Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Dream Jobs & Career Aspirations 9

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four teenagers reflecting on the changing nature of dream jobs and why they want to invent a completely new profession that doesn’t exist yet.

For questions 1-10, choose from the people/sections (A-D). The people/sections may be chosen more than once.

Which person/section

1   believes that many current roles will eventually be replaced by machines?

2   was disappointed by the conventional guidance provided by an educational professional?

3   intends to merge two fields that are widely assumed to be incompatible?

4   wants to assist others in stepping away from the pressures of modern devices?

5   experienced a sense of liberation upon accepting they could design their own career path?

6   aims to safeguard people from the negative consequences of automated decision-making?

7   was prompted to reconsider their future after observing a peer’s personal difficulties?

8   plans to construct entirely artificial environments for people to explore?

9   hopes to utilize cutting-edge programming to repair the natural world?

10   feels that a traditional field of study they are passionate about fails to keep pace with modern changes?

Carving New Paths: The Jobs of Tomorrow

A Leo

Ever since I was little, I’ve been fascinated by both the outdoors and computer programming. Most people assume these two interests are mutually exclusive, but I am absolutely determined to bring them together. Initially, I considered becoming a traditional marine biologist, but I quickly realised that simply observing nature wasn’t enough. I want to become what I call a ‘Digital Ecologist’. If we hadn’t developed such powerful artificial intelligence, this specific concept would be impossible. I plan to use complex algorithms to monitor endangered habitats and predict environmental shifts before they occur, effectively healing damaged ecosystems using advanced code. A few of my science teachers think I should just stick to a standard IT degree, but I find that prospect completely uninspiring. Traditional tech jobs seem far too disconnected from the physical world for my liking. Ultimately, I want to prove that technology doesn’t inevitably harm the environment; it can actually act as its greatest savior.

B Maya

I recently had a meeting with our school’s careers advisor, and I must admit, the standard list of professions she presented left me feeling utterly uninspired. The workplace is evolving at a breakneck pace, and it goes without saying that a vast number of routine occupations will soon be taken over by artificial intelligence and robotics. Rather than competing with machines, I want to invent a role they can’t do: a ‘Virtual Reality Architect’. My ambition is to design fully immersive, simulated universes that allow people to safely travel to historical eras or fantasy realms from the comfort of their homes. While some of my peers are already stressing about finding a secure corporate job, I am focused entirely on the creative potential of the metaverse. I’m currently teaching myself 3D modelling and narrative design. I might be venturing into uncharted territory, but I am convinced that crafting digital experiences will be highly sought after in the near future.

C Sam

My ambition to invent a new job stems from a rather worrying trend I’ve noticed among my generation. A few months ago, a close classmate of mine suffered a severe burnout, largely brought on by the relentless pressure of social media and constant connectivity. Witnessing that downward spiral was a massive wake-up call for me. It made me realise that while we have doctors for our physical well-being, there is a huge gap in the market for health professionals who deal exclusively with our digital habits. I want to become a ‘Digital Wellness Therapist’. My goal is to guide individuals in establishing healthy boundaries with their screens, enabling them to switch off and escape the overwhelming demands of the online world. My parents suggested I just become a standard psychologist, but the specific challenges of internet addiction require a completely novel approach. By customising detox programmes, I truly hope to restore people’s peace of mind.

D Chloe

I have always been deeply passionate about the law and philosophy, but standard legal frameworks simply cannot keep up with the rapid technological shifts we are currently experiencing. I used to lie awake stressing over which established university course I ought to choose, endlessly trying to squeeze my unique interests into a conventional box. When it finally dawned on me that I could just forge my own profession entirely, a massive weight was lifted off my shoulders. I intend to become an ‘Algorithm Ethicist’. As companies increasingly rely on software to determine everything from bank loan approvals to university applications, there is a tremendous risk of bias. My job would involve rigorously auditing these automated systems to ensure they don’t unfairly discriminate against vulnerable groups. It’s a hybrid role requiring an understanding of both coding and human rights. We need dedicated professionals to hold tech giants accountable, and I am highly motivated to be one of the first.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four students describing their ambitions to work in renewable energy engineering to combat climate change actively.

For questions 1-10, choose from the people/sections (A-D). The people/sections may be chosen more than once.

Which person/section

1   aims to improve the living standards of people in less developed regions?

2   was motivated by observing inefficient practices in their local area?

3   points out the limitation of relying solely on weather-dependent energy sources?

4   is particularly drawn to the massive size of the technology involved?

5   experienced a sudden realization during a period spent overseas?

6   mentions a previous ambition in a completely different scientific field?

7   highlights the concept of generating power from everyday refuse?

8   accepts that their future workplace will likely be physically demanding?

9   argues that environmental initiatives must also be financially viable for users?

10   appreciates the reliability of an energy source that remains constant?

Engineering a Greener Future

A Liam

Ever since I spent a summer volunteering at a rural school in Senegal, my career trajectory has been set in stone. The community relied on diesel generators, which were not only highly polluting but also incredibly expensive to run. That experience was a real eye-opener for me; it suddenly dawned on me that combating climate change isn’t just about saving habitats, it’s about human development. My ambition is to design micro-solar grids tailored for off-grid villages in developing nations. While the technology for solar power already exists, the challenge lies in bringing down the manufacturing costs. If we truly want to make a global impact, green energy cannot be a luxury reserved for wealthy countries; it must be affordable for everyone. By pursuing a degree in renewable energy engineering, I hope to figure out how to optimize solar panels using cheaper, sustainable materials. I want to use my skills to empower marginalized communities while simultaneously cutting carbon emissions.

B Chloe

I grew up in a coastal town, constantly battered by fierce Atlantic gales. While most people complain about the terrible weather, I’ve always been fascinated by the sheer, unbridled power of the wind. My absolute dream is to work as a structural engineer specializing in offshore wind farms. What captivates me most is the colossal magnitude of these structures; some turbine blades are longer than a football pitch! Designing machinery on that monumental scale, capable of withstanding relentless ocean storms, is a fascinating engineering puzzle. I am under no illusions about the practical realities of the job, though. I know perfectly well that I’ll be spending weeks at a time on freezing, turbulent platforms in the middle of the sea, which will be incredibly gruelling. Nevertheless, the prospect of installing gigantic turbines that generate clean electricity for millions of homes makes the idea of enduring those harsh conditions completely worthwhile.

C Mateo

For a long time, I was dead set on becoming a marine biologist, but a documentary about tectonic plates completely shifted my focus towards geothermal energy. While solar and wind power get most of the media attention, they have a major drawback: they only generate electricity when the sun shines or the wind blows. We desperately need a consistent baseline of power that doesn’t rely on atmospheric conditions. Geothermal engineering solves this by tapping into the intense heat stored deep beneath the Earth’s crust. It’s a remarkably stable and continuous resource that operates 24/7 without interruption. I want to focus on developing advanced drilling technologies that allow us to harness this subterranean heat more efficiently. Obviously, injecting fluids deep underground carries certain geological risks, which must be carefully managed. However, if we can overcome these technical barriers, I firmly believe geothermal plants will be the ultimate key to completely phasing out fossil fuels.

D Aisha

Living surrounded by massive agricultural estates, I’ve witnessed firsthand the staggering amount of organic waste produced by farming. Huge piles of crop residues are routinely left to rot or are burned off, releasing massive clouds of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Seeing this reckless inefficiency on my doorstep sparked my interest in bioenergy engineering. Instead of viewing agricultural and household rubbish as a disposal problem, I see it as an untapped resource. My goal is to design anaerobic digesters that can efficiently break down organic refuse and capture the resulting biogas to generate electricity. It’s the ultimate win-win scenario; we can simultaneously reduce landfill waste and produce sustainable power. Designing these biological reactors involves a complex mix of chemistry and mechanical engineering, which I find intellectually stimulating. By turning everyday scraps into a valuable commodity, we can transition towards a circular economy where literally nothing goes to waste.

Exercises:   123456