Why you should read fiction
At school, the (1)…………… majority of what we learn is factual. In history lessons we memorise names and dates; in science we have to cope (2)…………… chemical formulas and complex equations; in maths it’s all numbers and signs. It’s only in language lessons where we may (3)…………… fiction. Some people would argue that there’s (4)…………… point in reading something which is ‘made up’. If this is the (5)……………, why do language teachers encourage their students to look at anything (6)…………… from dictionaries and reference materials?
It is because they are (7)…………… of the benefits that reading brings. It isn’t simply because reading fiction helps us (8)…………… reality for a while and switch off from our everyday routines. Reading fiction also teaches us to see the world through other people’s eyes. It (9)…………… us to understand the feelings of others, making us more empathetic. Fiction, in other words, helps us be better friends.
1 A vast B wide C far D high
2 A for B on C by D with
3 A come up B come across C come about D come over
4 A little B slight C minimal D hardly
5 A issue B matter C case D point
6 A except B apart C other D beside
7 A aware B wise C familiar D sensitive
8 A depart B miss C escape D break
English (Speaker A): "Hey, I just wanted to say—that was a remarkably brave presentation. Calling the industry's favorite new software 'a glorified spreadsheet with a budget' took some serious guts, especially with their CEO sitting in the front row."
Russian (Speaker B): "Ой, а я и не заметил, что он там сидел! Хотя, честно говоря, мне всё равно. Кто-то же должен был сказать, что король-то голый. Я Макс, кстати. Тот самый безумец, который только что уничтожил свою карьеру за пятнадцать минут."
English (Speaker A): "I’m Elena. And don't worry, your career is fine. If anything, you just became the most interesting person in this room full of corporate clones. Your point about data privacy was actually spot on, even if it made the sponsors sweat."
Russian (Speaker B): "Приятно познакомиться, Елена. Спасибо, это обнадеживает. Я просто жутко устал от того, что на этих конференциях все ведут себя так, будто мы спасаем мир, хотя мы просто продаем людям очередные подписки. Ты, судя по всему, тоже не фанатка фальшивых улыбок?"
English (Speaker A): "Guilty as charged. I head a UX research team, and my entire job is to figure out why users hate platforms like the one you just roasted. In fact, I’ve been trying to convince my stakeholders to dump that software for months. You just gave me some great ammunition."
Russian (Speaker B): "Рад служить обществу! Слушай, если ты занимаешься UX, то ты наверняка понимаешь мою боль. Они тратят миллионы на маркетинг, но интерфейс выглядит так, будто его создавал обозленный подросток в 2005 году. Как твоя команда вообще с этим справляется?"
English (Speaker A): "With a lot of coffee and a healthy dose of dark humor. Look, a few of us are skipping the remaining afternoon panels to grab a proper lunch and actually talk real strategy. We could use someone with your lack of a filter. Want to tag along?"
Russian (Speaker B): "Звучит как идеальный побег из этого цирка. Я только «за». Только чур никакого фастфуда — после такого стресса мне нужно что-то посущественнее. Веди меня к бунтарям!"
English (Speaker A): "Deal. Let’s head out before the PR team tracks you down for damage control. Drop your phone number or scan my LinkedIn on the way to the elevator—we’re moving fast."
