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Looking for a career change? Check out these unconventional options!The Waterslide TesterWhen the pool where he worked as a lifeguard was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Guillaume Pop took jobs at various other pools that were virtually deserted. In one video on the social platform, he pretended to be a “professional waterslide tester”. Unexpectedly, Pop became a social media sensation. He was then hired to “test” slides and other facilities at water parks and swimming pools all over France. “It’s the best job in the world,” declares Pop, whose videos have received 80 million views. “I’m not behind a desk. I’m active and outside in the sun. In fact, all the children tell me they want to be a waterslide tester!”
The Reindeer HerderFinnish Lapland is home to around 200,000 wild reindeer. Anne Ollila, one of the 4,000 owners of these animals, works in this harsh but beautiful region with her big family. She gave up her job as a sociology researcher in 2010 to devote herself to reindeer herding full time. In summer, Ollila sleeps during the day and walks up to 12 miles a night through marsh and forest, enduring all kinds of insects. In deepest winter there is little daylight. Grasslands are frozen and the reindeer move into the forest for protection. “Life here isn’t easy but it’s how nature works,” says Ollila, “I love the environment, the animals and the freedom. Also, I have a sense of belonging to something bigger than me, to the chain of life through the generations.”
The Zombie TrainerStevie Douglas, a 52-year-old Scot, has taught people how to behave like all varieties of the undead. A big fan of horror movies, Douglas noticed the zombies he saw in films were often unconvincing. “Their movement was poor and I thought I could do better.” So, in 2012, he formed ScareScotland to provide zombies for films and events such as horror conventions. A year later they started a zombie training program, which took off when they received a request for 300 zombies for a three-week-long interactive production. “What we do is very specific.” says Douglas. Many people enjoy being frightened, and he’s happy to oblige them.
1. What do the three people introduced in the passage above have in common?
| A．Their jobs are dangerous, unstable and low-paid. |
| B．Their jobs are well received throughout the world. |
| C．They have great passion and pride in what they do. |
| D．They need professional qualifications to do their job. |
2. What does Guillaume Pop like most about his job?
| A．It has a sense of freedom. | B．It is full of vigor and energy. |
| C．It is what he has been doing for decades. | D．It satisfies people’s wishes to be frightened. |
3. Who is most probably interested in this passage?
| A．Employees who are considering switching jobs. |
| B．Students who are applying for ideal universities. |
| C．Children who are interested in unusual activities. |
| D．Graduates who are deciding on their essay topics. |
