Vocabulary

A. Read the information.

(Đọc thông tin)

Nadia Drake is a writer for National Geographic and the daughter of a famous astronomer. As a child, she attended lectures and other events with her dad. It may have been her relationship with him that eventually led her to develop her own love of astronomy. Astronomy isn't Drake's only interest, though. She also has a PhD in genetics, and before she earned that degree, she had worked as a professional ballet dancer. Then, she realized that writing about science was the career she wanted. Once she had chosen this direction for her career, many interesting opportunities opened up for her. For example, Drake recently wrote an article about a photographer who used cameras to learn about wild rainforest animais in Peru. “This is basically my dream job,” she says. The negative part of the job might be that her schedule is not very regular. The positive part is the writing, so she is happy with the choice she made.

Answer:

Nadia Drake là một nhà văn cho Tạp chí National Geographic và là con gái của một nhà thiên văn học nổi tiếng. Khi còn nhỏ, cô thường đi cùng cha đến các bài giảng và sự kiện khác. Có thể đã là mối quan hệ với cha mà dẫn đến cô phát triển tình yêu với thiên văn học của riêng mình. Tuy nhiên, Thiên văn học không phải là sở thích duy nhất của Drake. Cô cũng có bằng Tiến sĩ di truyền học, và trước khi nhận được bằng cấp đó, cô từng là một vũ công ballet chuyên nghiệp. Sau đó, cô nhận ra viết về khoa học mới là sự nghiệp mà cô muốn. Một khi cô đã chọn hướng đi này cho sự nghiệp của mình, nhiều cơ hội thú vị đã mở ra cho cô. Ví dụ, Drake gần đây đã viết một bài báo về một nhiếp ảnh gia sử dụng máy ảnh để tìm hiểu về các loài động vật rừng mưa hoang dã ở Peru. "Đây về cơ bản là công việc mơ ước của tôi," cô nói. Phần tiêu cực của công việc có thể là lịch trình làm việc của cô không rất đều đặn. Phần tích cực là viết lách, vì vậy cô rất hài lòng với sự lựa chọn mà mình đã chọn.

B. Write each word in blue next to the correct definition.

(Viết mỗi từ màu xanh lam bên cạnh định nghĩa đúng)

1. events some things that happen

2. _____ good

3. _____ became aware

4. _____ way something is going

5. _____ job or occupation

6. _____ bad

7. _____ grow over time

8. _____ chances to do something

9. _____ connection, friendship

10. _____ finally, after some time

Answer:

1. events: some things that happen

2. positive: good

3. realized: became aware

4. eventually: way something is going

5. career: job or occupation

6. negative: bad

7. develop: grow over time

8. opportunities: chances to do something

9. relationship: connection, friendship

10. eventually: finally, after some time

C. MY WORLD. In your opinion, which of the following affects one's life the most?

(Theo bạn, điều nào sau đây ảnh hưởng nhiều nhất đến cuộc sống của một người?)

personal relationship career opportunities self-development

Answer:

In my opinion, personal relationships affect one's life the most. Our relationships with family, friends, and partners shape our emotional well-being, influence our decisions, and provide us with support and guidance throughout our lives. Strong personal relationships can give us a sense of purpose and belonging, and help us navigate the ups and downs of life. While career, opportunities, and self-development are all important aspects of a fulfilling life, they are often built on a foundation of healthy and supportive relationships.

D. Complete each sentence using the past perfect form of the verb in parentheses.

1. Before Nadia Drake earned her degree, she _______ (be) a ballet dancer.

2. Her father _______ (love) astronomy and Nadia also developed a love for it.

3. The teacher _______ (realize) the topic wass difficult, so she explained it carefully.

4. She _______ (plan) to have a different career, but she eventually became a software writer.

5. We weren't surprised when the road changed direction because we _______ (study) the map.

Answer:

1. Before Nadia Drake earned her degree, she had been a ballet dancer.

2. Her father had loved astronomy and Nadia also developed a love for it.

3. The teacher had realized the topic was difficult, so she explained it carefully.

4. She had planned to have a different career, but she eventually became a software writer.

5. We weren't surprised when the road changed direction because we had studied the map.

E. Discuss the sentences in D with a partner. In each sentence, which past event happened first? Which event happened second?

(Thảo luận các câu trong D với một đối tác. Trong mỗi câu, sự kiện quá khứ nào xảy ra trước? Sự kiện nào xảy ra thứ hai?)

Answer:

1. Before Nadia Drake earned her degree, she had been a ballet dancer.

• [ 1 ] Being a ballet dancer

• [ 2 ] Earning her degree

2. Her father had loved astronomy and Nadia also developed a love for it.

• [ 1 ] Her father loving astronomy

• [ 2 ] Nadia developing a love for it

3. The teacher had realized the topic was difficult, so she explained it carefully.

• [ 1 ] Realizing the topic was difficult

• [ 2 ] Explaining it carefully

4. She had planned to have a different career, but she eventually became a software writer.

• [ 1 ] Planning to have a different career

• [ 2 ] Becoming a software writer

5. We weren't surprised when the road changed direction because we had studied the map

• [ 1 ] Studying the map

• [ 2 ] The road changing direction

F. Interview a partner using these questions and any others you may have.

(Phỏng vấn đối tác bằng những câu hỏi này và bất kỳ câu hỏi nào khác mà bạn có thể có)

1. Tell me about a positive experience or event in your life. When did it happen? What had happened before this experience?

2. How did the positive experience change the direction of your life?

3. Tell me about a negative experience or event in your life. When did it happen? What had happened before this experience?

4. What did you realize about yourself after this negative experience or event?

Other questions: _____________

Answer:

Suggestions:

Partner: One positive experience in my life was when I got accepted into my dream university. It happened after I had worked hard in high school and participated in extracurricular activities.

Me: That's great! How did that experience change the direction of your life?

Partner: It motivated me to pursue my academic interests and gave me more confidence in my abilities. It also opened up opportunities for me to explore different career paths.

Me: That's amazing! On the flip side, can you tell me about a negative experience in your life?

Partner: One negative experience was when I didn't get a job I really wanted. It happened after I had gone through several rounds of interviews and felt like it was the perfect fit for me.

Me: I'm sorry to hear that. What did you realize about yourself after that experience?

Partner: I realized that rejection is a part of life and that it's important to keep trying and not give up. It also made me reflect on what I really wanted in a job and what skills I needed to improve.

Me: That's a great mindset to have. Can you tell me about a challenge you faced in your personal or professional life and how you overcame it?

Partner: One challenge I faced was when I had to balance a demanding job with taking care of my sick family member. I had to learn how to manage my time effectively and prioritize my tasks.

Me: That sounds tough. How did you manage to overcome it?

Partner: I learned to delegate tasks and ask for help when I needed it. I also made sure to take care of myself and set boundaries so that I didn't get overwhelmed.

Me: Those are great strategies. Finally, how do you approach goal-setting and achieving your goals?

Partner: I like to set specific, measurable, and realistic goals and break them down into smaller steps. I also track my progress and adjust my approach if needed.

Me: That's a smart approach. Thanks for sharing your experiences and insights with me!

Other questions:

1. Can you describe a challenge you faced in your personal or professional life? How did you overcome it?

2. Have you ever had to make a difficult decision? Can you tell me about it?

3. What motivates you to keep going when faced with obstacles or setbacks?

4. Have you ever had a mentor or role model who has had a significant impact on your life? How did they influence you?

5. Can you describe a time when you learned something new that changed your perspective or approach to life or work?

6. How do you approach goal-setting and achieving your goals?

G. Follow the steps to prepare for an informal presentation.

(Làm theo các bước để chuẩn bị cho một bài thuyết trình)

1. Think about your answers in F and prepare to speak about your life for 1-2 minutes.

2. Write key words, dates, and a few other details. Try to use the past perfect and some of the vocabulary words.

Answer:

I have had both positive and negative experiences in my life. One of my positive experiences was getting accepted into their dream university after working hard in high school and participating in extracurricular activities. This experience motivated me to pursue my academic interests and explore different career paths. However, I also experienced rejection when I didn't get a job I really wanted, despite going through several rounds of interviews. This experience made me reflect on what I wanted in a job and what skills I needed to improve. Additionally, I faced a challenge in balancing a demanding job with taking care of a sick family member. I learned to manage my time effectively, delegate tasks, and set boundaries to prevent burnout. When it comes to goal-setting, I likes to set specific, measurable, and realistic goals and break me down into smaller steps, tracking my progress and adjusting my approach if needed.

Goal check

Get together with 2-3 other students. Give your presentation and answer any questions your classmates may have. Speak naturally and use your notes only when necessary.

(Gặp gỡ với 2-3 sinh viên khác. Đưa ra bài thuyết trình của bạn và trả lời bất kỳ câu hỏi nào mà các bạn cùng lớp của bạn có thể có. Nói một cách tự nhiên và chỉ sử dụng ghi chú của bạn khi cần thiết)

Answer:

I worked hard in high school and participated in extracurricular activities, which helped me get accepted into my dream university. This experience was a great motivator for me to pursue my academic interests and explore different career paths. However, I also faced rejection when I didn't get a job I really wanted, despite having gone through several rounds of interviews. This experience made me reflect on my job preferences and the skills I needed to improve. Later on, I faced a challenge of balancing a demanding job with taking care of my sick family member. I learned how to manage my time effectively, delegate tasks, and set boundaries to prevent burnout. In terms of goal-setting, I like to set specific, measurable, and realistic goals and break them down into smaller steps. I also find it important to track my progress and adjust my approach if needed.