Questões de Inglês - Vocabulary

Text

'I'm 30 and live at home with my parents'.
Reasons for staying at home range from the culturally acceptable to the financial.

Derek Radcliffe, 30, Calgary, Canada

"I have lived my whole life in Calgary, an oil and gas-based city. I saw an abundance of oil and gas jobs in the industry growing up, and becoming a petroleum geologist seemed like a natural course to take.

"I was thrilled when I got my first permanent job at a small oil company, and later I had saved enough money for a down payment on a small townhouse.

"But in July 2016 the company I worked for declared bankruptcy as the price of oil fell. I received no severance but I was able to sell my townhouse (at a loss) right before the company went under.

"My parents and I have always had a good relationship and they were gracious enough to let me move back in with them. They recognize and understand the issues young Canadians encounter.

"A lot of my friends are in the same position and understand the situation I am in. If anything, it's me who is putting pressure on myself to leave home.

"There is still considerable volatility in my employment and in the Canadian oil and gas industry. I am not confident in moving forward and purchasing or renting a new place.

"I would now consider myself in a place of 'precarious employment'. I have no employment insurance, no health or dental coverage. I am not alone in my career uncertainty. I feel I have done everything right, but I still feel anxiety towards the future of my career.

"Right now, 'leaving the nest' is just not a financially wise decision."

(In: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-44236706. Acesso em: 26/05/18. Adaptado)

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THE REAL TAMBOURINE MAN

Tagore, not Dylan: The first lyricist to win the Nobel Prize for literature was actually Indian

There’s been a great deal of excitement over Bob Dylan winning the 2016 Nobel Prize for literature.
It’s rare for artists who have achieved widespread, mainstream popularity to win the coveted prize. And although Nobels often go to Americans, the last literature prize to go to one was Toni Morrison in 1993. Furthermore, according to The New York Times, “It is the first time the honor has gone to a musician.”
But as Bob Dylan might sing, “The Times, they are mistaken.”
A Bengali literary giant, who probably wrote more songs than him, preceded Dylan’s win by over a century. Rabindranath Tagore, a wildly talented Indian poet, painter, and musician, took the prize in 1913.

The first musician (and first non-European) to win the Nobel Prize for literature, Tagore possessed an artistry—and lasting influence—that mirrored Dylan’s.

Disponível em: http://qz.com/810668/rabindranath-tagore-not-bob-dylan-the-firstlyricist-to-win-the-nobel prize-for-literature-was-actually-indian/. Acesso em: 23 out. 2016. [Adaptado]

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Winter Driving

Winter is dangerous because it’s so difcult to know what is going to happen and accidents take place so easily. Fog can be waiting to meet you over the top of a hill. Ice might be hiding beneath the melting snow, waiting to send you of the road. Te car coming towards you may suddenly slide across the road.
 

Rule Number One for driving on icy roads is to drive smoothly. Uneven movements can make a car suddenly very difcult to control. So every time you either turn the wheel, touch the brakes or increase your speed, you must be as gentle and slow as possible. Imagine you are driving with a full cup of hot cofee on the seat next to you. Drive so that you wouldn’t spill it.

Rule Number Two is to pay attention to what might happen. Te more ice there is, the further down the road you have to look. Test how long it takes to stop by gently braking. Remember that you may be driving more quickly than you think. In general, allow double your normal stopping distance when the road is wet, three times this distance on snow, and even more on ice. Try to stay in control of your car at all times and you will avoid trouble.

(Disponível em: http://esl-bits.net/pet.htm. Acesso em: 4 out. 2015.)

How to learn a foreign language on a budget
You don’t need expensive lessons to start – try smartphone apps, foreign TV and radio, online guides and your local library
 

Kerstin Hammes
Wednesday 18 February 2015

You don’t have to break the bank to enjoy the value of learning another language.

[1]    While the benefits that come from learning a second
language may in theory be priceless, many are put off by
visions of shelling out huge amounts on expensive
resources, tuition or immersion courses. The good news
[5] is that it is actually possible to learn on a budget. Here are
a few tips for spending less and learning more:
    Start online
    Many new language learners now start with
smartphone apps like Duolingo and Memrise which are
[10] free. These apps start you off with vocabulary and basic
sentences in minutes, and their game-like interface is
ideal for anyone whose last contact with a foreign
language was a terrifying oral school exam. But you
should also make sure that you get plenty of natural input
[15] in your target language. Tune in to international radio
stations on TuneIn Radio. (…)
    Where to get materials for free
    For real results, a step-by-step course will help you
build up skills. If you like online learning, my best tip is
[20] to check out whether your target country’s international
TV or radio channel offers a structured language course.
These courses are produced by broadcasting
professionals and offer well-designed courses going from
beginner to advanced level. They feature multimedia
[25] materials and even soap operas from big names like
Deutsche Welle, TV5 Monde and Russia Today. If you
prefer materials aimed at English native speakers, the
BBC’s GCSE Revision area Bitesize has some of the
most effective online revision aids I have seen for Irish,
[30] Welsh, French, Spanish, and German. (…) Don’t forget
that pen and paper are also cheap and invaluable language
learning tools. Use them to keep track of new words,

write down new sentences in full and create your own
flash cards. (…)It’s also a good idea to visit your local
[35] library and let them surprise you. Libraries have access
to a large inter-library loan network, so they can get hold
of most courses you want. They also have huge amounts
of travel guides and phrasebooks to keep you inspired.
    Share your goal with others
[40]    The internet has good enough resources to let you
achieve a decent level in most languages from the
comfort of your home, but for many of us, learning in
isolation is difficult and boring. Even if it’s scary to walk
into a new room of language lovers, leave the house and
[45] connect with other learners right from the start. Making
just one friend who shares your goal or interest in another
language can make the difference between a fad that you
drop after 12 weeks and a new habit for life. (…)
    Spend only where it pays off
[50]    If you do decide to take your language learning
further, consider investing in small group or one-to-one
tuition. When you hire a language teacher, the money you
spend should buy you unrivalled personal attention. The
accountability that comes with lessons creates a boost of
[55] ongoing motivation that is almost impossible to find for
free.
    Most private tutors will offer you a free or cheap trial
lesson. These don’t mean there is a hidden obligation to
buy. Instead, a good tutor will want to learn as much as
[60] possible about you before charging you money. They are
all different and what is simple and comfortable for one
person might be difficult for the next. (…) Once you get
started, it’s easy to get past the idea that studying a
foreign language comes with a big financial burden.
[65] Remember to take your time and think of your new
language as something you will be learning for life, not
just for the next six months. There is only one way to fail
at language learning, and that is to stop completely.
http://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/feb/18/learn-foreign-languagebudget-app-online-library (Adapted).