N36 : Thirty-sixth lesson S00-TITLE : Work S01 : The UK economy has changed radically in the past thirty years or so. S02 : State-owned corporations have been privatised and many public services have been placed in the private sector. S03 : Manufacturing industry, once the backbone of the nation's wealth, has shrunk and output has declined. S04 : The service sector has expanded and now employs a large part of the workforce, particularly in business services. S05 : Wholesale and retail trade are still important and account for a sizable percentage of gross domestic product, or GDP. S06 : Small firms play a vitally important economic role. Some are sole proprietorships and others have only a handful of employees, S07 : but they provide employment for nearly half the active population. S08 : Every year, new companies are set up, while others either close or go bankrupt. S09 : Fortunately, large corporate failures are rare, but it is increasingly hard to survive in today's globalised economy. S10 : New activities, especially hi-tech industries, are thriving in some areas of the country, creating exciting, cutting-edge products that are often world class. S11 : Of course, some people prefer to opt out of the corporate rat race: they work for themselves or for not-for-profit organisations. S12 : There are also those who are unable to find work: the jobless. S13 : Unemployment is a major challenge for all economies, and governments try to tackle it in various ways, S14 : with a combination of benefits, training and job incentive schemes. S15 : Some unemployed people prefer to rely on their wits to get work. S16 : The personnel manager of a large catering firm called a new employee into his office: S17 : "What's the meaning of this?" she demanded. "On your CV, you said you had ten years' experience, S18 : but I've just found out that this is the first job you've ever had. Explain yourself." S19 : "It's true," he replied, "but in your ad, you said you were looking for someone with lots of imagination." T00-TRANSLATE : Exercise: Translate T01 : She opted out of the rat race by going to work for a not-for-profit organisation. T02 : The government is trying to tackle unemployment through incentive schemes. T03 : She works for a large State-owned catering firm. T04 : New companies are set up every year, but some quickly go bankrupt. T05 : She's just found out that this is my first job.