READING & LISTENING
A. Read the text.
A JOB OR AN ADVENTURE
My name is Oliver Parker. I’ve got a fantastic job. I work in a theme park, but it isn’t a traditional theme park because it doesn’t have the usual thrilling roller coasters or giant Ferris wheels. Instead, it’s called Park of Wonders. The name means “Avenue of Excitement” in English, and it’s known for its unique blend of performances and art installations. Park of Wonders employs about 700 people from 35 different countries, but you don’t need to be a performer to work at this park. It’s not just for acrobats and jugglers—there are also plenty of technical, creative, and management jobs available. In fact, over 4500 people work at its various locations around the world.
My job is to help my boss, Tom, find talented new performers for the attractions. He’s called a talent scout, and I’m his assistant. Our main goal is to find jugglers, dancers, and other circus-style performers who can bring something fresh to our shows. While we travel frequently and meet many people, we’re not looking for fame; we want to discover individuals with raw talent. I also organize auditions, book accommodations for performers, and store all their information on the computer. Because Park of Wonders is based in Madrid, Spain, I also need to speak Spanish fluently to communicate with the team there.
I absolutely love my job because no two days are the same. It’s exciting to work in a team of talented people from around the world, and I enjoy the challenge of discovering new acts that will make our shows unforgettable.
B. Read the text again and write true (T), false (F), or doesn’t say (DS).
- ____ You see animals in Park of Wonders.
- ____ Park of Wonders employs 4500 performers.
- ____ Park of Wonders has attractions in different countries.
- ____ Oliver earns a large salary.
- ____ He has to use a computer in his job.
- ____ All the people in Park of Wonders speak Spanish.
C. Complete the sentences with the correct underlined words from the article.
- His sculptures are amazing. He’s a very _____________ artist.
- That venue is always packed. You have to call and _____________ a seat.
- She’s the supervisor of the department. She’s the _____________.
- My job is to assist the supervisor. I’m her _____________.
- You have to buy their new album. It’s _____________.
- I’ve got two important _____________ for new performances.
- My company is very small. It ______________ five people.
D. What do the words in bold in the article refer to?
- “this park” refers to ______________________.
- “they” refers to _______________________.
- “their” refers to _______________________.
E. Answer the questions and write your ideas about it.
- Would you like to work in a theme park? Why?/Why not?
- Is it good that this theme park hasn’t got roller coasters? Why?/Why not?
- Do you think people who work in theme parks are under pressure? Why/Why not?
- If you could choose a job at a theme park, what would it be and why?
- Do you think working with people from different countries would be exciting? Why?/Why not?
Answer Key:
B. Answer Key (True, False, Doesn’t Say)
- F – There are no animals in Park of Wonders.
- F – Park of Wonders employs 4500 people, not all performers.
- T – Park of Wonders has attractions worldwide.
- DS – Salary is not mentioned in the text.
- T – Oliver uses a computer to store performer details.
- F – Not all employees speak Spanish, Oliver speaks Spanish.
C. Answer Key (Vocabulary Completion)
- talented
- reserve
- manager
- assistant
- available
- auditions
- employs
D. Answer Key (Referents)
- “this park” refers to Park of Wonders.
- “they” refers to the people who work in Park of Wonders.
- “their” refers to the performers.
E. Answer Key (Open Questions)
- Answers may vary. Example:
Yes, I would like to work in a theme park because it would be fun and exciting to interact with people and create amazing performances. - Answers may vary. Example:
Yes, it’s good because it focuses on other types of entertainment, not involving animals, which can be safer and more ethical. - Answers may vary. Example:
Yes, people working in theme parks may feel under pressure to entertain large crowds and ensure the shows run smoothly. - Answers may vary. Example:
I would love to work as a performer, specifically as a juggler, because I enjoy physical challenges and entertaining others. - Answers may vary. Example:
Yes, I think it would be exciting to work with people from different cultures because it would broaden my perspective and provide new learning opportunities.
