Reading 1/1:
Read the article below and choose the best answer (A. B. C or D) for each of the following questions.
A risky but rewarding road
Paragraph A
At some point in our lives everyone dreams of starting their own business, even if we know it will never become a reality.
We might think we're the next Steve Jobs or be convinced that we've thought of a great product that the world will want.
Either way, for most people these daydreams tend to happen after a tiring time at the office, or while sitting on a
crowded commuter train wondering about the meaning of life. Likewise, for most of us these dreams are passing
thoughts which are never acted upon. But, some of us are a bit different. For a few people, the idea sticks and they
decide to go it alone. Starting a business involves a lot of organisation and paperwork, but it's keeping it going in the
future that is the really hard part.
Paragraph B
If you decide to start a business, you're going to face many risks, so it is worth exploring some of them beforehand.
Remember that many businesses do not survive in the long term. This suggests that being your own boss may not be
as liberating as it sounds. Some of the risks are clearly outside anyone's control. Your product may suddenly face new
competition that you couldn't have predicted. Or perhaps a change in the economy means people can no longer afford
what you are selling. It is obvious that no one can plan for these things and sometimes small businesses fail due to bad
luck alone.
Paragraph C
Yet many risks are associated with the person or people who start the business. Working for yourself can be liberating
in one sense, but it is also likely to be much more of an emotional journey than working for someone else. This journey
can often have far more ups and downs than a regular job as well and this can affect the performance and success of
the business. For example, at the beginning few people understand the implications of not being able to rely on a
regular salary. This uncertainty can be stressful to live with on a daily basis especially as the company is developing. In
addition, many people finance their businesses themselves and can risk losing their life savings if things go wrong.
Paragraph D
Money is something that new businesses require, but equally as important is time. There is no end to the amount of time
you can spend on your new business. This situation has been made worse by the need to constantly find ways to
market your new business and find customers, which takes up far more time than the boring administration tasks such
as filing and accounting. In fact, it seems strange that so many people do decide to start their own business given the
amount of work and potential risks involved. However, for those that succeed, the rewards are numerous; there is much
pride in having created something from nothing, and being master of your own destiny is extremely fulfilling, which can
sustain people through all the difficult times.
1) pp
sually daydream about starting a business:
they want to change their life.
B because they think they will become famous
