Amelia had always been a meticulous planner. Her life was a carefully constructed timeline, with every goal mapped out in detail. Her current big objective was to secure a promotion at work. She had been working her fingers to the bone for months, hoping her dedication would finally pay off.
One Tuesday morning, she was getting ready for an important meeting. She had stayed up late the night before, refining her presentation. As she was about to head out the door, her phone rang. It was her sister, distraught. Their grandmother, who lived in another country, had suddenly fallen ill. Amelia felt her stomach drop.
“I need you to come over,” her sister pleaded. “She needs someone there.”
Amelia’s carefully laid plans instantly fell apart. Her promotion, her meticulously prepared presentation – it all seemed trivial in comparison. She knew she had to drop everything and go. It was a tough decision to break the news to her boss, but to her surprise, he was incredibly understanding. “Family comes first,” he said, giving her his full support.
Within hours, Amelia had packed up a small bag and was on her way to the airport. The journey was long and tiring, but her mind was solely focused on her grandmother. When she finally arrived at the hospital, her grandmother was weak but her spirits seemed to pick up when she saw Amelia.
Amelia ended up staying for two weeks, caring for her grandmother and supporting her family. She missed work, postponed her promotion goal, and had to deal with a lot of uncertainty. Yet, surprisingly, she felt a profound sense of peace. She realized that sometimes, life throws a curveball, and you have to be ready to roll with the punches.
Upon her return, her boss not only commended her for her dedication to family but also offered her a new project that was even more exciting than the promotion she’d been aiming for. It was a clear sign that sometimes, when you let go of your rigid plans, something even better comes along. Amelia learned that true success isn’t just about sticking to a plan, but about knowing when to adapt and show up for what truly matters.
Comprehension Exercise
Read the story above and answer the following questions:
-
What was Amelia’s main goal before the phone call? a) To start her own business. b) To secure a promotion at work. c) To travel to another country. d) To help her sister.
-
Which idiom describes Amelia’s hard work before the important meeting? a) “Her stomach drop.” b) “Working her fingers to the bone.” c) “Let go of your rigid plans.” d) “Throw a curveball.”
-
What did Amelia do immediately after learning about her grandmother’s illness, using a phrasal verb from the text? a) She decided to stay up late. b) She had to drop everything. c) She started to head out for work. d) She chose to pack up her presentation.
-
How did Amelia’s boss react to her news about her grandmother? a) He was disappointed. b) He was angry. c) He was understanding and supportive. d) He offered her a different job.
-
What idiom means to face unexpected problems and adapt to them, as learned by Amelia? a) “Meticulous planner.” b) “Come along.” c) “Roll with the punches.” d) “Show up for what truly matters.”
Answer Key
- b) To secure a promotion at work.
- b) “Working her fingers to the bone.”
- b) She had to drop everything.
- c) He was understanding and supportive.
- c) “Roll with the punches.”