A First Time for Everything - Unit 10

C1 Advanced · Multiple Matching · Complete Advanced, Cambridge University Press

You are going to read an article in which five people talk about learning something new. For questions 1–10, choose from the people (A-E). The people may be chosen more than once.

Sara

While playing on a beach at the age of four, I was suddenly hit by a huge wave. It left me terrified of the sea for such a long time. Ten years later, splashing around nervously on another beach, I got distracted by the sight of a surfer, gracefully riding a breaker in the distance. Along came another wave, slamming me into the sand once again. But this time I wasn’t terrified; I’d accidentally caught myself being fearless, and immediately understood that I couldn’t let this moment turn into a missed opportunity. I signed up for surfing lessons that day, a complete novice desperate to learn everything about the sport. My friends and I thought it was hilarious that, despite constantly being bottom of my science class, I suddenly became obsessively interested in tide tables and wave hydrodynamics.

Kazumi

For the course I want to study at university – Business Management – competition for places is fierce. I realised that, to set myself apart from the rest when I apply later this year, I needed to do something interesting to add to my CV, so taking an online course seemed like a solid idea. Although I couldn’t choose one initially (the possibilities really were endless), I ultimately opted for something just outside my comfort zone, but still somewhat relevant to my application: Fashion Management. I’ve little interest in clothes, but felt confident this would demonstrate how I thrive off challenge. I showed up to every class on time, put aside two hours each weekend for homework, and revised each night. I couldn’t have finished the course without that degree of discipline.

Esme

While, to everyone in college, I’m known as captain of the athletics team, I’ve always secretly dreamt of becoming a performance poet. Each time I visualised myself doing it on stage in real life, though, I’d always imagine someone in the audience whispering, ‘her poems are awful, is she going to stop soon?’. One day, I realised that, with my athletics, even if I didn’t feel motivated or energetic enough to train, I’d still just get out there and push through a session. Similarly, I shouldn’t have to wait for the moment I’d magically feel brave enough to go on stage. I should just do it. I forced myself into the writing habit, drafting poems whenever I could, and booked my first gig. There was a real sense of occasion that night, and it turned out I needn’t have worried – everyone loved it.

Aqil

Whenever people learn something new, they often try to get through the beginner stage as quickly as possible in their rush to improve. As my grandfather insisted, after beginning to teach me chess, this is invariably a mistake. During those first lessons, I fixated on every instruction he gave, considering every possibility in the moves he demonstrated, determined to absorb everything I had to know in order to avoid getting beaten within five moves, as I did every game for eight years. Finally, when I was twelve, I managed to beat him – an enormous personal victory. Plus, I was delighted to discover that, having spent all that time burning my eyes into sixty-four squares on a board, I’d been able to replace my smartphone addiction with a far healthier alternative – one I had little doubt anyone would grow to love, given the chance.

Tyrone

For many years, I was the tallest in my group of friends, and always got picked last for games or sports. My legs were unnaturally long, and I’d often trip over my own feet while running. Despite this, I never saw myself as being any more or less clumsy than the other children in the playground. In time, the rest of my body caught up, and I could finally, gratefully, take up the sport I’d wanted to try for ever – parkour. Initially, I was hopeless, and spent more time injured than practising. Then I happened to bump into an old school friend who was now a fellow parkour runner and got some invaluable advice. At that moment, everything clicked, and my technique and ability rapidly caught up with the faith I’d had in my own potential. Now, it almost seems like everyone I know has followed me into the world of parkour. We could happily do it forever.

A First Time for Everything

aimed to differentiate themselves from their peers?

gained a sense of determination from an existing interest?

found amusement in a subsequent outcome of their efforts?

understood the importance of adopting a set routine?

experienced a gain in proficiency after a chance meeting?

took advantage of a sudden change in self-belief?

felt relief after a change in their physical appearance?

paid frequent close attention to constructive remarks?

allowed concerns about their ability to delay the pursuit of their ambition?

was convinced of the widespread appeal of what they had learnt?

Available as a free printable PDF worksheet with an optional answer key.

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