英语听力精选进阶版 6356

Do you see yourself in your early 20s already wearing a smart suit and using a company phone? Recent trends have seen young people looking for internships rather than Saturday jobs. But should people be expected to do a 'proper job' at all while they're still young?

For many, weekend or evening work is a rite¹ of passage that may involve cleaning toilets, milking cows or operating the machine that puts jam into a doughnut.

Holding down a part-time job as a teenager or student may not be glamorous². But it's a chance to dip one's toe into the world of work and take a crucial first step into adulthood³.

But the number of young people doing a Saturday job has halved⁴ in 15 years, according to the UK Commission for Employment and Skills. The economic downturn has made it tougher for young people to find any kind of job. For those seeking a career, there is now greater pressure to target their chosen profession and gain work experience.

Those who go on to successful careers often mention their days of waiting tables or picking fruit as formative experiences. Actor Sean Connery may have the 007 role as a highlight on his CV but he began working as a milkman when he was 14. George Clooney once tried his hand at selling women's shoes. Sir Terry Leahy ended up running the British supermarket giant Tesco after taking a holiday job stacking tea and coffee.

What is a 'proper job'? White collar work is aspirational⁵ and professionals in finance, advertising⁶, journalism⁷ and the law often work extremely long hours. But there is a sense that sitting at a desk all one's life is not always 'real' work in the same way as some other jobs are.

Has a person who has never had to cope with physical or monotonous⁸ labour somehow missed out? It goes beyond career development to the idea of becoming a well-rounded person.

Dr Paul Sissons, senior researcher at the Work Foundation, argues that the best way to achieve career success could be getting good grades. "Formal qualifications are still the essential determinant of labour market outcomes," he says.

Quiz 测验

1. Look at the article, what are the examples given of Saturday jobs?

Cleaning toilets, milking cows, operating the machine that puts jam into a doughnut, stacking shelves in a supermarket.

2. What's made it more difficult for young people to find a job?

The economic downturn.

3. According to an expert mentioned in the article, what could be the best way of achieving career success?

Dr Paul Sissons, senior researcher at the Work Foundation, says getting good grades is important for career success.

4. What expression is used to refer to a job in an office?

White collar work.

5. What expression is used to refer to trying something out for the first time?

To dip one's toe into (something).

Glossary 词汇表

an internship 一次实习(机会)

a Saturday job 一份周六的工作

a 'proper job' 一份正式的工作

a rite of passage 一个通过仪式

a part-time job 一份兼职工作

to dip one's toe into (something) 尝试做（什么）

adulthood 成年

the economic downturn 经济衰退

work experience 工作经验

formative experiences 成长经验

to try one's hand at (something) 去尝试做（什么）

white collar work 白领工作

aspirational 梦寐以求的

to miss out 错过

a well-rounded person 全面发展的人

formal qualifications 正式文凭或资格

1 rite   

n.典礼，惯例，习俗

参考例句：

• This festival descends from a religious rite.这个节日起源于宗教仪式。
• Most traditional societies have transition rites at puberty.大多数传统社会都为青春期的孩子举行成人礼。

2 glamorous   

adj.富有魅力的；美丽动人的；令人向往的

参考例句：

• The south coast is less glamorous but full of clean and attractive hotels.南海岸魅力稍逊，但却有很多干净漂亮的宾馆。
• It is hard work and not a glamorous job as portrayed by the media.这是份苦差，并非像媒体描绘的那般令人向往。

3 adulthood   

n.成年，成人期

参考例句：

• Some infantile actions survive into adulthood.某些婴儿期的行为一直保持到成年期。
• Few people nowadays are able to maintain friendships into adulthood.如今很少有人能将友谊维持到成年。

4 halved   

v.把…分成两半( halve的过去式和过去分词 )；把…减半；对分；平摊

参考例句：

• The shares have halved in value . 股价已经跌了一半。
• Overall operating profits halved to $24 million. 总的营业利润减少了一半，降至2，400 万元。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 aspirational   

志同的，有抱负的

参考例句：

• Most of the images that bombard us all are aspirational. 轰击的图像，我们都期望最大。
• Analysts said self-help and aspirational reading could explain India's high figures. 分析师们指出，自助读书、热爱读书是印度人均读书时间超过别的国家的主要原因。

6 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。

7 journalism   

n.新闻工作，报业

参考例句：

• He's a teacher but he does some journalism on the side.他是教师，可还兼职做一些新闻工作。
• He had an aptitude for journalism.他有从事新闻工作的才能。

8 monotonous   

adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的

参考例句：

• She thought life in the small town was monotonous.她觉得小镇上的生活单调而乏味。
• His articles are fixed in form and monotonous in content.他的文章千篇一律，一个调调儿。