026. Rational Cloze 2

Read the following passage and then fill in the numbered blanks with the correct answer.

Career planning serves several purposes. First, planning prevents sidetracking: it (1) against external influences which may cause a lost of focus and (2). Parents' expectations and wrong advice from people unfamiliar (3) the subject matter can cause confusion. So planning helps to get focus off the external pressure and back on the right track.

Planning allows students to recognise and (4) present opportunities. Many teenagers (5) think that they are at the beginning of their career paths only when they come to the end of their schooling days. Actually, they have been preparing for their career paths because (6) school studies and recreational activities, they are heading towards their intersts.

Therefore, the subjects they select, the sports they play and the activities they participate in all contribute towars (7) for the chosen career. Lack of planning results in a failure to develop decision-making skills acquired through these experiences.

1. A. safeguards B. prevents C. protects D. secures
2. A. direct B. direction C. directing D. to direct
3. A. in B. to C. at D. with
4. A. maximise B. socialise C. organise D. utilise
5. A. mistake B. mistook C. mistaken D. mistakenly
6. A. through B. by C. in D. at
7. A. choice B. situation C. guidance D. preparation