Problem-Solving
Jessica feels tired all the time and has no motivation to study. What are some things she could do to feel better?
Jessica could take breaks, do things that she enjoys, adjust her workload if possible, do some self-care.
Jordan is supposed to attend an internship orientation at 9:00 a.m. He arrives at 10:15 a.m. The room is empty except for chairs being stacked.
What likely happened?
The orientation is already over.
Alex and Sam had been planning a small business together, but they couldn’t agree on where to open their shop. Alex wanted a busy downtown spot, while Sam thought a quieter neighborhood would be better. After talking through the pros and cons, Alex said, “I’m okay with either choice—the ball is in your court.” Sam realized it was now his turn to decide, so he chose the downtown location, and the two partners moved forward with their plan.
Idiom: the ball is in your court
Meaning: You are responsible for what happens next.
Aiden sat in the library working on his paper. It was due in 30 minutes. Suddenly, his laptop screen went black. What should Aiden do?
Aiden should plug his laptop in to charge it.
Jordan had an interview for an internship at 10:00 a.m. He stayed up very late the night before and forgot to set an alarm. When he woke up at 10:05 a.m., he saw 3 missed calls and a voicemail from the company on his phone.
What most likely happened?
Jordan missed the interview.
During lunch, Marcus told his friend Jenna that there was a surprise test in math class. Jenna’s eyes widened, and she quickly started to worry. Then Marcus started laughing and said he was just pulling her leg. Jenna sighed with relief and laughed too, realizing he was only joking. After that, she decided to pull his leg back by pretending their teacher had canceled recess. Both friends laughed, and their lunch ended on a happy note.
Idiom: pull someone's leg
Meaning: to joke with or tease somebody.
Marcus walked to the dining hall for lunch. When he reached the door, he realized he had forgotten his student ID card in his dorm room. How can Marcus solve this problem?
Marcus could go back to his dorm room and get his student ID card or try to pull his ID up on his phone.
Mia and Zoe both wanted an internship at a clothing store. Mia had more experience, but Zoe showed excitement and asked thoughtful questions during the interview. Zoe got the internship.
What can you infer about what the manager valued?
You can infer that the manager valued enthusiasm and a positive attitude. Even though Mia had more experience, Zoe showed she was excited to learn and asked good questions, which made a strong impression on the manager.
Maya had two very different lives. During the week, she lived in a busy city and worked as an architect, designing tall buildings and rushing to meet deadlines. But on weekends, she went to a quiet lake where she stayed in a small cabin and enjoyed the peaceful nature. At first, she thought she had to choose one life or the other. Then one day, while sitting by the lake and working on a design, she got an idea. She mixed the calm shapes of nature with her modern building style. Her new design turned out better than ever. That’s when Maya realized she didn’t have to choose—she could enjoy both her busy city job and her peaceful time at the lake. She had found the best of both worlds.
Idiom: The best of both worlds.
Meaning: An ideal situation where someone enjoys two opportunities.
Joselyn just transferred to a new college campus and she wants to make new friends but she is nervous. What could Joselyn do to try and make new friends?
Join organizations or talk to new people on campus or in class.
Mia leaves her laptop open in a public café while she goes to order food at the counter. She places her backpack on the chair next to her laptop but does not keep it in view when she walks away. When she returns a few minutes later, her backpack is gone from the chair, and she looks around the café but does not see it anywhere.
What might have happened to Mia's backpack?
Someone likely stole her backpack
When Jessie didn’t get the job she really wanted, she felt disappointed and thought all her hard work had gone to waste. However, a few days later, another company she had applied to contacted her with a better offer, including higher pay and a more positive work environment. At that moment, Jessie realized that losing the first opportunity was actually a blessing in disguise, because it led her to something even better than she had originally hoped for.
Idiom: A blessing in disguise
Meaning: A good thing that seemed bad at first.
Ben applies for an internship and gets an email asking for an interview time. He sees the email two days later, and the available interview slots are almost gone. What could he do now?
Ben should reply immediately to the email, apologize for the delayed response, and politely ask if any interview times are still available or if the interview can be rescheduled.
During an internship interview, Sam kept looking at their phone while the interviewer was talking. Sam would check the screen and type messages instead of making eye contact. The interviewer had to repeat questions more than once.
What can you infer that the interviewer might think?
The interviewer might think that Sam seems rude or uninterested.
Jordan and his sister Mia were planning their weekend, but they did not see eye to eye. Jordan wanted to go to the park and play soccer, while Mia preferred staying home to watch movies. They both tried to explain why their idea was better, but neither of them wanted to change their mind. Finally, their mom suggested a compromise: they could go to the park in the morning and watch a movie in the afternoon. Even though Jordan and Mia didn’t always see eye to eye, they learned that listening and working together could help them solve their disagreements.
Idiom: See eye to eye
Meaning: to agree on something.