Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 1 to 8.

When Mai was still at school, she thought she should (1) _______ a career in secondary education. A teaching job requires not only a university degree, but also work (2) _______. She attended an education fair and was advised to start developing her (3) _______, especially her communication, problem-solving and decision-making skills. Then she decided to study journalism and upon graduation, she found a job at a newspaper publisher. It didn't take Mai long to (4) _______ to her working environment. Although she often works overtime, she still finds time to (5) _______ on her Italian. She has also become part of an online (6) _______ where she can practise her Italian. She is also saving money to apply for an MA (7) _______ programme. She hopes that getting a master's degree will help her (8) _______ the professional career.

1.  A. pursue                                B. apply                             C. require               D. motivate 

2.  A. experience                          B. distance                       C. character           D. assistant

3.  A. time-management skills      B. leadership skills          C. soft skills            D. talents

4.  A. hire                                      B. prepare                       C. adopt                 D. adapt 

5.  A. look up                                B. pick up                        C. catch up            D. brush up 

6.  A. qualification                        B. learning community     C. position             D. lifelong learning

7.  A. night school                        B. hardship                       C. passion            D. distance learning 

8.  A. hire                                     B. inform                           C. boost                D. require