With so many teenagers working,
many parents and other adults are worried
WHO
WORK
Neil Freeman, a student at Easton
Comprehensive in Essex, works as many
as 20 hours each week in a fast food
restaurant which he began working for as
a partimer last summer holiday. He said
his grades had decreased since then. “It’s
hard to get the school work done. Lots of
times I’m just too tired to do my homework
or pay attention in class”, he said. He
keeps his job because he likes having
extra money to buy things like records and
clothes.
Several national studies have found
that almost half the number of all school
children in UK have part-time jobs. In
1985, the last year statistics available
showed that several thousands 14 to 15-
year-olds who were partimers worked an
average of 12 hours per week.
A Department of Education survey
found that about 42 percent of secondary
students spend their earnings on personal
items such clothing, records and
recreation. A few were saving money for
college or contributions to family.
Some teenagers such as Lisa
Griffith, whose family depend on her part-
time job income, have no other option but
to work.
that poor grades will be the result. That’s
why they are against allowing students to
work while attending school. But others
believe that work teaches teenagers a
sense of responsibility and a sense of self-
worth.
One recent survey at a secondary
school found that 70 percent of the
students worked. One third of them
worked more than 15 hours. Of those that
worked more than 15 hours, half had fail
grade in at least one subject. Surveys at
other secondary schools have shown no
connection between part-time jobs and fail
grades.
Getting good grades and working
part-time isn’t a problem for 16-year-old
Kimberly Baim. She does her homework
either in her break or after work. Kim
spends about 12 hours a week selling
frozen yoghurt in a shopping centre. She’s
been working there almost a year. “I took
this job for extra spending money”, she
says
Damien Hurst, 14, of Bishop’s Stortford,
Hertfordshire disagrees. He quit his job as
a cashier in a local supermarket because
his job took up too much of his time. “I was
working after school three days a week
and at weekends”, he said. “I had to rush
in the mornings to get my homework done.
Since I gave up my job, I have time to
study. I have more time to spend with
friends.”
To conclude, no matter what your
viewpoint is I’d rather say taking a job is a
responsibility, so before you make a
commitment, make sure you have enough
time in your school work schedule to have
a part-time job. If you do, then working can
be fun.
 Reading Test (2016-2017)
--------------
A. Read the following questions carefully. (6 marks 1 each) 10

1. Where do the students work? Give 2 examples from the article

a) ……………………………………… b)……………………………………………
2. According to the survey in the article, what do teenagers do with their money?
a. ……………………………………………………………………………………………….
b. ……………………………………………………………………………………………….
3. Why do some parents agree with teenagers who work?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
4. Who, among students interviewed, is able to balance school and work?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
5. What does the writer think about students who work?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
6. “Only poor students should work” Do you agree or disagree? Explain your opinion.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………...
B. Match the words in the box with their meanings. (4 Marks)

decreased- statistics- income- schedule

1) ---------------------------------- money earned by working

2) ---------------------------------- got lower or became less

3) ---------------------------------- the timetable for doing something

4) ---------------------------------- numbers or figures in a study