Job qualifications

In our society work is almost a must for a person. So – unless you are very rich – you have to work if you want to be accepted by your friends, acquaintances and neighbours. That is the reason why some unemployed persons make believe that they still have a job, they cannot admit even to their family that they are out of work.

An unemployed person often feels unwanted and useless.

If I could choose my job freely this job would have to meet some of the following qualifications:

- The most important condition would be that I liked my work, that it gave satisfaction; and not only for the moment but in the long run.

- This job should pay well enough. I don’t really want to become a millionaire but I would not reject a certain luxury.

- In this job I would like to work with other people and not just things. That does not mean that a job in research or production was excluded from my list – but I would not want to be isolated from other people.

To put it in a nutshell, a job that satisfies, that pays fairly well, and one that lets me work together with people.

Notes:

1. qualifications – требования, предъявляемые человеком к своей работе

2. in a nutshell – кратко, короче говоря

1. Why does a person have to work?

2. What problems does an unemployed person have?

3. What are the most important job qualifications for this person?

4. What is the most important job qualifications for you?

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Key Vocabulary

Nouns

computer screen компьютерный экран

current event текущее событие

keyboard клавиатура

button кнопка

laptop портативный компьютер

electronic devices электронные устройства

X-ray рентген

technology техника, технология

science наука

invention изобретение

satellite спутник

radioactivity радиоактивность

Verbs

connect соединять

store information хранить информацию

surf the net «лазить» в интернете

investigate расследовать

come to the conclusion прийти к заключению

emit излучать

discover обнаруживать

switch on/off включать/выключать

link связывать

appear появляться

underline подчеркивать

exchange information обмениваться информацией

Ex.1. Read the dialogue of two friends about computers. Choose the right answer to the questions below:

1. Why has friend B come over?

a) to visit

b) to help

c) to work

2. What is the cause of the problem?

a) the screen isn’t working

b) the computer won’t save

c) something has overheated

3. What does friend B have?

a) his own laptop

b) his own shop

c) his own office

4. What is friend A going to do?

a) go to the office

b) make notes

c) print some pages

A: Hi! Thanks for coming round.

B: Hi. Tell me what happened exactly.

A: Well, I switched on the computer, started working and about five minutes later the screen went blank.

B: OK, let’s have a look. The screen seems to be working so I’ll take a look at the inside of the laptop.

A: I’ve been working on the computer a lot lately.

B: Did you save your work?

A: No, but I didn’t know that the computer would stop working. Please don’t tell me I’ve lost my work. It’s due in the editor’s office tomorrow!

B: Don’t panic yet. Here’s the problem, something has overheated inside the laptop.

A: Can you fix it quickly?

B: I’ll try; it may take a couple of hours. I’ll have to take it back to my shop. If you haven’t saved your work, it might not be in the memory.

A: Oh no! I printed four pages of my work two days ago but I’ve done a lot more since then. What am I doing to do?

B: Have you still got your notes from your work? If you have, you can take the printed pages and your notes, go to the office and work from there.

A: Great idea! I’ve put my notes somewhere; ah, here they are on top of the ones I printed. You’re a real friend! Thanks a lot.

B: No problem. I’ll take the laptop to my shop and fix it. I’ll test it before I phone you. Can I contact you on your mobile at the office?

A: Of course, no problem. I’ve learnt a lesson today…

B: What’s that?

A: Always save your work on the computer!