i-explore 1

conversation

Interviewer: Mr. Smith, how will you describe the future of work?

Mr. Smith: I believe the future of work will soon become "the survival of the most adaptable." As new technologies have fundamentally changed the way we work, I think the jobs that remain will be complex and changeable.

Interviewer: What does that mean for workers?

Mr. Smith: Workers of the future will need to be highly adaptable and handle three or more different roles at a time. We can see that new areas of work are emerging constantly with the development of science and technology. That means in the future people will continually need to update their skills for jobs of the moment, but I'm confident that there will continue to be employment if these skills are developed.

Interviewer: What about you, Ms. Green?

Ms. Green: I'm afraid I'm not that sure. I think there will be winners and losers in this new world. I imagine there will be one-day training programs where people learn new skills quickly, and then are employed for a month while they're needed.

Interviewer: Does that mean workers are more likely to shift toward more part-time, freelance-based work?

Ms. Green: Yes, that's what I believe. And employers won't think in terms of employees – they'll, in my point of view, think in terms of specific projects. Who do I need? And for how long?

Interviewer: How about the population who are unable to continuously adapt and learn new skills?

Ms. Green: We can't all be knowledge workers. So I am afraid there will be a lot of unemployment. There will end up being a division between the few jobs that need humans, and those that can be automated.

passage

According to data from a variety of sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the industry research firm IBISWorld which predicts future employment levels in dozens of fields, here are five fields that are likely to grow rapidly in the near future.

1 Data analysis.

The age of big data is just getting started. Many firms want to access these vast new databases, so that they can gather more information about their customers, their competitors, and even themselves.

2 Counseling and therapy.

There's now widespread recognition that mental health is as important as physical health, which is likely to increase demand for professionals in this field. The BLS expects the need for marriage and family therapists, as one example, to grow 41 percent by 2020.

3 Scientific research.

New technology will continue to generate breakthroughs in medicine, construction, transportation, and many other fields, which means there will be strong demand for workers schooled in biology, chemistry, math, and engineering.

4 Computer engineering.

A lot of software development is done overseas these days, but the need for high-level computer experts able to tie systems together is still strong. In finance and investing, for instance, high-speed computing is increasingly a prime competitive advantage. And most big companies will need networks that are faster, more seamless, and more secure.

5 Medical care for animals.

Pets are more popular than ever, and they may need medical care just as human beings do. The BLS expects the need for veterinarians to rise by 36 percent by 2020.

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Statement 1
Many companies want to use big data to gather more information about their suppliers.
A. True
B. False

Statement 2
People nowadays believe that mental health is more important than physical health.
A. True
B. False

Statement 3
There will be strong demand for workers schooled in biology and chemistry in the future.
A. True
B. False

Statement 4
A lot of software development is done overseas these days.
A. True
B. False

Statement 5
The need for veterinarians is expected to rise by 36 percent by 2020.
A. True
B. False

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Question 1: What does IBISWorld make predictions about?
A. Popular college majors.
B. Economic growth rates.
C. Future employment levels.
D. Employee satisfaction levels.

Question 2: According to the BLS, how much will the need for family and marriage therapists grow by 2020?

A. 5 percent.
B. 14 percent.
C. 36 percent.
D. 41 percent.

Question 3: What is viewed as a prime competitive advantage in the field of finance?

A. Network security.
B. Advanced software.
C. Overseas connections.
D. High-speed computing.

news report 1

Mark Cuban, the owner of Dallas Mavericks, recently shared an interesting prediction about the future of jobs: Within the next decade, as automation becomes the norm, free thinkers who are good in liberal arts will be in high demand.

Cuban believes that the amount of changes we'll see for jobs in the next 5 or 10 years will be greater than what we've observed in the past 30 years, and that as artificial intelligence and machine learning take center stage, there will be a greater need for expertise in subjects such as English, philosophy and foreign languages.

According to his forecast, some of today's most in-demand skills, such as writing software, will eventually be taken over by automation and skills like communication and critical thinking will become more important in the next decade.

"When the data is all being collected for you, and options are being given to you, you need a different perspective in order to have a different view of the data," Cuban said.

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Question 1: What does Mark Cuban predict to happen within the next 10 years?
A. Automation will be in high demand.
B. Free thinkers will earn less than they do today.
C. The job market will stay pretty much the same.
D. People good in liberal arts will be in high demand.

Question 2: According to Mark Cuban, what skill will become more important in the next decade?

A. Data collection.
B. Communication.
C. Software writing.
D. Time management.

Question 3: What do we need to do when the data is all being collected for us?

A. View the data objectively.
B. View the data from a different angle.
C. Stay calm before a huge mass of data.
D. Cooperate well with others to analyze the data.

news report 2

It sounds like a sci-fi movie, but fantasy is becoming closer to reality than you think, as new research suggests doctors could soon be replaced by robots.

Scientists claim that robot technology has become so advanced that even cancer and heart operations could soon be performed entirely by machines.

For the past 16 years, only human-operated robots have been used in British hospitals to help with operations.

But following the first successful soft tissue surgery performed by a robot independently, experts are confident that robots will soon be able to carry out complicated operations – with no supervision.

By taking human intervention out of the process, it may be possible to make operations safer and more efficient.

"Probably the most surprising part is that when you compare it to current standards of practice, the machine actually does it better," said Dr. Peter Kim from the Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC. "Just imagine having the best technology and technique available and having these intelligent systems. It will eventually have better outcomes and save lives."

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Question 1: What does the new research suggest?
A. Human doctors could soon be replaced by robots.
B. Robots will soon become more intelligent than humans.
C. Sci-fi movies are closer to reality than is generally believed.
D. Fantasy is good for the development of science and technology.

Question 2: How long have robots been used in British hospitals?

A. 6 years.
B. 16 years.
C. 20 years.
D. 60 years.
Question 3: What is the first independent operation done by a robot?

A. A heart surgery.
B. A brain surgery.
C. A cancer surgery.
D. A soft tissue surgery.

Question 4: According to Dr. Peter Kim, what is the most surprising finding concerning robot "doctors"?

A. They could do surgeries better than human doctors.
B. They could give patients a stronger sense of security.
C. They could work on several patients at the same time.
D. They could even perform cancer and heart operations.

further listerning

news report 1

If you love to press the flesh and want to be paid for the pleasure, then you just might have a future in underground passenger management. Uniformed, white-gloved "people pushers" have been seen in underground stations. It's that effective crowd control demands "hands-on" measures.

"If one train stays at the station," explained an underground company spokesperson, "other trains have to wait until the first train goes. Usually, the train stops for only 30 seconds at each station, but now the time can be four minutes or even longer." This just won't do, of course, and therefore stronger measures are being taken.

Typical training courses for prospective "people pushers" last about two weeks and include voice training, as the pushers must announce their actions before laying hands on passengers.

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Question 1: Where can "people pushers" be found?
A. In airports.
B. In bus stations.
C. In railway stations.
D. In subway stations.

Question 2: How long are trains supposed to stop for at each subway station?

A. 30 seconds.
B. 40 seconds.
C. 3 minutes.
D. 4 minutes.

Question 3: Why is voice training provided for prospective people pushers?

A. They need to announce their actions.
B. They need to direct the passenger flow.
C. They need to answer passengers' questions.
D. They need to communicate with subway operators.

news report 2

While job growth in December is still disappointing and the unemployment rate is getting worse, the chief global strategist at J.P. Morgan warned that the US labor force is running out of "well-qualified" American workers.

"We actually need more immigration," David Kelly told CNBC, calling into question any policies that restrict skilled immigrants from entering the US to take jobs that can't be filled by the existing labor pool.

"We need these workers," he stressed. "We're almost out of well-qualified native-born workers."

Kelly said he's concerned by "signs of further restrictions on immigration in this country," referring to a bill that was reintroduced in Congress this week to restrict H-1B visas, which allow non-immigrant foreign workers in special fields to enter the US for work. Republicans and Donald Trump are pushing to have businesses hire more American-born workers.

"Politics aside," Kelly said, "over the next 10 years, around 85 percent of the new growth in the working-age population must come from immigrants, not from the native-born population."

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Question 1: What did the strategist at J.P. Morgan say?
A. The unemployment rate will rise again.
B. Job growth is going to be disappointing.
C. Qualified American workers are in short supply.
D. US companies should employ more native-born workers.

Question 2: Who could be granted an H-1B visa?

A. Immigrant business owners.
B. Non-immigrant visiting scholars.
C. Foreign workers in the manufacturing industry.
D. Non-immigrant foreign workers in special fields.

Question 3: What is predicted about the growth in the US labor force in the next decade?

A. It will largely come from immigrants.
B. It will be less affected by foreign labor markets.
C. It will mainly depend on native-born population.
D. It will slow down due to restrictions on immigration.

conversation

Interviewer: Hello, Basma. Introduce yourself briefly.

Basma: I am a 30-year-old biomedical engineer, with experience in teaching, coaching, along with a few other skills I learned. I am married and have two beautiful daughters. I work with my father at his factory, and work at Uber as my hobby on the side.

Interviewer: Tell us about being one of the very few Egyptian female Uber drivers.

Basma: It started with my husband and I being regular Uber clients, and we'd always been surprised to find out that the person driving us is also an engineer, doctor, lawyer, or someone with a high educational background. It was inspiring, and we started researching about the job and application process. It turned out to be very convenient as a mother to pick my own working hours when the children were at the nursery, and safe with the rating feature in the application, and above all it was a decision I made that ended up inspiring so many other people. I ended up feeling very proud of that gender and culture risk I took to work at Uber.

Interviewer: Why do you think there aren't more female Uber drivers?

Basma: There are more female drivers than you think, and I've even created an unofficial Facebook group called "Uber Ladies Egypt" to bring together our experiences as female drivers and clients. I believe that the more women know about the convenience of the job, the more they will apply, definitely!

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Question 1: Where does the woman work?
A. In a local hospital.
B. At her father's factory.
C. In a teaching institute.
D. In a biochemical company.

Question 2: What did the woman find about Uber drivers in Egypt?

A. Most of them enjoy driving.
B. Many of them are well-educated.
C. Many of them have several jobs.
D. Most of them are also Uber clients.

Question 3: What did the woman find appealing about working at Uber?

A. The flexibility in the working hours.
B. The respect she got from co-workers.
C. The high ratings she got from clients.
D. The high salary she got from the company.

Question 4: Why did the woman create the Facebook group "Uber Ladies Egypt"?

A. To urge women to pursue their hobbies.
B. To offer female drivers training opportunities.
C. To encourage more women to use Uber service.
D. To bring together experiences of female drivers and clients.

passage

Craftsmanship is making a huge comeback these days. Consumers are tired of the cheap throwaway products of the mass production age and seek more special and lasting products that demonstrate originality and personalization. They want quality stuff made just for them. Luckily, that's what the digital economy is all about – producing a high-quality and personalized customer experience for a large number of people.

Workers too are tired of the meaningless and repetitive work model of the mass production age. They don't want to repeat the "one best way" over and over again. They want to be more creative, invent their own ways, feel they have an impact and find meaning in their work. They don't want to be managed; they want to manage themselves. That's one of the reasons why an increasing number of workers choose to become freelancers.

Some consumers and workers go as far as to actually become craftsmen or craftswomen, carpenters, cheese makers, etc. to make things with their own hands, and leave a mark on the world by producing something unique. In fact, so many people want to MAKE things with their own hands that there could lie the whole future of production. The success of the maker movement all over the world proves that idea.

For everybody else the values and principles of craftsmanship – autonomy, responsibility and creativity – are transforming work and management as we know it. In many ways, that's what the future of work will be all about.

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Question 1: According to the passage, what do consumers want these days?
A. Products that are cheap and durable.
B. Quality stuff made specially for them.
C. Hand-made stuff of their own design.
D. High-quality products made by themselves.

Question 2: What is the work model of the mass production era like?

A. It's highly creative.
B. It's very repetitive.
C. It's rather inefficient.
D. It's fairly meaningful.

Question 3: Why do more and more workers choose to be freelancers?

A. To exercise self-management.
B. To explore a better business model.
C. To spend more time with their family.
D. To set aside more time for their hobbies.