Before you read. Some questions to help you to think about the topic.
What do you do when you feel unhappy or negative about things that are happening?
What would you tell someone who feels they are failing?
Sometimes it’s hard to stay focused and positive in these uncertain economic times. It seems there are many negative things on the horizon. Perhaps you have some other stresses, a relationship gone wrong, or you have less money than you expected, maybe what’s going on in the stock-market has you scratching your head for how to stay positive.
That’s when you can fall into the trap of pessimism. You might even want to give up. However, positive thinkers think -differently. They think; what can I learn from this? Perhaps I don’t understand what’s going on right now, but in time it will be clearer. They realize that every cloud has a silver lining.
And there are some other simple things you can do to stay positive. You could volunteer to help someone – giving helps us to focus on the well-being of others and away from our own problems. Another thing is to talk positively to yourself. Replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Think of the good things you have such as those who love you and the great friends you have.
The bottom line is, we can’t always change what happens to us, but we can change the way we react.
Guessing meaning from context
Try to guess the meaning of the words in bold and match them with their closest meaning from the choices in the right. The answers are below the table.
|
stay focused |
A |
1 |
Things that will happen in the near future |
|
on the horizon |
B |
2 |
confused |
|
what’s going on |
C |
3 |
Negative thinking |
|
scratching your head |
D |
4 |
To make a mistake because someone didn’t see or was tricked |
|
fall into the trap |
E |
5 |
Watch carefully. |
|
pessimism |
F |
6 |
When we see bad things, there can also be a good part of it |
|
every cloud has a silver lining |
G |
7 |
finally |
|
The bottom line |
H |
8 |
Things that are happening now |
A=5, B=1, C=8, D=2, E=4, F=3, G=6, H=7
Some example sentences using the new words to help you to better understand their meaning.
1. When we want to achieve some goal, then we need to stay focused to achieve it.
2. On the horizon I can see that the Korean Won’s value will stay the same.
3. I’m scratching my head to understand what’s going on with the stock market these days.
4. I fell into the trap of thinking that everybody would like my new design because I liked it.
5. Newspapers are being pessimistic about the economy, but I think every cloud has a silver lining. But perhaps now is a good time to buy companies at a cheaper price.
6. You can have an excellent TOEIC score, but the bottom line is that you need to be able to communicate using English.
Some discussion questions using the new words to help you better understand their meaning and correct use. Try to use the words in your answer.
1. What things can you stay focused on during these economic times?
2. What important upcoming events are on the horizon in your life?
3. What’s going on in the news in Korea these days that has you scratching your head?
4. In the reading, how do you think someone could fall into a trap of pessimism?
5. If every cloud has a silver lining, then what silver lining do you see in these times?
6. For you, what is the bottom line for staying positive?
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