Text 1
Is It Easier to Get a Job When You Already Have One?
I have a job that I started six months ago. It’s not great. But I am an older woman who hasn’t spent her life “building a career”
— in fact, I had a 17-year gap in my résumé — so I figured this might be my only chance at getting back into the workplace.
I enjoy the actual task that I do, and my employer values me. But I don’t like the hours or the conditions; I’m tired all the time
and my paychecks are small. So now I’d like to find something better.
Recently, however, my insurance (which I get through my husband’s job) approved me for an elective, “cosmetic” surgery
that should improve my quality of life. I could live without it, but I’ve wanted it done for a long time.
It seems jerky to ask for a six-week leave to have the surgery (which I’m not even sure would be approved), just to come back
and quit. But if I quit before the surgery, will that make it harder to find new work? I’ve heard it’s easier to get a job when
you have a job. And I faced so much silence in my earlier employment hunt.
Exercises
I. Translate the following sentences into Spanish and underline the verbs in the present perfect tense.
1. But I am an older woman who hasn’t
spent her life “building a career”.
- Pero soy una mujer mayor que no ha pasado su vida "construyendo una carrera".
2. I
could live without it, but I’ve
wanted it done for a long time.
- Podría vivir sin él, pero he querido hacerlo por mucho tiempo.
3. I’ve
heard it’s
easier to
get a job when you have a job.
- He oído que es más fácil conseguir un trabajo cuando tienes un trabajo.
II.
Read the text again and underline the verbs in the present perfect tense.
Text 2
How surveys are
conducted
A survey is a method of
gathering information about a topic, a group of people or a specific area. Surveys are commonly
used
to collect information and opinions. If the survey is well-
designed and
conducted correctly, its results can be reliable and valid,
and can
offer an accurate picture of the surveyed population.
There are many
steps involved in conducting a survey,
depending on the kind of information that
needs to be collected. In
general, though, the purpose of the study, the
required information, and the sample population are identified first. Then, the
questions are
developed and the method of
gathering answers is determined. Once this is done, the survey is
conducted, the
data are collected and, finally, the
findings are analyzed and reported.
Surveys are most commonly
conducted through questionnaires. They can be
used in telephone or face-to-face interviews, or
completed and
submitted by survey participants. In either case, strong knowledge of the surveyed topic is
required to prepare
good questions for the survey.
Exercises
I. Read the text about “How surveys are conducted” and underline verbs in the passive voice.
II. Translate the following sentences.
1. Surveys are commonly used to collect information and opinions.
- Las encuestas se utilizan comúnmente para recopilar información y opiniones.
2. Once this is done, the survey is conducted, the data are collected and, finally, the findings are analyzed and reported.
- Una vez hecho esto, se realiza la encuesta, se recopilan los datos y, finalmente, los resultados se analizan e informan.
3. They can be used in telephone or face-to-face interviews, or completed and submitted by survey participants.
- Pueden ser utilizados en las entrevistas de teléfono o cara a cara, o completados y presentados por los participantes de la encuesta.
III. Change the following sentences into the passive voice.
1. The secretary typed this enquiry.
- This inquiry was typed by the secretary
2. The factory distributes the goods to a retailer.
- The goods was distributes a retailer of the factory
3. The manager called their executives for an urgent meeting last Monday.
- The monday called their executives for urgent meeting the manager
4. My boss will introduce the new sales manager tomorrow morning.
- Tomorrow morning my boss was will introduce me to the new sales manager
5. The company ordered three laptop computers for the accounting department.
- Three laptops ordered was the company for the accounting department
