Stan lost his job. He used to work as a manager in an office, but his company let him go because business was down. Now he spends his days looking for work.
Stan receives unemployment benefits from the state where he lives. He'll receive money for up to one year. After that time, he can request an extension of his benefits, but he hopes to have a new job before then. At 61, he's not ready to retire.
He's not used to waking up late or not having anything to do during the day. He's also not used to relying on the government for help. The whole situation is very frustrating. Stan really wants to find a new job, so he spends a lot of time looking online for employment. He goes to job fairs, and occasionally he goes on job interviews.
Stan has a lot of time on his hands, so he spends it riding his bike around town and in the country. Riding a bike helps to relieve some of the stress he's feeling from being unemployed. Fortunately, he's in good health and he has the support of his family. They will help him during this difficult time.
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Now you try it. Read the paragraph above. If you have a microphone, you can record your voice.
How much do you remember from the reading? Fill in the blanks.
- 1A: What happened to Stan?
- 1B: He _____ his job.
- 2A: How does he spend his time during the day?
- 2B: He looks for work and he ________ his bike.
- 3A: What kind of help does he get from the government?
- 3B: He receives unemployment ___________.
- 4A: Who else will help him through this difficult time?
- 4B: His _________ will help him.
(1. lost; 2. rides; 3. benefits; 4. family)