From office worker to wildlife guide

Part 5 – Reading (Multiple Choice)

Questions 31–36

You are going to read an article about a woman who changed careers.

For questions 31–36, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.

From office worker to wildlife guide

When Hannah Lewis left university, she did what many graduates do: she looked for a stable job with a clear career path. She found one in a large insurance company, where she spent the next eight years working in administration. The salary was reasonable, her colleagues were friendly, and she was good at the job. Yet over time she began to feel that something was missing.

“I used to look out of the office window and think about being somewhere completely different,” she says. “I didn’t dislike the work itself, but I couldn’t imagine doing it for the rest of my life.”

The turning point came during a holiday in South Africa. Hannah joined a guided trip through a wildlife reserve and became fascinated by the guide’s ability to identify animals, explain their behaviour and answer endless questions from visitors. Unlike many tourists, Hannah returned home still thinking about what she had seen and heard. Within a few months, she had booked a place on a year-long training course in environmental education.

The decision surprised almost everyone she knew. Her parents worried about the cost, and friends asked why she would leave a secure position for a profession that seemed uncertain and physically demanding. Hannah understood their concerns. She had never been particularly adventurous, and she knew very little about working outdoors. However, she felt strongly that if she did not try, she would always regret it.

The training course was harder than she had expected. There was far more science involved than she had imagined, and she had to learn practical skills such as map-reading, first aid and group management. At first, she found speaking in front of visitors especially difficult. “I was fine when I was studying alone,” she admits, “but the moment I had to explain something confidently to a group, I felt nervous.”

Gradually, though, her confidence grew. After finishing the course, Hannah found seasonal work in two national parks and later accepted a permanent role at a coastal nature reserve. She now leads walks for families, school groups and overseas visitors. The pay is lower than in her previous career, but she says she has never once considered going back.

“What matters most,” Hannah explains, “is that I feel my work has meaning. Every day is different, and I’m still learning. I may not have the same financial security as before, but I feel much more like myself.”

Questions:

31. What dissatisfied Hannah about her first job?

A She found the tasks too difficult.

B She saw no purpose in continuing long-term.

C She disliked the people she worked with.

D She thought the pay was unfair.

32. What effect did the trip to South Africa have on Hannah?

A It encouraged her to apply for a job abroad.

B It reminded her of an old childhood ambition.

C It led her to consider a completely new profession.

D It made her want to study animal science at university.

33. How did other people react to Hannah’s decision?

A They admired her courage immediately.

B They were mainly confused by her choice.

C They tried to prevent her from leaving.

D They doubted whether it was a sensible move.

34. During the training course, Hannah was most surprised by...

A how physically tiring the work was.

B how much academic content there was.

C how competitive the other students were.

D how little support the teachers offered.

35. What does Hannah say about talking to groups?

A It became easier with experience.

B It was the part she enjoyed most.

C It was harder in class than outdoors.

D It never stopped worrying her.

36. Which statement best describes Hannah’s attitude now?

A She misses the stability of her old career.

B She believes she should have changed jobs earlier.

C She feels satisfied despite the disadvantages.

D She hopes to earn more in the future.