Track 24

Track 24

Examiner: Do you think people are more adventurous now than in the past?

Candidate: On the whole, yes, I think they are. When I compare young people today with my parent’s generation, I would say that attitudes have shifted. People expect more from life and want to develop personally as well as professionally. People are looking for experiences that will transform them in some way - give them new insights. For example, many people my age want to travel abroad and experience very different life styles.

Examiner: Why, in your view, have attitudes towards risk changed?

Candidate: I suppose society has evolved. There is a greater emphasis on independence and originality. You can’t develop these qualities without taking risks. In my country, previous generations were more likely to conform. People would adjust their behaviour so as not to stand out too much. These days, people want to be a bit different; they want to stand out from the crowd.

Examiner: What sort of adventures do you think people will be having in ten or twenty years’ time?

Candidate: I think as tourism extends into every corner of the world, interest in foreign travel as a form of adventure will diminish. People will look for adventure closer to home, maybe by being more creative - doing things that haven’t been done before. I have a friend who’s lost his job and had to abandon his plans to travel abroad. He’s going to see how far he can get by travelling on local buses. I think he’s calculated that he can get halfway across the country. It will be quite an adventure!