Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Remote Work & Flexible Environments 3

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four people reflecting on the distractions of working from home, from household chores to pets, and how they learned to ignore them.

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

Which person/section

1   notes that they would have accomplished very little if they hadn’t established a strict daily schedule?

2   points out that they used domestic duties as an excuse to delay tackling difficult work assignments?

3   admits to initially struggling to set clear rules with others sharing the same living space?

4   believes that modifying their daily attire helped them shift into a professional mindset?

5   was forced to physically restrict an animal’s access to their workspace to remain productive?

6   explains that keeping their working area visually separated from their domestic environment was the key to success?

7   acknowledges that they had underestimated how loud their residential area actually was during the day?

8   mentions that a lack of supervision initially led them to indulge in entertainment during working hours?

9   states that a specific technological purchase drastically improved their concentration?

10   initially set up their workspace in a place primarily meant for resting?

Mastering the Home Office: Overcoming Daily Distractions

A Mark

I was incredibly naive when I first transitioned to remote work. I had taken it for granted that my golden retriever, Buster, would quietly sleep at my feet all day. The reality, however, was a stark contrast. Whenever I opened my laptop, he must have assumed it was playtime. He’d constantly drop a slobbery tennis ball on my keyboard, demanding attention. If I hadn’t implemented a rigorous daily timetable, I wouldn’t have met a single deadline during those first few months. Eventually, I had to come to terms with the fact that I couldn’t be a full-time professional and a dog entertainer simultaneously. Consequently, I started shutting the study door during my core hours, physically blocking his entry. It broke my heart at first, hearing him whine outside, but it was absolutely essential. Now, I make sure to walk him thoroughly before I log on, which burns off his energy and allows me to knuckle down in peace.

B Sarah

When my company went fully remote, I mistakenly set up my temporary office at the kitchen table. Almost immediately, I found myself constantly distracted by the surrounding mess. I’d be in the middle of writing a complex report, catch sight of a pile of unwashed dishes, and suddenly convince myself that the kitchen desperately needed cleaning. In truth, I was simply using these household chores as a convenient excuse to put off tackling demanding assignments. To overcome this toxic habit, I realised that my work environment had to be completely isolated from my personal life. I ended up converting a tiny spare bedroom into a dedicated office. By ensuring my workspace was visually divided from the rest of the house, I could finally ignore the undone laundry at 9 a.m. I still struggle occasionally, but if my mind wanders, I remind myself that the chores will still be there when I clock off.

C David

Working from home sounds idyllic until you factor in three energetic flatmates. At the start, the sheer volume of background chatter made it virtually impossible to focus. We were all working different shifts, and I had severely misjudged how deafening our busy suburban street could be during the morning rush hour. I used to sit there fuming, wondering how anyone got anything done. The turning point came when I finally sat everyone down and explained that we desperately needed some ground rules. We agreed on a ‘do not disturb’ signal: whenever my office door is closed with a red post-it note on it, it means I am on a crucial call. Furthermore, I decided to splash out on a pair of high-end noise-cancelling headphones. That specific piece of equipment has been an absolute lifesaver; it instantly drowns out both the traffic outside and the debates happening in the living room, allowing me to finally concentrate.

D Emma

The biggest hurdle I faced when I began telecommuting was the overwhelming temptation of comfort. Initially, I thought it would be a brilliant idea to work from the comfort of my own bed, propped up with fluffy pillows. Unsurprisingly, my brain associated that environment with sleeping, and my productivity plummeted. Moreover, without a manager physically looking over my shoulder, I frequently caught myself binge-watching television series or scrolling mindlessly through social media instead of drafting emails. I had to completely overhaul my habits to get back on track. I quickly learned that I needed to trick my brain into a professional state. Now, I make a point of taking a shower and dressing in smart office attire every single morning, even though nobody is going to see me. This simple psychological shift has worked wonders. The sofa and the television are now strictly off-limits until my working day has officially concluded.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four remote employees describing the difficulties of maintaining clear communication and team cohesion when everyone is in different time zones.

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 adopting a new medium to ensure their comments are not misinterpreted?

2   points out the difficulty of separating their working hours from their free time?

3   feels sad about the loss of casual, unprompted chats with coworkers?

4   describes the stressful experience of starting the day with a backlog of messages?

5   felt it was necessary to firmly establish when they are no longer on duty?

6   introduced a comprehensive written system to prevent repetitive queries?

7   wrongly assumed a coworker was being rude in a written message?

8   discovered that scheduling social online gatherings was practically impossible?

9   expresses frustration over the time it takes to receive essential feedback?

10   suffered from extreme tiredness due to the timing of team catch-ups?

Working Across the Globe: The Remote Reality

A Mia

Working as a project manager across three continents is no walk in the park. The most glaring issue is the sheer delay in communication. If I need a crucial decision approved by our head office in Sydney, I often have to wait a full 24 hours for a response. It’s incredibly frustrating when a project comes to a standstill simply because of geography. Furthermore, owing to the time difference, my mornings are highly stressful; I regularly wake up to an inbox inundated with urgent requests that came in overnight. It took me a while to get to grips with this, but I soon realised we couldn’t rely on brief chat messages. Consequently, I set up a centralised, highly detailed documentation database. Now, every process is recorded thoroughly so that nobody has to wait for me to wake up to figure out how to proceed. It hasn’t solved everything, but it has drastically reduced the number of repetitive questions holding up our workflow.

B Julian

When our company transitioned to a fully remote model, I assumed that the technology we used would easily keep us connected. However, while we can still collaborate on software development, the absence of unprompted, spontaneous interactions has taken a heavy toll on team morale. I really miss the days of bumping into colleagues by the coffee machine or having a quick chat about our weekend plans. In an attempt to recreate that sense of belonging, I tried to organise weekly virtual coffee breaks. Unfortunately, coordinating a time that suited people in London, Tokyo, and New York turned out to be a logistical nightmare, and the idea was swiftly abandoned. Although we are highly efficient at hitting our deadlines, the atmosphere has become rather robotic. If we had managed to maintain those informal catch-ups, I don’t think I would be feeling quite so isolated right now.

C Chloe

My biggest hurdle has been the total erosion of the dividing line between my professional obligations and my private life. Because the majority of our marketing team is based in the United States, our crucial strategy meetings are typically scheduled for 10 PM my local time. Initially, I tried to accommodate everyone, but staying up that late on a regular basis left me utterly exhausted and unable to function properly the next day. I was constantly checking my phone, unable to switch off. Eventually, I realised that if I didn’t take drastic action, I would burn out completely. Therefore, I took the difficult decision to push back. I have now implemented strict working hours for myself; once the clock strikes 6 PM, my notifications are silenced and my laptop is shut down. It was tough at first, but making it clear that I am no longer on duty has saved my sanity.

D David

As a designer, I rely heavily on receiving constructive feedback. In a traditional office, you can read people’s facial expressions and body language, which provides essential context. However, when you are separated by oceans and rely solely on written messages, things can easily be taken the wrong way. A few months ago, a manager in our Asian branch left a comment on my design that seemed incredibly blunt and dismissive. I was quite offended until we finally had a voice call and I realised he had simply been in a rush and meant no harm. Having come to terms with the limitations of text-based communication, I’ve changed my approach. Whenever I need to explain complex revisions, I record a quick video of my screen while talking through my thought process. It ensures my tone is conveyed accurately and prevents those awful misunderstandings from occurring in the first place.

Exercises:   123456