Master Your English

Reading & Context

Level B2

Прочитайте текст о процессе сепарации и переходе к самостоятельной жизни в разных странах мира.

Leaving the Nest: A Cross-Cultural Perspective

The age at which young adults leave their parents’ home—often referred to as "leaving the nest"—varies significantly across the globe. While this milestone was traditionally viewed purely as a marker of personal maturity, today it is heavily shaped by cultural norms, economic pressures, and state support.

The Nordic Model vs. Southern Europe

In Northern European countries like Sweden and Finland, young people move out remarkably early (ages 18–22), supported by state grants. Early independence fosters self-reliance. Conversely, in Southern Europe (Italy, Greece, Spain), young adults frequently stay home until their late twenties or early thirties due to steep housing costs and tight family structures.

The "Boomerang" Trend

In North America, economic shifts, high inflation, and skyrocketing property prices have altered the traditional trajectory. A growing number of young people move back in with parents after college—a phenomenon known as the boomerang generation.

Vocabulary Fill-in

Task 1

Вставьте подходящие по смыслу слова из текста. В подсказках указаны первая и последняя буквы.

9 letters
8 letters
12 letters (hyphen)
12 letters
10 letters
Показать правильные ответы (Ключи)
  1. 1. milestone
  2. 2. cultural
  3. 3. self-reliance
  4. 4. skyrocketing
  5. 5. trajectory

Word Matching

Task 2

Нажмите на слово слева, а затем на соответствующее ему определение справа.

Показать ключи сопоставления
  • Milestone — An important event or stage in life
  • Trajectory — The path or course of development
  • Self-reliance — Dependence on one's own capabilities
  • Boomerang generation — Adults returning to live with parents
The Future of Technology

Before you read

Talk or think about these questions first:

  • Which technology do you think will change daily life the most?
  • Would you get into a car that drives itself? Why or why not?
  • Guess: what share of big companies plan to invest more in AI? Check as you read.
I

f you could send a message to someone ten years ago describing today's technology, they might not believe you. Now imagine the message we'll send ten years from now. The pace of innovation is accelerating, and a handful of technologies are going to reshape how we live, work, and travel. Here's what's coming — and why we'll need to be thoughtful about it.

Self-driving car on city street

Self-driving taxis are already carrying passengers in several cities.

Cars that drive themselves

The clearest sign of the future is already on the road. Self-driving cars — robotaxis with no human driver — are expanding from a few test cities to many more around the world. Soon, more of us will be able to call one with an app. Supporters say they'll make roads safer, because most accidents are caused by human error. Whatever you think, one thing is clear: the way we travel is going to change.

An assistant that does the work

The biggest shift is artificial intelligence. The next step isn't just a chatbot that answers questions, but an AI agent — software that can carry out whole tasks for you, from booking a trip to organizing a project. Businesses are racing to use it: about 92% of large companies plan to increase their AI investment in the coming years. AI is going to handle more of the boring work, which could give us more time for the things only humans do well.

92%
of large companies plan to increase their investment in AI in the coming years.
Wearable tech interface

Wearable tech will keep getting smaller, smarter, and more personal.

Science at high speed

Some of the most exciting changes won't be visible at all. AI is starting to help scientists run experiments and analyze results far faster than before, which is shortening the time it takes to discover new medicines and materials. A breakthrough that once took a decade may soon take a year. This is the quiet revolution: technology that helps us solve the problems that matter most.

The future isn't something that will happen to us — it's something we're going to build.

The part we can't ignore

None of this is risk-free, and the article wouldn't be honest if it pretended otherwise. As we hand more of our lives to machines, cybersecurity and privacy become essential: we'll have to protect our data more carefully than ever, and governments are writing new rules — the EU's AI law will be fully in force in 2026. There are also fears about jobs and about spending too long staring at screens. The technology is powerful; how we use it is up to us.

Group around interactive display

The most important technology of the future is the people who guide it.

Key vocabulary

artificial intelligence (AI) — computer systems that can learn and make decisions.
an AI agent — software that carries out whole tasks for you, not just answers.
a breakthrough — an important new discovery or advance.
cybersecurity — the protection of computers and data from attack.
cutting-edge — the most modern and advanced.
wearable tech — technology you wear, like a smartwatch.
an algorithm — a set of rules a computer follows to do a task.
1

Comprehension

Did You Understand?

1. What kind of vehicles are expanding from a few test cities to many more?

2. What share of large companies plan to increase their AI investment?

6. What is the article's main message?

2

Benefit / Risk

Sort the Ideas

BENEFIT
RISK
faster medical research
data theft
safer roads
job loss
more free time
too much screen time
3

Talk About It

Discussion

Questions

  • Which prediction in the article do you agree or disagree with?
  • Make a prediction with "will": "In ten years, I think..."
  • Talk about a plan with "going to": "I'm going to..."
  • Are you more excited or worried about the future of technology? Why?
Vocabulary Mastery: Modern Communication
1 Speaking Cards (Hot Seat)

Pick a prompt, speak for 1.5–2 mins and tap the target vocabulary tags as you use them!

Card A: "Some people believe that expecting a response right away is a form of entitlement. Do you agree? How can friends who don’t see eye to eye set boundaries without causing incompatibility?"
Card B: "Imagine your partner is a notorious slow texter who tends to leave things unread. How would you convey verbally that this triggers your anxiety without being too harsh?"
Card C: "When we chat with multiple people at once, we face social overload which depletes energy. Is it better to put a time limit on screen time or withdraw completely?"

Vocabulary Checklist:

right away a form of entitlement don't see eye to eye set boundaries incompatibility notorious leave unread convey verbally give a gentle nudge social overload depletes energy withdraw
2 Context Gap-Fill

Complete sentences with the exact missing vocabulary words/phrases.

1. I had to run a few before heading to the office.
2. It is easy to get when your phone keeps buzzing.
3. Heavy alcohol consumption can severely your coordination.
4. Demanding an immediate text back is often seen as a sense of .
5. Working non-stop without taking breaks will cause you to face .
6. If he forgets to reply, just give him a gentle to remind him.
7. Trying to juggle too many social apps at once will your energy.
3 Error Correction & Fixes

Fix the word/preposition in bold. Type the correct phrase in the box.

1. "She is notorious about ignoring messages."
2. "We don't see eye on eye when it comes to communication."
3. "He decided to withdraw himself from social overload."
4. "I need to give a gentle push to remind him about the meeting."
5. "Having to accept the breakup was a tough medicine to swallow."
6. "Sorry for the delay, I was busy juggling with errands."
7. "Her continuous absence eventually led from their separation."
4 Definition Matching

Select the accurate meaning for each target term.

1. Convey
2. Notorious
3. Withdraw
4. Impair
5. Sidetracked
6. Tough pill to swallow
7. Stem from
5 Multiple Choice Test

Choose the best word or phrase to complete each sentence.

1. She felt that being left on read was a form of ____ from her partner.
2. If a message is NOT ____, you don't need to answer immediately.
3. Continuous notifications can lead to digital ____ over time.
4. He sent a friendly ____ to check if the proposal was reviewed.
5. Setting healthy boundaries has no real ____ if done respectfully.
6. Anxiety often ____ deep-seated insecurities about communication.
7. Try not to take their delayed response ____; they are just busy.
6 Sentence Unscramble

Reorder the words to build coherent sentences.

1. [a gentle / nudge / I / gave / him / to reply]
2. [social overload / leads to / inevitably / burnout]
3. [see eye to eye / on texting / they / don't]
4. [a form of / expecting / entitlement / immediate replies / is]
5. [clear boundaries / to set / it is / important]
6. [for being / notorious / a slow texter / he is]
7. [depletes / constantly / chatting / my energy]
7 Role-Play Practice

Conduct the role-play in pairs. Tap phrases as you pronounce them in speech!

Student A (The Anxious Texter): You get texting anxiety when messages are left unread. Express how you feel without sounding accusatory.

Student B (The Social Burnout): You face social overload and need to withdraw to recharge. Reassure Student A that it is not personal.
Track Used Phrases:
texting anxiety leave unread as a low priority social overload withdraw to recharge reassure a tough pill to swallow get back to you set boundaries time limit
Interactive Lesson: Balancing Priorities & Work Dynamics

Interactive Lesson: Balancing Priorities & Work Dynamics

juggling different things at once
might plan on
get sidetracked by
distractions
demand immediate attention
cut some slack
put on the spot
don't see eye to eye

Ex 1: Matching Expressions to Definitions

1. juggling different things at once →
2. might plan on →
3. get sidetracked by →
4. distractions →
5. demand immediate attention →
6. cut someone some slack →
7. put on the spot →
8. don't see eye to eye →

Ex 2: Fill in the Blanks

  1. I finishing the proposal by 3 PM, but an urgent issue came up.
  2. Incoming notifications constantly during high-focus tasks.
  3. Try to yourself — it's only your first week on the project!
  4. I was completely when they asked me for the budget figures without prior notice.
  5. We usually agree on overall strategy, but we when it comes to the timeline.
  6. It’s easy to minor social media alerts while writing reports.
  7. Working in an open-plan office means dealing with constant .
  8. Project managers are often expected to be good at to keep everything moving.

Ex 3: Multiple Choice Context Check

1. What does "juggling different things at once" mean?
2. If your manager "cuts you some slack," what are they doing?
3. What happens when you "get sidetracked by" notifications?
4. If a situation "demands immediate attention," it is:
5. What does it feel like to be "put on the spot"?
6. If two colleagues "don't see eye to eye," they:

Ex 4: Sentence Reconstruction

1. [ notifications / immediate / attention / demand / work / from ]
2. [ eye to eye / don't / budget / on the / see / we ]
3. [ getting / sidetracked / I / minor / by / keep / details ]
4. [ spot / put / on the / please / don't / me / meeting / during / the ]

Ex 5: Discussion & Personalization

  • Do you thrive when juggling different things at once, or do you prefer mono-tasking?
  • What are the main distractions in your workplace that cause you to get sidetracked?
  • How do you prioritize issues that demand immediate attention versus tasks you might plan on doing later?
  • Is it easy for you to cut yourself some slack when things don't go according to plan?
  • How do you usually react when put on the spot in front of colleagues or clients?
  • What is your go-to strategy when you and a key stakeholder don't see eye to eye?