Passage 2

　　Every single student that applies for a class or course online has certain expectations and they are often extremely high. Unfortunately for most individuals, they will be disappointed. It is a fact that the majority of individuals believe that they will actually enjoy every aspect of their course. The truth is that there is very little in a degree to inspire until an individual actually completes the course and is awarded the degree or certificate that could change his or her life. This is no different with an online education and, in fact, the disappointment may be more obvious because they may face extra difficulties in an online course.

　　Online education expectations are often incredibly high, as previously stated, in terms of what an individual can get from it as well as the manageability of the content itself. However, although an individual will ultimately be proven right about what he or she can get from it, this will not be the case for manageability. Most online education courses are anything but manageable for those who decide to take them. The level of work would be the same as any other degree or qualification course, but an individual is expected to manage it on his or her own instead of having a tutor or lecturer there to remind him or her about assignments and deadlines. Time management is extremely important, but the nature of these individuals’ life often makes it impossible to manage without feeling the stresses and strains of the burden.

　　It is important to be realistic with your expectations concerning an online education course, but many are completely unrealistic. If you read any of the accounts from students that have already taken and may have even passed an online education course, many will speak in glowing terms; but you should also read between the lines.

　　They claim that their expectations will ultimately be fulfilled in terms of the long-term benefits. However, in the short term they may say they found it difficult to cope with the workload, the lack of time that they actually had to complete it, an unsupportive employer and so on. This last point may not be an issue if you are doing it to advance yourself within your current workplace, but there will otherwise be some sort of resentment bubbling under the surface and that can indeed make your life a misery for a little while. If you expect it and prepare for it then it should not bother you too much, and if the resentment does not come then so much the better!

　　In terms of your own expectations, the best attitude to have is not to go in with any at all. If you do not expect anything then you may be pleasantly surprised. It can be difficult to fit an online education in with personal commitments, such as a family to look after or a job to go to every day whilst trying to study. It does take a lot of effort, but if you do not expect it to be easy or expect that you will just be able to do it without the balance of your life being upset as a result, then you will probably find that you do get a sense of satisfaction from it! Similarly, if you expect the worst then you will probably be pleasantly surprised! Managing your expectations can be difficult, but do not let them get the better of you !

　　46. The manageability is more difficult in online courses than in any other course because ______.

　　A. online courses require higher level of work

　　B. online courses bring much more assignments

　　C. online course takers have no way to contact their lecturers

　　D. online course takers have to rely on themselves for management

　　47. According to the passage, one may not have the problem of an unsupportive employer if ______.

　　A. he is fully prepared to deal with any resentment from his boss

　　B. his online education will be beneficial to his current workplace

　　C. his expectations will be fulfilled in the form of long-term benefits

　　D. he can discuss the issue width his boss openly and bravely on the table

　　48. According to the writer of this passage, one’s satisfaction in online education might come from ______.

　　A. high expectations

　　B. diligent efforts

　　C. a realistic attitude

　　D. a proper balance

　　49. In the last sentence of this passage, the phrase “get the better of you” probably means “______”.

　　A. make a fool of you

　　B. take advantage of you

　　C. get too fancy for you to imagine

　　D. become too high for you to control

　　50. This passage is written mainly for the purpose of ______.

　　A. inspiring its readers to fulfill their expectations through hard work

　　B. persuading its readers to be more practical with their personal commitments

　　C. informing its readers about the disadvantages of the courses they take online

　　D. preparing its readers for the hardships they may encounter in online education