Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Dream Jobs & Career Aspirations 1

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four high school students describing their highly unconventional dream jobs.

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 offering their skills without charge in order to gain practical experience?

2   frequently has to reassure people that their intended career is entirely lawful?

3   admits to enduring some rather unpleasant outcomes during their learning process?

4   highlights the necessity of researching the era in which a mechanism was built?

5   points out that their chosen field requires them to continuously learn new things?

6   mentions relying on ordinary household items to achieve professional results?

7   believes their dream role is an ideal mix of academic knowledge and artistic flair?

8   mentions deliberately purchasing ruined objects to develop their skills?

9   has proactively contacted established companies to seek industry advice?

10   mentions creating a private, secure environment to practice their techniques safely?

Thinking Outside the Box: Teenagers Chasing Unconventional Careers

A Leo – Foley Artist

When I tell people I want to be a Foley artist, they usually look utterly baffled. Essentially, my dream is to create post-production sound effects for films. It is a highly competitive industry, so to get a foot in the door, I regularly volunteer to do the audio for independent student films without charging a penny. It’s a fantastic way to build up my portfolio. You’d be amazed by how we generate sounds; I rely heavily on mundane things you’d find in any kitchen. For instance, if you snap stalks of celery, it perfectly mimics the sound of breaking bones on screen! If I hadn’t stumbled upon a behind-the-scenes documentary years ago, I wouldn’t have discovered this fascinating career. I spend hours in my makeshift studio, recording audio. My parents originally thought I was just making a mess, but they’ve come to terms with it now. You definitely need a vivid imagination and an excellent ear for detail to succeed.

B Maya – Flavour Chemist

My ultimate ambition is to work as a flavour chemist, developing the tastes of tomorrow’s snacks and beverages. For me, it represents the perfect marriage between rigorous academic science and culinary imagination. To get ahead, I’ve taken advanced chemistry classes and spend my weekends experimenting with natural extracts. It has been a steep learning curve, and through trial and error, I’ve endured some truly repulsive results—my attempt at a synthetic strawberry flavour tasted like burnt plastic! Nevertheless, I haven’t let that put me off. Furthermore, I’ve proactively sent numerous emails to major food manufacturers, asking their senior technologists for career advice. Surprisingly, a few have replied with invaluable tips on university courses. While some friends think it’s an odd choice, I find the science of taste absolutely captivating. If I manage to land an apprenticeship after graduation, I will be over the moon.

C Sam – Ethical Hacker

Whenever I mention that I’m training to become a hacker, I am invariably met with suspicious glances. I always have to quickly clarify that I intend to be an ‘ethical’ hacker, which means companies will legally pay me to find flaws in their cybersecurity before malicious criminals do. To prepare, I’ve undertaken several advanced online coding courses. Because the digital landscape transforms at such a breathtaking pace, you can never rest on your laurels; staying relevant requires non-stop education. Obviously, it is strictly forbidden to test your skills on live public websites. Consequently, I’ve set up a completely isolated, secure network of old computers in my bedroom. This private sandbox allows me to safely launch mock cyber-attacks and figure out how to patch the vulnerabilities. It can be incredibly frustrating when a code refuses to compile, but the satisfaction of finally breaching my own defences is unparalleled.

D Chloe – Horological Conservator

While most of my peers want to work in tech or media, my passion lies in horology: the meticulous art of restoring antique clocks and watches. It’s a dying trade, but I am determined to help preserve it. To gain practical experience, I regularly scour local flea markets, deliberately seeking out completely wrecked timepieces that nobody else wants. I then take them home and painstakingly dismantle them to understand their mechanics. You can’t just replace a broken gear with a modern piece of plastic, though. To do the job properly, it is absolutely essential to look into the specific historical period the item was manufactured in, ensuring any restoration respects the original maker’s methods. I’ve even managed to secure a Saturday job shadowing a local watchmaker. If she hadn’t taken me under her wing, I might have given up, as the tiny mechanisms test my patience to the absolute limit.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four teenagers talking about wanting to become marine biologists and their profound passion for ocean conservation and research.

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

Which person/section

1   admits that their original idea of what the job entails was inaccurate?

2   was motivated to pursue this career after taking a trip to a specialized institution?

3   is determined to investigate areas of the ocean that remain largely unknown?

4   highlights the importance of altering ordinary people’s routines and choices?

5   expresses sadness at the visible destruction of a marine habitat?

6   finds it challenging to cope with the tragic outcomes of their conservation efforts?

7   originally intended to study well-known marine animals before changing their mind?

8   expresses frustration regarding the lack of urgency in tackling environmental issues?

9   points out the intense physical strain involved in their current conservation activities?

10   emphasises the value of gathering numerical evidence to prove a point?

Protectors of the Deep: Teenagers Making Waves in Marine Biology

A Leo

Ever since I was little, I took it for granted that a career in marine biology simply meant swimming alongside playful dolphins in crystal-clear waters. How wrong I was! Once I started volunteering with a coastal conservation group, I quickly came to terms with the harsh reality of the job. Currently, I spend my weekends hauling heavy, waterlogged nets full of plastic waste out of the sea. It’s incredibly demanding, and the sheer physical exhaustion often leaves my muscles aching for days. Nevertheless, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. My primary goal now is to tackle pollution at its source. Cleaning up beaches is just a temporary fix; we desperately need to educate the local community and alter everyday consumer habits. If we don’t persuade ordinary citizens to reduce their plastic footprint, our oceans will eventually suffocate. It’s a steep learning curve, but I am highly driven to make a tangible difference.

B Maya

Like many of my peers, I initially set my sights on studying charismatic megafauna—specifically, humpback whales. However, after watching a fascinating documentary about the deep sea, my focus completely shifted. I realised that the microscopic world is where the true mysteries lie. Phytoplankton might not be as glamorous as giant mammals, but they are absolutely crucial for producing the oxygen we breathe. I am now determined to investigate the abyssal zones—the darkest, most extreme depths of the ocean that remain largely unexplored by mankind. Because humans cannot easily survive the crushing pressure down there, I am currently learning how to programme underwater drones and remote-operated vehicles (ROVs). Some of my classmates find coding tedious, but to me, it is the key to unlocking the ocean’s hidden secrets. If I manage to secure a university scholarship, I hope to join an expedition that maps these uncharted waters and identifies entirely new species.

C Sam

My passion for marine conservation was sparked during a school excursion to a local wildlife rehabilitation centre. Seeing dedicated veterinarians treating injured sea turtles and seals left a lasting impression on me. From that moment on, I knew exactly what my calling was. I now volunteer at that very same clinic, assisting with the recovery of animals that have been caught in fishing gear. While the physical labour is manageable, the psychological toll can be overwhelmingly heavy. Despite our absolute best efforts, not every creature pulls through, and dealing with the heartbreak of losing an animal is something I still struggle to cope with. Yet, the joy of releasing a fully recovered turtle back into the wild completely makes up for the tears. In the future, I intend to qualify as a marine veterinarian and eventually run my own sanctuary. It requires years of intense medical training, but I am prepared to put in the hard work.

D Chloe

Last summer, I was fortunate enough to go scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef. However, the experience was far from the colourful paradise I had imagined. Witnessing vast stretches of bleached, lifeless coral was utterly devastating; it truly broke my heart to see such a vibrant habitat turning into an underwater graveyard. This tragedy is a direct result of rising sea temperatures, yet it constantly infuriates me how sluggish the global response has been. I am tired of waiting for politicians to take the climate crisis seriously when the evidence is right in front of us. Consequently, I’ve decided to focus my future studies on marine chemistry and environmental data analysis. Some people prefer hands-on rescue work, but I firmly believe that compiling robust statistical evidence is the most powerful weapon we have. If I can provide undeniable numerical data showing the rapid rate of ocean acidification, governments will have no choice but to implement stricter environmental policies.

Exercises:   123456