英语听力精选进阶版 6295

Most people feel miserable¹ when they are made redundant² from their job.

Not Jason Schneider. After struggling to find a new post, this 26-year-old American decided³ to go freelance.

You'll find him in New York's Central Park holding a sign advertising⁴ his services: it says that he tells jokes for a dollar and that laughter is guaranteed.

But Schneider says that it is not an easy way to make a living. He finds himself on duty 80 to 88 hours a week.

Times have been hard for job seekers in many developed economies since the economic downturn started in 2008.

As with everywhere else, in Britain the job market has been slow and vacancies⁵ are difficult to come by.

Jobless people are having to think outside the box in order to rejoin the workforce⁶ at a time when companies are having to lay off staff.

Joe Busby, a graduate from Gateshead, has also found a way to stand out from the crowd and possibly catch the attention of a prospective⁷ employer. Busby has printed his CV on a T-shirt.

But there are more conventional ways to win a new position. Experts advise job hunters to brush up on their skills.

They should intensify⁸ their networking and consider applying for jobs for which they are overqualified.

Quiz 小测验

1. Has Jason Schneider decided to work independently? 

Yes, he decided to go freelance.

2. What has been making it difficult for people to find work? 

The economic downturn that started in 2008.

3. Where can potential employers learn about Joe Busby's work history? 

He has had his CV printed on a T-shirt.

4. Is this statement true, false or not given? According to the experts, there is value in making contact with people who may be able to recommend or offer you work. 

True. Experts advise job hunters to "intensify their networking".

5. Look at the article. What phrase means "to appear different from other people"? 

To stand out from the crowd.

Glossary 词汇表

to be made redundant 被裁员了 

a post 一份工作 

to go freelance 成为自由职业者 

to make a living 挣钱 

on duty 值班 

a job seeker 找工作者 

the economic downturn 经济低迷 

a vacancy 一个工作空缺 

to come by something 得到什么东西 

jobless 失业了 

to think outside the box （成语）跳出常规模式来思考问题 

workforce 劳动人口，劳动力 

to lay someone off （为了节省开支而）解雇工作人员 

to stand out from the crowd 鹤立鸡群，与众不同 

a prospective employer 可能给你工作的公司 

a CV 一份个人履历 

a new position 一个新工作、新职位 

to brush up on one's skills 复习、提高一个人的技能 

overqualified 资历过高的 

networking 人脉网络

1 miserable   

adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的

参考例句：

• It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他，这是可耻的。
• Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。

2 redundant   

adj.多余的，过剩的；(食物)丰富的；被解雇的

参考例句：

• There are too many redundant words in this book.这本书里多余的词太多。
• Nearly all the redundant worker have been absorbed into other departments.几乎所有冗员，都已调往其他部门任职。

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

5 vacancies   

n.空房间( vacancy的名词复数 )；空虚；空白；空缺

参考例句：

• job vacancies 职位空缺
• The sign outside the motel said \"No Vacancies\". 汽车旅馆外的招牌显示“客满”。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 workforce   

n.劳动大军，劳动力

参考例句：

• A large part of the workforce is employed in agriculture.劳动人口中一大部分受雇于农业。
• A quarter of the local workforce is unemployed.本地劳动力中有四分之一失业。

7 prospective   

adj.预期的，未来的，前瞻性的

参考例句：

• The story should act as a warning to other prospective buyers.这篇报道应该对其他潜在的购买者起到警示作用。
• They have all these great activities for prospective freshmen.这会举办各种各样的活动来招待未来的新人。

8 intensify   

vt.加强；变强；加剧

参考例句：

• We must intensify our educational work among our own troops.我们必须加强自己部队的教育工作。
• They were ordered to intensify their patrols to protect our air space.他们奉命加强巡逻，保卫我国的领空。