Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Career Changes & Taking Leaps 4

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four people who turned their weekend hobbies into their primary source of income.

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 underestimating the administrative duties involved in their new career?

2   admits that their craft no longer provides the stress relief it once did?

3   was motivated to make the transition following an unexpected job loss?

4   initially struggled to ask customers for an appropriate amount of money?

5   highlights the deep satisfaction of giving neglected objects a second life?

6   relied on the financial support of a family member during the early stages?

7   experienced a physical injury as a result of their increased workload?

8   notes that their daily schedule is far more irregular now than in the past?

9   realised they needed to delegate certain tasks to keep up with orders?

10   attributes a sudden surge in sales to a specific social media post?

Turning a Passion into a Paycheck

A Leo – Custom Woodworking

I had been dabbling in custom woodworking for years, crafting coffee tables for friends in my spare time. The idea of doing it full-time seemed like a pipe dream until my firm unexpectedly downsized, leaving me redundant. Rather than panicking, I took it as a sign. If I hadn’t been let go, I probably would have stayed in that cubicle forever. I already had a solid grasp of spreadsheets from my corporate days, so the paperwork didn’t faze me at all. What really caught me off guard, however, was how my routine completely evaporated. Gone are the predictable nine-to-five shifts; these days, I might be in the workshop until midnight or taking a Tuesday morning off. Initially, business was painfully slow. But everything changed overnight when a prominent interior designer shared a picture of one of my cabinets on Instagram. Suddenly, my inbox was flooded with commissions, and my hobby officially became a thriving business.

B Maya – Vintage Clock Restoration

There is an undeniable thrill in hunting down a rusted, non-functioning vintage clock at a flea market and meticulously restoring it to its former glory. For a long time, it was simply a therapeutic weekend escape. However, when my collection outgrew my apartment, I decided to set up an online shop. The craftsmanship itself comes naturally to me, and despite the intricate work, I rarely suffer from anything worse than slightly tired eyes. What I completely failed to anticipate, though, was the sheer volume of behind-the-scenes management required. If I had known how much marketing and accounting was involved, I might have taken a business course first! I spend almost as much time responding to customer inquiries and updating my website as I do actually repairing the timepieces. While I regularly post updates online to gradually build a steady following, it’s the physical restoration process itself that truly keeps my passion alive.

C Julian – Leather Bookbinding

Bookbinding started as a way to unwind after an exhausting week at the office. The smell of leather and the rhythm of stitching pages together were deeply calming. Ironically, since turning it into a full-time enterprise, that sense of relaxation has completely vanished, replaced by the relentless pressure of looming deadlines. A few months into the venture, the repetitive nature of the hand-stitching resulted in a severe strain in my right wrist, forcing me to take a fortnight off. It was a harsh wake-up call. I quickly came to terms with the fact that I couldn’t handle every single aspect of production alone if I wanted to grow the brand sustainably. Consequently, I brought in a part-time assistant to manage the paper cutting and basic assembly. This allowed me to focus strictly on the complex leather tooling, which has also helped me establish a much more structured and predictable daily working routine.

D Chloe – Ceramics and Pottery

Making the leap from a reliable teaching salary to the uncertain income of a ceramicist was a terrifying prospect. I wouldn’t have been able to take the plunge without my husband, who generously covered our household bills for the first six months while I built up my inventory. One of my biggest hurdles early on was a complete lack of confidence in my own worth. Whenever I attended craft fairs, I would notoriously undercharge for my vases and bowls, terrified that buyers would walk away if I priced them fairly. It took a lot of encouragement from fellow artists to finally adjust my rates to reflect the true cost of materials and my labour. Some days the workload is overwhelming, and people often suggest I hire someone to help with the glazing process. Nevertheless, I am a perfectionist, and I insist on completing every single piece myself, even if it means slower business growth.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four former teachers sharing their reasons for leaving the education sector to start specialized educational technology consulting firms.

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 a significant amount of money was being wasted on resources?

2   was driven by a desire to reduce the amount of time educators spend on paperwork?

3   felt that the traditional school system restricted their ability to cater to individual student needs?

4   mentions that they were advised against making such a drastic career change?

5   realised their true calling after being asked to assist colleagues with digital tools?

6   aims to create fair opportunities for students from disadvantaged backgrounds?

7   initially experienced doubts about their capacity to run a business?

8   highlights that modern software can provide valuable insights into a learner’s progress?

9   points out that technology is useless if staff lack the knowledge to use it?

10   suffered from severe physical or mental exhaustion before leaving their previous role?

Leaving the Classroom: The EdTech Entrepreneurs

A Marcus

When I first stepped away from the classroom, many assumed I had simply lost my passion for teaching. In reality, my enthusiasm hadn’t waned; it had just shifted focus. During my final years teaching science, I was consistently dismayed by the sheer volume of school funds being squandered. We had state-of-the-art interactive screens gathering dust simply because nobody had taught the staff how to operate them. It became crystal clear that without comprehensive training, even the most sophisticated gadgets are completely redundant. The turning point occurred when the headteacher requested I run an informal after-school workshop to bring my peers up to speed. Seeing their confidence soar made me realise I could have a broader impact outside the classroom. If I hadn’t been asked to lead that session, I probably wouldn’t have established my consultancy. Now, I dedicate my days to ensuring schools actually get a return on their digital investments.

B Elena

I used to teach languages, and while I adored my students, I grew increasingly frustrated by the rigid constraints of the national curriculum. It felt as though I was being forced to use a one-size-fits-all approach, which meant high-flyers were held back and struggling learners were left behind. I knew that educational software must hold the key to this problem. I became fascinated by how data analytics could be utilised to identify precisely where a child was falling short. However, whenever I proposed integrating these platforms, I hit a brick wall of bureaucracy. I ultimately concluded that to genuinely transform how students learn, I needed to step outside the system. By starting my own firm, I now advise educational trusts on how to integrate AI-driven programs that adapt to each pupil’s unique pace. Some might say I abandoned the frontline, but I genuinely feel I’m helping more students now than I ever could have in a single classroom.

C Julian

To be entirely honest, my departure from secondary education was sparked by sheer exhaustion. Like many of my peers, I was on the verge of burnout, drowning under an endless mountain of marking and lesson planning. I found myself wondering how we could alleviate this immense pressure. I started researching digital platforms designed to automate grading and track attendance, and I was blown away by the results. When I announced my resignation to set up an agency specialising in these efficiency tools, several colleagues warned me I was making a catastrophic error. They said giving up a secure pension was foolish. Nevertheless, I took the plunge. Today, my company implements software that drastically cuts down the hours educators spend bogged down in administrative duties. Looking back, they must have thought I was crazy, but my only regret is that I didn’t take this leap of faith sooner.

D Sarah

My career as a primary school teacher was incredibly rewarding, yet I was constantly troubled by the glaring inequalities between different districts. It was heartbreaking to see affluent schools boasting tablets for every pupil, while underfunded institutions struggled with outdated desktop computers from a decade ago. I desperately wanted to bridge this digital divide, which is why I founded a consultancy aimed specifically at helping schools in low-income areas secure technology grants. Initially, I was plagued by imposter syndrome; I wasn’t convinced I possessed the necessary commercial mindset to survive in the corporate world. Fortunately, I quickly picked up the ropes. We now negotiate with software developers to provide discounted licenses for disadvantaged communities. It is often argued that technology isolates people, but I have seen firsthand how it can level the playing field, provided everyone has equal access to it.

Exercises:   123456