, college food is not the sole cause of the epidemics of obesity and other diet related chronic diseases that certain countries are facing right now as there are a lot of other factors involved, including economics and family traditions. But it may be a contributor. After all, college years may be very important in forming habits we keep through our whole lives.Which of the following is NOT true about college eating, according to the author?
1) Food choices in college can determine your future nutrition. 2) Most students lack fruit and vegetables in their diet. 3) More senior students have extra weight than first-year students. 4) After leaving home many freshmen eat unhealthy food. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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Save a gap year until you graduate?
Taking a gap year after your graduation exams has gone out of fashion. It could be down to its notoriety, now that voluntourism schemes are widely considered self-serving. And then of course there’s the cost, which many students are avoiding in favour of travelling for a month or two. “A lot of my friends take the mick out of me saying, ‘Oh, you went to Cambodia on a gap year’,” says Beth Adams, 21, who studied politics and international relations at the University of Manchester, and took a year out after graduating. “You do feel like you’re fulfilling a stereotype a bit.”
According to researchers, the number of people deferring their university places has gone down from 8% in 2002 to around 5% last year. Instead of postponing university study, many graduates are taking a year out after receiving their degree. According to a survey carried out by YouGov and London Stansted airport, more young people are taking a gap year after university, and almost half of UK adults believe job prospects are enhanced by combining travel and learning. So is it better to save your gap year until after graduating?
Definitely, when you’ve been in education for all those years, where your life is September to July, a break is a good idea. You can recharge your batteries and see the world outside the classroom. You can practise foreign languages and improve your communication skills. You have time to figure things out and a year of being able to work on different projects. As a result, you may land in a job in the industry you like.
Although some take a gap year after university because they have a job lined up and managed to delay their start date, most are yet to secure work and are biding their time. It’s a common misconception that such individuals immediately go abroad to volunteer or travel. In reality, students don’t have the funds to do this. Many prefer to stay in their country juggling internships and part-time work.
For those who do go abroad, a gap-year stint volunteering is no longer merely a way for middle-class kids to boost their CVs. Graduates say they are making more considered choices. The practical experience of working abroad helps some of them get ready for a master’s, which is something they do not have time to do during their finals.
Graduates are also using gap years to explore different career routes. According to recruitment firm Tempo, more than half of students feel there is too much emphasis placed on graduate schemes when starting out in their career. Elena Ricci, 23, who graduated from the University of Southampton last year, agrees. “After I finished my degree, I didn’t really know what to do. So I worked for a law firm for a month, and then I went to Cambodia on a placement. If I had gone straight into a grad job, I don’t think I would have been happy,” she says.
Although graduates can bring great skills to volunteering and enhance their employability, there are some risks attached. “You are delaying your career or further study for a year and some employers may not get why you’ve done it,” says Manuel Otero, a senior lecturer in social sciences at Cardiff University who specialises in the link between education and work. His advice is not to stand still. It makes sense to work out what to do, and one of the best ways to find out what to do is to try it out.
After her year abroad, Ricci has now decided to start a master’s in September. She says graduates should ignore stereotypes and do what works for them. So, do what you want, regardless of what others might say. It’s up to you to decide. What works out for others may not work out for you, and vice versa. You never know till you try.Deferring in Paragraph 2 most probably means …
1) rejecting. 2) delaying. 3) getting. 4) choosing. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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In search for a graduate job
As I write this, exhausted, fingers on the keys of an equally tired laptop, closing the twenty-something open windows before me, I find myself a little sad. Sitting here, sifting through a Google search muddle of: “Graduate job Scotland”, “Graduate schemes UK”, “Graduate work, anywhere, please?”, “Soon to be extremely poor graduate, HELP!”, I realize that I might never find the elusive placement I’m after.
Melodramatic Googling aside, the job crisis is real, and it could be hitting us harder in 2017 than ever before. These attempts – vague Internet searches, seemingly empty threads towards one highly competitive position at a company hundreds of miles away, never ending applications – are rather disappointing. Granted, this may not apply to those smart enough who found a job from day one. But, for the rest of us, the uncertain majority, it is increasingly clear that a university education alone is not the life-affirming trip to professional work that it once was.
Where it is fair to say that degrees are still highly regarded in the working world, they are no longer a golden ticket. In fact, last year statistics stated that around 58% of graduates are in jobs deemed to be “non-graduate” positions. Another survey revealed that graduates from the wealthiest 20% of families were still earning 30% more than the rest ten years after leaving higher education. Clearly then, despite my own fruitless search on career websites, there are positions out there. But with the majority of graduates entering into jobs without a degree requirement, and the elite minority remaining the UK’s top earners, are we experiencing a turn in graduate opportunity?
Something I have found really striking about application process is simply how costly it is. I spent the past four years building a solid CV, working in and out of university to refine my own professional skills and felt rather confident in my ability to find relevant work in Scotland. However, as filling in forms leads to booking trains or planes, arranging serial interviews, checking into inns, choosing transport routes, it seems that opportunity is twinned with your financial situation. Well, my card was recently declined in the library café, so this is something that is weighing on my mind.
While the wealthiest of graduates continue to snag the high earning positions after University, the rest of us face new competition, as graduate vacancies are once again streamlined by the rise of apprenticeships. But, where does it leave us, the soon to be un-qualified, over-qualified degree holders of 2017 that have slipped through the employment net? Is it back to full-time education for the rest of our lives? Working “for now”, saving until your dream becomes financially viable? Applying anyway? Taking out another loan (or five)? Truth is, it’s probably all of these things.
It’s probably sticking it out, demanding to be listened to, building up a CV that you are proud of and staying true to your own aspirations. It’s probably all the things we were told at the Careers Fairs, in interviews, by our parents and preached ourselves. University might no longer be the only slipway into professional work, but it is a weighted way in, and that degree (which, by the way, you will get) is something you have earned and something that will open doors for you, even if you can’t see them just yet and even if, in 2017, there is a bit more of a queue.What does the author think about a university education?
1) Application process is very competitive. 2) Intelligent students benefit most from it. 3) It makes you sure about your future. 4) It doesn’t guarantee you a good job. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12–18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.
Optimism vs. pessimism
Before you keep reading, take a moment to think about some of the things that happened to you today. Even better, grab a pen and write down a few specific events. So what did you come up with? Was it mostly positive stuff like: “My day’s going great! My grandmother made me pancakes for breakfast. I sat with my friends at lunch, and I actually enjoyed the English class today!” Or did your mind land on what went wrong: “My grandmother cooked breakfast and it made me so late I missed the bus. My friends wasted the entire lunch period gossiping about a boring TV show, and I had English class today. I hate Thursdays!”
Researchers have spent a lot of time studying people who think positively. It turns out that an optimistic attitude helps us be happier, more successful, and healthier. Optimism can protect against depression – even for people who are at risk of it. An optimistic outlook makes people more resistant to stress. Optimism may even help people live longer. To put it simply, optimism is healthy.
The best thing about optimism is you can learn it, even if your outlook tends to be more pessimistic. Optimism and pessimism are mindsets – ways of thinking and seeing things. Optimists see the positive side of things. They expect things to turn out well. They believe they have the skill and ability to make good things happen.
You’ve probably heard people who tend to see the faults in everything called “pessimists.” A pessimist is more likely to expect things to turn out poorly or to focus on what didn’t go well. People aren’t always optimistic or always pessimistic, but most people tend to lean toward one of these thinking patterns. The good news is, if you tend to be more pessimistic, you’re not destined to always think that way. We can all become more optimistic by adjusting the way we see things.
Another important thing is that optimism helps people succeed. Optimism goes beyond seeing the bright side of a situation or expecting good things. It’s also a way of explaining what has already happened. When something good happens, optimists think about what they did to make the situation turn out so well. They see their abilities as permanent, stable parts of themselves. They think of how this good thing can lead to other good things.
When things don’t go as expected, it’s the reverse: optimists don’t blame themselves. They see setbacks as temporary. When something goes wrong, optimists link it to a specific situation or event, and not to their capabilities. Because they don’t view setbacks as personal failings, optimists are able to bounce back from disappointment better than pessimists.
If you tend toward mostly pessimistic thinking, you can get better at seeing what’s good. Here are some things to try.
First of all, notice good things as they happen. At the end of the day, take 10 minutes to run through your day and come up with things that you’re grateful for. Write them down in a journal, or keep track using a motivational app on your phone or tablet.
You can also train your mind to believe you can make good things happen in your life. Get in a habit of telling yourself specific things you can do to succeed. For example: “If I study, I can get a better grade.” “If I practice, I'll perform well at the audition.” “If I go on that volunteer trip, I’ll meet new friends.”
When something good happens, give yourself credit. Think of what you did to make a good outcome possible. Did you prepare for the test? Practise with dedication? Think of the strengths you used and how they helped you succeed.
These simple things can change your attitude to life. In the end, every cloud has a silver lining.Which is NOT discussed in the article as an outcome of an optimistic attitude?
1) Fighting a sad mood. 2) Lengthening a person’s life. 3) Overcoming everyday pressure. 4) Improving relationships. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12–18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.
An end to second-hand coffee
To the naked eye, this farm is just like any other. But it doesn’t take long to realise that the farm of Jesus Martin, though not huge, is anything but ordinary.
Martin grew up like many others in the Santa Ana Valley – known as the Coffee Triangle of Colombia – on a coffee farm owned by his father and grandfather. “I am the youngest of six children and we all worked the farm,” Martin said. “My parents focused their energies on teaching us the agricultural trade, but also the love behind it.” Despite this great dedication to coffee and respect for his family business, he ended up pursuing a different career altogether: law and business management. It didn’t come easy to him as coffee was never far away.
During every visit to his family’s humble farm, the rich aromas of beans roasting and the smell of his mother’s carrot cake caused his heart to beat faster. Coffee was his life, and in 2004, after years practicing law, he found a way to combine his legal knowledge, business education and family’s lifeline into what he called “the coffee dream project”.
Despite growing some of the most coveted beans in the world, most Colombians have never even tasted the Colombian coffee that is renowned around the world. Instead, local people drink what they call “second-hand coffee”, which is made from berries that haven't fully ripened, have been over-roasted or even infected with insects and diseases. Like most businesses in struggling economies, the farmers only make profits on exports – so they save their best stuff for higher paying countries. “Farming coffee for a profit is very challenging,” Martin explained, tossing a few berries in his hand. “The coffee trade intermediaries, exporters, roasters and big multinational companies are the ones that benefit the most in the coffee-trade chain.” Martin’s dream project, however, was to turn this process around, bringing specialty coffee back to Colombia.
The project, however, was a total surprise for his family. “When I first informed them, they told me I was crazy, they said it was a wild goose chase.”
Even with his background in farming, starting the project from the ground up was difficult. Convincing his workers to focus on quality was his biggest concern; most only cared about quantity since their wage was dependent on how many beans they picked. Martin recalled many hours, days and weeks training local farmers to understand the process, from the colours of the raw berries to the smell and taste of the beans once they’d been dried and sorted.
Once the farmers understood the importance of quality, it was onto phase two: bring the roasting process in-house, instead of paying for the beans to be roasted elsewhere. Buying his own roaster – one of the only five in the entire country – was expensive, but the purchase offered a huge saving in roasting, packaging and exporting costs.
By 2008, his passion started to pay off; he opened his flagship store Café Jesus Martin in Salento. The shop and its team of trained baristas, Martin said, have done much to teach the locals about enjoying specialty coffee. The look on their face when they take their first sip is what keeps him motivated. “They are reacting so positively; they’re discovering something entirely different than what they’re used to consuming,” Martin said. “When they discover the difference in quality of their coffee, they start to care more about where and whom it’s coming from.”The phrase “It didn’t come easy to him” in Paragraph 2 refers to Martin’s …
1) career choice. 2) dedication to coffee. 3) management abilities. 4) respect for his family business. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12–18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.
Why you need to pick up a book again
According to Pew Research Center findings from 2018, 24 percent of the population had not read a book in the past year. And for those that do read, the American Times Use Survey – conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics – found that Americans over the age of 15 spend only about sixteen minutes a day reading for personal development. However, one silver lining of the pandemic may be that we are reading more. In fact, in the past year, 35 percent of the population have been reading more than they had in previous years.
You may say, books are not the only sources of written text or, more broadly, information in our lives. We tend to spend two hours and twenty four minutes per day on social media. Interestingly, reading versus using social media have very different outcomes when it comes to our mental health. While many believe their mood will improve after checking their social media, many report that it actually worsens following a social media scroll. Yet, when people engage in reading – whether it is for self-help or for fun – reading has been shown to reduce stress. In fact, just six minutes of reading a day can reduce stress levels.
Here are just a few ways that reading can benefit you.
Reading is a form of mindfulness. Because we are often multitasking (which puts a heavy cognitive load on our brains), we often experience greater brain fog, difficulty concentrating, and irritability. When you settle down into a book, you are brought into the here and now, where you can focus presently on the story. The key is to stick with it. Especially if you are not used to reading, it can feel really uncomfortable to lean in. However, tell yourself that you are going to read at least ten pages to start. Chances are, you will want to keep going by the time you hit page 10.
Reading can improve your emotional intelligence. Citing Christensen’s article from CNN Health, she includes a quote from Keith Oatley, a cognitive psychology professor emeritus at the University of Toronto, and an award-winning novelist. He stated, “Those who read fiction may understand people better than others. A work of fiction is a piece of consciousness that can pass from one mind to another, and that reader can make it their own.”
Thus, when we take the time to really listen to another perspective, we can build our empathy in a profound way. In fact, fiction may be even more potent
at some point, as it really goes into deep character development, and we gain a better understanding of the “why” behind a character’s motives.
Reading has all kinds of cognitive benefits. Not only has reading been shown to improve sleep, but readers are also shown to have improved concentration and demonstrate greater memory retention. So, if you have been feeling cloudy, reading may be the perfect thing to sharpen your ability to recall.
Even better is if you take a highlighter or pen to the lines that stand out to you. Write in the margins and include follow-up questions for yourself to build off of the text. Add your ideas that arise when you are reading. This will help you deepen your critical thinking skills.
And one of the best parts about reading a good book? You can always pass it along to someone who will enjoy it next. Surprise them with a package in the mail or drop it off on their doorstep. I frequently do this on my social media account, where I offer to ship the books I have read to my community. I find that people love it! This is a great way to ensure that your books are bringing joy to others, rather than just gathering dust.Unlike using social media, reading …
1) brings satisfaction. 2) educates the mind. 3) decreases stress levels. 4) reduces concentration. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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Проверено . Источники: ФИПИ — открытый банк заданий ЕГЭ · ФИПИ — спецификации и демоверсии ЕГЭ. Официальные решения публикуют Рособрнадзор, ФИПИ и Минпросвещения — при расхождении верны они.