Unicorn
Opening the Mind | Warm-Up Questions
Read each question carefully. Answer in complete sentences
Which professions do you consider essential to a functioning society?
What makes a profession socially valuable or impactful?
Should society measure the importance of a job by its salary or by its contribution to others? Explain your opinion.
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Snapshot of Reality | Situational Lens
Read the situation once. Imagine you are the student. Pay attention to your instinctive reaction
You are participating in a community forum about the future of employment. The organizers have asked participants to identify professions that are essential to society and explain the responsibilities associated with them. During the discussion, some participants argue that highly paid occupations have the greatest impact, while others believe that less visible professions can be equally important. You must present your position and support it with logical examples.
© 2026 GreatMindsInternational online English. All Rights Reserved. GBS™ is a proprietary trademark of Giovanni L. Nerizon. Unauthorized duplication or distribution is strictly prohibited under PH and US Copyright Law.
Language of Nuance | Vocabulary & Expressions
Read each item carefully. Say it aloud once. Then write one paragraph using at least four of the expressions
Vocation – a profession or occupation regarded as especially meaningful or suited to a person's abilities
Sentence: She regarded teaching as a vocation because she valued helping others develop their potential.Contribution – something valuable that a person provides to a group, organization, or society
Sentence: The engineer's contribution improved the safety of the city's transportation system.Expertise – specialized knowledge or skill developed through education and experience
Sentence: Medical professionals rely on extensive expertise when making complex decisions.Infrastructure – the essential systems and facilities that allow a society or organization to function
Sentence: Reliable infrastructure is necessary for economic development and public safety.Essential – absolutely necessary for something to function effectively
Sentence: Emergency workers perform essential services during natural disasters.Impact – the significant effect that an action, decision, or person has on something
Sentence: Her research had a considerable impact on environmental policy.Public service – work performed to benefit the community or society rather than primarily to generate private profit
Sentence: Many people enter public service because they want to address problems affecting their communities.
© 2026 GreatMindsInternational online English. All Rights Reserved. GBS™ is a proprietary trademark of Giovanni L. Nerizon. Unauthorized duplication or distribution is strictly prohibited under PH and US Copyright Law.
The Core Text | Reading
Read the article slowly. Focus on the writer’s argument and examples, not on speed.
Every year, Brookdale University organized a career forum where students discussed the professions they hoped to pursue. Traditionally, many students focused on careers associated with high salaries, prestigious positions, or rapid professional advancement. One year, however, the organizers introduced a different question: Which professions would society struggle to function without?
The discussion immediately became more complex. Students mentioned doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers, farmers, sanitation workers, transportation operators, and emergency responders. They realized that many essential occupations received little public attention despite making substantial contributions to everyday life.
One student, Daniel, argued that social impact should not be measured exclusively by income or professional status. A sanitation worker, for example, might not receive the same recognition as a corporate executive, yet sanitation services are fundamental to public health. Similarly, teachers contribute to society by developing the knowledge and skills that future professionals will eventually use.
Another participant emphasized that essential professions require different forms of expertise. Engineers maintain infrastructure, healthcare workers protect public health, farmers contribute to food security, and emergency personnel respond when communities face immediate danger. Each profession performs a distinct function within a larger social system.
By the end of the discussion, the students had developed a broader understanding of professional value. They recognized that society depends on the interconnection of many occupations rather than on a small number of highly visible careers.
The forum encouraged them to evaluate careers according to their responsibilities, expertise, and impact. They concluded that meaningful work can take many forms, and the importance of a profession is often greatest when people depend on it without noticing how much it contributes to their daily lives.
© 2026 GreatMindsInternational online English. All Rights Reserved. GBS™ is a proprietary trademark of Giovanni L. Nerizon. Unauthorized duplication or distribution is strictly prohibited under PH and US Copyright Law.
Beneath the Surface | Discussion Questions
Choose two or three questions. Support your answers with examples, observations, or comparisons.
Which professions are most essential to the functioning of modern society, and why?
Why are some socially important professions less recognized than others?
Should professional importance be evaluated according to salary, expertise, social impact, or another standard?
How do different professions depend on one another to maintain a functioning society?
© 2026 GreatMindsInternational online English. All Rights Reserved. GBS™ is a proprietary trademark of Giovanni L. Nerizon. Unauthorized duplication or distribution is strictly prohibited under PH and US Copyright Law.
Turning Inward | Reflection Questions
Answer honestly. Short answers are acceptable, but aim for clarity and insight.
What profession would you consider meaningful even if it were not highly paid?
Which person's work has had a significant positive impact on your life?
What qualities would you want your future career to provide beyond financial security?
© 2026 GreatMindsInternational online English. All Rights Reserved. GBS™ is a proprietary trademark of Giovanni L. Nerizon. Unauthorized duplication or distribution is strictly prohibited under PH and US Copyright Law.
Precision Matters | G-Notes
Read the structures below.
1. Advanced Grammar Focus: "Those Who..." Relative Clauses
Those who work in emergency services often make decisions under considerable pressure.
Those who contribute to public infrastructure may not always receive immediate recognition for their work.
Why this matters:
The structure "those who + verb" allows speakers to refer to a specific group of people according to their actions, responsibilities, or characteristics. It is particularly useful when discussing professions, social groups, and general principles. In formal discussions and academic writing, it helps create precise and inclusive statements without repeating the same nouns unnecessarily.
© 2026 GreatMindsInternational online English. All Rights Reserved. GBS™ is a proprietary trademark of Giovanni L. Nerizon. Unauthorized duplication or distribution is strictly prohibited under PH and US Copyright Law.