One way of training for your future occupation in Germany is by pursuing a dual vocational training programme. Such programmes offer plenty of opportunity for on-the-job training and work experience. Programmes usually last between two and three and a half years and comprise theoretical as well as practical elements. You will spend one or two days a week, or several weeks at once, at a vocational school where you will acquire the theoretical knowledge that you will need in your future occupation. The rest of the time will be spent at a company. There you get to apply your newly acquired knowledge in practice, for example by learning to operate machinery. You will get to know what your company does, learn how it operates and find out if you can see yourself working there after completing your training.

This combination of theory and practice gives you a real head start into your job: by the time you have completed your training, you will not only have the required technical knowledge, but you will also have hands-on experience in your job. There are around 350 officially recognised training programmes in Germany, so chances are good that one of them will suit your interests and talents. You can find out which one that might be by visiting one of the jobs and vocational training fairs which are organised in many German cities at different times in the year.

Employment prospects for students who have completed a dual vocational training programme are very good. This is one of the reasons why this kind of training is very popular with young Germans: around two thirds of all students leaving school go on to start a vocational training programme.

                                                                              (Source: http ://www. make-it-in-germany. com)

Question 31. How many German school leavers choose this vocational training programme?

            A.around one out of five                     B. about 70%             

            C. less than a third                  D. well over 75%

Question 32. The word “it” in the first paragraph refers to _______.

            A. organisation           B. machinery  C. knowledge  D. company

Question 33. Which of the following statements best describes the dual vocational training programmes?

            A. These programmes provide you with both theoretical knowledge and practical working experience.           B. These programmes consist of an intensive theoretical course of two and a half years at a vocational 

          school.              

            C. These programmes require you to have only practical working time at a certain company.              

            D. These programmes offer you some necessary technical skills to do your future job.

Question 34. The word “hands-on” in the second paragraph is closest in meaning to _______.

            A. practical     B. technical     C. theoretical  D. integral  

Question 35. Which of the following is probably the best title of the passage?

            A. Employment Opportunities and Prospects in Germany                           

            B. Dual Vocational Training System in Germany                

            C. Combination of Theory and Practice in Studying in Germany                    

            D. Higher Education System in Germany