Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Parental Influence & Generational Careers 10

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four young adults describing the emotional difficulty of moving far away from their close-knit families because their chosen industry only exists in the big city.

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

Which person/section

1   mentions being struck by the sheer difference in pace between their old and new surroundings?

2   experiences a deep sense of sorrow over missing significant events in their siblings’ lives?

3   relies on a strict schedule of virtual catch-ups to alleviate their homesickness?

4   admits that their family found it hard to grasp the reality of their chosen profession?

5   was initially engulfed by an overwhelming sense of solitude upon arrival?

6   is anxious about being too far away to care for older family members?

7   convinces themselves that their career achievements justify the emotional cost?

8   regrets being unable to participate in long-standing household rituals?

9   managed to establish a substitute family of peers in their new location?

10   points out the irony of feeling disconnected in a densely populated area?

Trading Home for Ambition: The Cost of the City

A Liam

Relocating to London for a high-stakes career in fintech was a no-brainer professionally, but it proved to be a massive wrench personally. I grew up in a bustling house where all the extended family gathered for a massive Sunday roast without fail. Suddenly, being absent for those cherished, long-standing weekly get-togethers was a bitter pill to swallow. To keep my intense homesickness at bay, I’ve established a rigid routine of video calls every Wednesday evening. It acts as a digital lifeline, although staring at a pixelated screen hardly replaces the genuine warmth of a physical hug. My parents are getting on a bit, but thankfully my older sister lives right next door to them, which certainly takes the pressure off me in terms of daily care. Still, whenever I look up at the towering, impersonal skyscrapers, I sometimes question if climbing the corporate ladder is truly worth being three hundred miles away from my incredibly tight-knit clan.

B Maya

If you seriously want to make it in the world of high fashion, moving to a global capital like Paris is practically mandatory. Leaving my loud, affectionate family in a sleepy southern village was easily the toughest decision I’ve ever had to make. For the first few months, I was completely overwhelmed by homesickness. I’d return to my tiny, empty apartment after a grueling shift and just burst into tears, consumed by an intense and suffocating feeling of isolation. Fortunately, things picked up as I slowly began to find my feet. I threw myself into my demanding job and ended up bonding with colleagues who were also far from home. We’ve essentially become a surrogate family for one another, celebrating birthdays and traditional holidays together. I do miss my little brother terribly, but we chat online constantly. Ultimately, I had to come to terms with the harsh reality that to chase my dreams, I had to leave my safe haven behind.

C Toby

Working in the competitive film industry means relocating to a major hub like Los Angeles is basically your only option. My parents were completely supportive when I packed my bags, even though they genuinely couldn’t wrap their heads around what a production assistant actually does on a daily basis. Coming from a long line of tradespeople, my new world is entirely alien to them. The profound irony of living in a sprawling metropolis of millions is that it can be the loneliest place on earth. You are constantly surrounded by throngs of busy people, yet you frequently feel completely invisible. What really gets me down, however, is being absent for my younger siblings as they grow up. Missing my sister’s university graduation and my brother’s school plays genuinely breaks my heart. We try our best to schedule video calls, but our clashing time zones make it nearly impossible to maintain a routine.

D Elena

The competitive world of traditional publishing is heavily concentrated in the capital, so remaining in my quiet coastal hometown simply wasn’t a viable option. The sheer contrast between the tranquil, windswept beaches I grew up on and the relentless, chaotic pace of the city was a huge shock to the system. It took me absolute ages to adjust to the constant noise and concrete environment. My main ongoing worry these days concerns my parents. They aren’t getting any younger, and being a five-hour train ride away means I can’t just pop over to help them with heavy groceries or household repairs. That geographical distance weighs heavily on my conscience. To cope with the creeping guilt, I throw myself entirely into my editing job. I constantly tell myself that securing a senior promotion will make all this emotional strain worthwhile. If I weren’t succeeding professionally, being this far from my roots would be completely unbearable.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four people talking about the ultimate realization that, despite their youthful rebellion, they share the exact same professional values as their parents.

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

Which person/section

1   previously believed that relying on natural ability was sufficient for professional success?

2   acknowledges that prioritising staff well-being is a highly effective business strategy?

3   discovered that their attempts to work quickly resulted in a compromised end product?

4   admits to having misinterpreted their parent’s coping mechanism as a lack of care?

5   initially viewed their parent’s structured routines as unnecessarily restrictive?

6   formerly equated professional achievement with a ruthless desire to maximise profits?

7   abandoned a strategy of high-volume output in favour of building a lasting reputation?

8   experienced a period of severe exhaustion due to a failure to establish professional boundaries?

9   realised the necessity of their parent’s approach only after taking on a high-stakes commission?

10   feels slightly embarrassed when they catch themselves using their parent’s management style?

Turning into Our Parents: The Professional Traits We Couldn’t Escape

A Mark

Growing up, I constantly clashed with my father over his approach to running his logistics firm. I firmly believed he was far too lenient with his employees. In my youthful arrogance, I equated genuine business success with a ruthless drive to maximise profit margins, assuming his compassionate approach was a blatant sign of weakness. I swore that when I launched my own startup, I would be a tough, results-driven CEO. However, reality quickly set in. My aggressive pursuit of targets led to a toxic atmosphere and massive staff turnover, which severely damaged our bottom line. I had a sudden epiphany: my father hadn’t been soft; he had been incredibly strategic. Fostering a supportive environment actually breeds loyalty and significantly boosts productivity. I completely overhauled my management technique. Just the other day, I felt a familiar flush of embarrassment when I caught myself using the exact same encouraging phrases my father used to utter during his team meetings. I’ve essentially turned into him.

B Maya

My mother was a reasonably successful novelist, and her daily life was dictated by an incredibly rigid schedule. I always viewed her meticulous timetables as stifling and thoroughly dull. As an aspiring graphic designer, I was convinced that true creativity couldn’t be forced into a nine-to-five box. I genuinely thought that relying solely on my raw, natural talent would be more than enough to carry me to the top of my field. This naive mindset worked perfectly well for minor projects, but everything changed when I landed my first major advertising campaign. The sheer volume of the workload completely overwhelmed me. I was forced to face the music: without intense organisation, my inspiration evaporated. Reluctantly, I started breaking my day into highly structured blocks, mirroring the exact routine I used to mock. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but I finally came to terms with the fact that discipline is the foundation of any sustainable creative career.

C Javier

Because my father worked as a busy paramedic, I often accused him of being emotionally detached. He rarely discussed his shifts at the dinner table, and as a fiercely passionate teenager, I completely misjudged this coping strategy as a profound lack of empathy. When I qualified as a social worker, I vowed to be entirely different, promising to invest my heart and soul into every single case I handled. For the first two years, I was intensely involved with my clients, but the inability to switch off eventually took a devastating toll. I suffered a severe bout of burnout and was signed off work with exhaustion, having completely failed to set any healthy professional boundaries. It suddenly dawned on me why my father had left his emotional baggage at the hospital doors. Maintaining that psychological distance isn’t a sign of not caring; it’s an absolutely vital survival mechanism. Without it, you simply cannot continue to help people in the long run.

D Chloe

My mother runs an independent carpentry business, and throughout my childhood, her obsessive attention to detail absolutely infuriated me. She would spend days perfecting a single joint. When I established my own online ceramics studio, my initial business model was the polar opposite. I focused entirely on churning out as many pieces as possible in the shortest amount of time, convinced that high-volume output was the key to financial security. However, my attempt to cut corners quickly backfired. I began receiving negative reviews from dissatisfied clients regarding the fragile quality of my pottery. It was a harsh wake-up call that seriously threatened to ruin my brand. I had no choice but to slow down, significantly reduce my output, and concentrate on producing flawless, durable items. Abandoning my mass-production strategy in favour of a reputation for excellence was the smartest move I’ve ever made. I now inspect every glaze with the same uncompromising scrutiny my mother applies to her woodwork.

Exercises:   123456