Exam practice
Reading and Use of English Part 7
You are going to read an article about young people who have started their own businesses. For questions 1–10, choose from the people (A–D). The people may be chosen more than once.
Which person
advises not giving up at an early stage? 1
is doing something in a way they didn’t expect? 2
mentions an advantage they sometimes have over other people in their business? 3
went through a period when they felt unable to cope? 4
realises that their own ways of doing things might not always be the best? 5
realises that their fascination with their present business may not last? 6
says their success has not followed a steady path? 7
mentions how determined they are when they decide to do something? 8
received positive encouragement to start their own business? 9
became aware of how much knowledge they already had in a particular area? 10
I STARTED MY OWN BUSINESS
We talked to four young people who started successful businesses when they were teenagers
A Santiago has a business designing websites I was going to do a course in graphic design when I left school but I started doing websites for some of my dad’s friends when I was about 17 and realised I had acquired a lot of expertise from doing the school website. Since then I’ve hardly been without work. I once had a client who didn’t fi nd out my age until after they had hired me and they mentioned that they might not have hired me if they had known my age. But I’ve also often had clients who have done so because of my age so it can work in my favour. When I asked them why, they said it was because they wanted a ‘fresh, younger approach’ to business.
B Lucas started a magazine about skateboarding I wanted to do something that nobody else around me was doing and I love writing so I started my own magazine. I’m like my dad – if he says he’s going to do something, nothing will get in the way of that. I started the magazine when I was 13, so by the end of this year I’ll have produced 24 editions in four years. At one point recently, I wondered if it was putting too much strain on me with homework and everything. I thought I might have to stop, despite the fact that the magazine was doing well, but I got through that by asking for help from my family and I bounced back. I’ll move on to something else if I get bored with it – maybe a blog or something related – but for the moment I still fi nd it inspiring.
C Yana has a business making videos of musicians Young and inexperienced go together in a lot of people’s minds but that’s not the way I see it. It’s a kind of prejudice. I’ve certainly come up against it and most young people will face some prejudice before anyone recognises their talent and expertise. When I left school I told my parents I didn’t want to go to college. I wanted to be creative and make videos. They told me to give it a go and if it didn’t work out after a year, I could reconsider my options. They thought I would always regret it otherwise. I’m not sure I would have gone ahead without them behind me. Some people say, ‘This isn’t a success and I’ve been trying for a week’ but you have to give it more of a chance. Next month I will have been making videos for a year and they’re now getting thousands of hits a day online.
D Annie has a photography business You won’t know until you try whether a business will work. It’s like riding a roller coaster at the funfair. At every turn you take there is another twist to throw you off track. The lows for me have been low, but the highs can be really high and I’m now where I want to be. There will be times, though, when you need to accept advice. If you’re still in or just through those teen years and you think you know everything, it’s diffi cult to say to somebody ‘You’re right about that. How can I improve the way I’m doing this?’ It’s not something I’m really comfortable with but I’ve figured out that it is really important if I want to succeed. I always knew I wanted to do something I felt passionate about – and that’s photography. I really wasn’t interested in business but I ended up starting my own just so I could spend my time doing what I enjoy.
EXAM TIPS!
Read the questions first and underline the most important words.
The same information in the questions and text is usually written using different words or phrases. Look for words, phrases and sentences in the text that match the question in terms of meaning.
When you think you have found the answer to a question, read the question and the evidence in the text again carefully.
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GRAMMAR FOCUS
Grammar focus task
Without looking back at the text above, complete these extracts with the correct form of the verbs.
I was going to do (do) a course in graphic design but I started doing websites.
If he says he ________ (do) something, nothing will get in the way of that.
By the end of this year I ________ (produce) 24 editions in four years.
I’ll move on to something else when I ________ (get) bored with it.
Most young people will face some prejudice before anyone ________ (recognise) their talent and expertise.
You won’t know until ________ (try) whether a business will work.
There will be times, though, when you ________ (need) to accept advice.
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