Chapter 4 Jobs and Professions

 

Vocabulary

 

Match each word with its definition. Write the correct letter in the blank.

 

a. telecommuting

b. cell phone

c. challenge

d. livelihood

e. stress

f. flexible

g. overwork

h. Drawback

 

1. a disadvantage; a negative aspect of a situation

2. a portable phone that operates using radio signals

3. able to change easily according to a situation

4. something that is difficult to do and therefore tests a person's ability

5. the source of money to pay for food, clothes, housing, etc.

6. to work too much

7. working at home and communicating with other workers using the phone, e-mail, or fax.

8. worry and anxiety caused by a difficult situation

 

 

 

Read

 

Skimming for Main Ideas

 

Read these paragraphs quickly. Do not use a dictionary and do not worry about the details. Write the topic and topic sentence for each paragraph.

 

Telecommuting

 

1.

A As cities become more expensive and crowded, workers often have to move farther away from their offices in order to find affordable housing in desirable neighborhoods. Sometimes they have to travel an hour or more to work and back and endure a lot of traffic. One popular alternative to the frustrating morning commute is telecommuting. Telecommuting involves working from home and communicating with an employer by phone, fax, or computer. Changing technology makes telecommuting increasingly easy and popular. Some telecommuters work at home full-time, while others go into the office one or two days and work at home the rest of the week. It is estimated that between 18 and 23 million people telecommute in the United States, and between 1.6 and 2 million people telecommute in both the U.K. and Germany. And the numbers are growing. Why are so many people telecommuting? What are the advantages, and do they outweigh the disadvantages?

 

Topic: _______

 

Topic sentence:______

 

2.

B Telecommuting has many advantages. In addition to saving people from the stressful morning commute, it also allows for more flexibility in the workplace. Telecommuters can plan their own schedules; they can customize their work environments; and they can work from anywhere. Often, people with children like to telecommute because it means building a work schedule around family demands and commitments. Additionally, home-offices can provide good tax benefits for telecommuters. Finally, for those who don't like the office atmosphere, office politics, or those long, never-ending meetings, telecommuting can provide a release. Telecommuting not only provides advantages to the worker, it benefits the environment as well. It contributes to cleaner air (less pollution emitted from cars), decreased traffic, and job growth in rural areas that might not otherwise offer employment options.

 

Topic: ______

 

Topic sentence: ______

 

3.

C Telecommuting has disadvantages as well. For instance, some workers may telecommute not out of choice but because the employer doesn't wish to provide office space, a work station, or the benefits that on-site employees receive. Another drawback is that not everyone can telecommute. Certain jobs, such as media and publishing, consulting, sales, and telemarketing lend themselves better to telecommuting than others. Some people find it very difficult to work at home. The TV, the refrigerator, the bed, e-mail, and the telephone can be big distractions for telecommuters. On the other hand, some telecommuters can't separate work from home and have a tendency to overwork. Other disadvantages of telecommuting include the difficulty of office relationships. Sometimes if a worker splits his or her time between home and the office, co-workers who don't have the opportunity to work at home might feel resentful. Managers might feel powerless to control employees who aren't on site. Finally, if working from home makes you feel isolated or lonely, then telecommuting is probably not for you.

 

Topic: ______

 

Topic sentence: ______

 

4.

D Jeff and Nancy found a way to use telecommuting to change their lives. "Not only do we have a better lifestyle, we have a better life," says Nancy. Three years ago, the couple sold their Manhattan apartment and bought a mobile home. When they are not traveling around the United States, they live in their adobe bungalow in Santa Fe, New Mexico. "When we saw Santa Fe, we fell in love with the place immediately. But before selling our New York apartment, we spent the year making connections and researching our options for work that we could do." Nancy does work for a publisher, and Jeff works as an independent consultant. Both invested in laptops and say that technology such as wireless Web access and cell phones help them when they're on the road. Recently, Nancy wrote a cookbook for campers that she has started selling through specialty catalogs and Web sites. "Through telecommuting we are able to make enough money to survive without dipping into our nest egg, and we haven't given up any of the things we enjoy. Telecommuting is our livelihood."

 

Topic: ______

 

Topic sentence: ______

 

5.

E According to statistics, the number of telecommuters in the United States rose by 3 million between 1999 and 2000. Will the numbers continue to rise as quickly? Will telecommuting continue to grow? If technology continues to improve, perhaps everyone will be working in "virtual offices" and the traditional office will disappear. No one knows for sure, but we can be certain that telecommuting is not a fad. It is a practical alternative to the traditional office job, an alternative which is here to stay.

 

Topic: ______

 

Topic sentence: ______

 

After You Read 1

 

Choose true or false for each statement according to the reading.

1. The number of telecommuters is increasing.

A)TRUE

B)FALSE

2. Telecommuting is popular only in the United States.

A)TRUE

B)FALSE

3. Technology makes telecommuting easier.

A)TRUE

B)FALSE

4. Telecommuting is good for the environment.

A)TRUE

B)FALSE

5. People who like working in an office will probably like telecommuting.

A)TRUE

B)FALSE

6. Telecommuting is possible for people in all professions.

A)TRUE

B)FALSE

7. Telecommuting has helped Jeff and Nancy change their lifestyle.

A)TRUE

B)FALSE

8. Telecommuting is more flexible than traditional office work.

A)TRUE

B)FALSE

9. Telecommuting is a fad that will probably disappear soon.

A)TRUE

B)FALSE

 

 

After You Read 2

 

Use both specific clues in these sentences and your own logic to determine the meanings of the underlined words and expressions. In the box, write your guess about the word's meaning.

1. Sometimes they have to travel an hour or more to work and back and endure a lot of traffic.

2. What are the advantages, and do they outweigh the disadvantages?

3. In addition to saving people from the stressful morning commute, it also allows for more flexibility in the workplace. Telecommuters can plan their own schedules; they can customize their work environments; and they can work from anywhere.

4. Sometimes if a worker splits his or her time between home and the office, co-workers who don't have the opportunity to work at home might feel resentful.

5. When they are not traveling around the United States, they live in their adobe bungalow in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

6. No one knows for sure, but we can be certain that telecommuting is not a fad. It is a practical alternative to the traditional office job, an alternative which is here to stay.