(2) It wasn't work itself that was getting to Ron, far from it. He's always worked and doesn't like to be idle. At 16 he left school and applied for a job at a nearby steelworks. He had wanted to become a carpenter but instead was offered an apprenticeship as a fitter and machinist—the same job that his father had had. "I didn’t enjoy metalwork at school, but I said, ‘Yeah, that'll do.’” He shrugged off the disappointment and made the best of things, working hard during his four-year apprenticeship and for three years after that, until a restructure made his position redundant.
(3) He bought a car with the small payout he received, gave himself seven weeks’ holiday, then started a new job as a mechanical engineer for a major international airline. This involved a commute of an hour or so each way, but that was manageable. The new role, fixing military then civilian aircraft engines, was satisfying. "It was interesting and I liked learning a new job. It was good.”
(4) Eighteen months into the new position at the airline, Ron married Sharon and 18 months after that their first child was born. He was working his way up the ladder, getting pay-rises as he went, and the conditions suited family life—rather than the 24/7 shifts of the steelworks, he was able to work five days a week on day-shift.
(5)As his children reached school age, Ron volunteered to help out at their sporting activities especially at junior lifesaving, where his sense of fun and endless patience made him a firm favorite with kids and parents. He was by now an engine marshal, an administrative role that involves supervising the acquisition of parts and the repair and assembly of huge jet engines.
(6) "I loved it,” he says, explaining with a self-deprecatory chuckle that despite having been a fitter and engineer all those years, "I’m not very patient when it comes to putting things together. If it doesn't go right I get annoyed. So it was good just being able to chill a little bit more.”
(7) Life was good, but 15 years into the job, things started to change.
(8) First Ron's team was moved to a much smaller building where they were cramped amid the engine parts. Characteristically, he made the best of it, but he wasn't enjoying work as he once had. Then, without consultation, he was put back on a rolling shift roster. "I hated it because of all the things I was missing out on, "he says, "I was coaching my son Harry's soccer team and was involved at the surf club but I had to stop all that because I was back on shift work.”
(9) Rumors began to circulate about redundancies. Ron told Sharon that if they were offered he was considering applying. "She was pretty happy because I was coming home so cranky". Over the next few weeks they discussed the kinds of things Ron might move on to. One idea just wouldn't leave him alone. "I said, ‘How about I go and teach swimming? I love water. I love kids. I could probably do that.’”
(10)After 20 years with the airline Ron took voluntary redundancy, received a five-figure payout and walked away without a second glance. He completed swimming-teacher training, and then arranged to volunteer at a swim school to build up his practical experience. Soon the school was employing him for a shift a week, and his hours built up from there.
(11) Coming from a job where the results were immediate and obvious took some adjustment for Ron. "It was different from what I thought it would be, he says, "I thought it was going to be so easy. But you're trying to teach the kids something and half the time they’re looking at you and you don’t even know if they’re listening. Then weeks or months later they will put it into action and you'll realize that they were listening all along." Ron's easy manner with both children and parents soon paid off and he became a full-time employee at the swim school.
(12) The 40 hours he works a week takes in weekends and split shifts, to cover morning and afternoon children’s classes. He has "no body hair left because of the warm water and chlorine”. He earns around 25% less than he did in engineering. And, at 49, he says he has never been happier.
(13) “I’ve had a drop in pay, but I’ve cut back on expenses, too. I'm driving half the distance to work so don’t have to pay as much for petrol. I don’t drink nearly as much. I go walking in my lunch break and I've lost 20 kilos. I love going to work. The whole family is a lot happier.”
(14) He admits it was scary, making such big leap when there was the mortgage to pay and teenagers to clothe and feed but in the end he feels it is a simple choice. "If you're in a job you don’t like, get out. Money's not everything. You might have to stop doing a few things, but you do adjust. If you don't like it, change—find something you're going to be happy with.”
This involved a commute of an hour or so each way, but that was manageable. The new role, fixing military then civilian aircraft engines, was satisfying.
【正确答案】：
这个工作需要单程一小时通勤，而这是可以应付的。维修军用和民用飞机发动机的新角色令他满意。
【题目解析】：考点：involve：需要； a commute of：通勤时间；manageable：可以应付的；satisfying：令人满意的。句子结构：第二句中fixing做非谓语修饰role，所以翻译时要调换语序，放在角色前面。