Give reasons supporting the idea that “climbing up” the career ladder you have to learn different skills really quickly and learn how to prioritize.

Brainstorming with a group. Think of the statement: “It’s often assumed that youth is bones in most professions. But frequently it is only when you have a combination of both age and experience that a person can truly be said to be at their peak” and share your views. Present your group decision to the class.

Point some facts. Prove that “You are never too old to do what you really want”.

Work in pairs. Look at these “rules” for writing s CV. Which ones do you agree with? Why?

• Make sure your CV is well-organized.

• Include a lot of detail – a good CV is long.

• List your education and work experience in reverse order – start with your most recent job.

• Include additional information that you think could help your application, e.g. travel experience or voluntary work.

• Don’t send a cover letter – no one reads it.

 

Write your CV for a job of your choice (say what it is). Use an example of CV in Appendix 1. Use your own details and add qualifications and work experience which you hope to get in the future.

Write a paragraph about your career path so far and your hopes for the futures. Use the following sentence starters.

I left school when …

Following that, I …

When I was … years old I …

At the age of … I started …

By the end of a …, I hope to …

Eventually I would like to …

 

NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN AGRICULTURE

Read the text and note down the main idea of each paragraph.

New Technologies in agriculture

Engineers have been helping farmers to improve agriculture for centuries by developing and improving equipment for each stage in the farming year from ploughing to harvesting to get work done faster, with less labor, and at less cost. They have helped to make farmers less dependent on fine weather and physical strength. Mechanization means that an arable farm of 200 hectares can be worked by just two people.

The tractor is one of the most important contributions to farming equipment because without it none of the agricultural implements in common use would have been developed to the capacity and efficiency required today. In addition to pulling ploughs, trailers, and other equipment, they provide hydraulic power to operate pumps, crop sprayers, hay balers, and many other devices. The introduction of IT to farming equipment has allowed precision agriculture to develop. An example is the use of satellite positioning along with soil analysis and aerial surveys to enable farmers to apply fertilizers to their fields in the exact amounts at the places where it is needed.

Harvesting a crop at just the right time and in the best condition to ensure good prices is also helped by technology. Machines have been developed to harvest and freeze delicate crops, such as peas, within two hours. Laser and optical technologies check the ripeness and quality of fruit before it is packed for shipment. Consumers demand fruit that not only is ripe but looks ripe so technologists have developed methods where citrus fruits can be stored and treated to emerge with the correct colour. Bananas can be picked green and ripened in transit to markets overseas.

Once harvested, food must be preserved from decay. Canning and freezing preserve food, as well as being convenient for storage, and so are vital to the health of the public. Older methods such as salting and drying (dehydration) are still in use. Most canned and bottled foods contain preservatives. Pasteurizing is a technique for destroying harmful bacteria in milk and other foodstuffs.

All agriculture is totally dependent on the availability of water. Low-tech innovations such as the foot-operated treadle pump are vital tools to farmers in developing countries with limited access to electricity or fuel.