But back to the driver who took me to the station. He worked as a compositor
at the newspaper for more than twenty years (compositor = a person who set and
corrected type and assembled text). He was a ‘hot metal’ man
when newspapers were produced with metal letters. He did a 7-year apprenticeship
with 12-week release courses every year. He was a member of a print union. He
had professional knowledge, had acquired a skill, and was a member of a proud
trade. But all that is gone. With modern digital printing there is no need for
his skills anymore. So he drives a taxi, and the question I ask myself is
whether I should mourn the passing of his trade which, as so many others, has
disappeared under the weight of modernity.
Ritaffreitas Freitas on 20 Jan 10Aimed at the beginner and intermediate student. Includes grammar and vocabulary sections with additional exercises for practice. You can study grammar or vocabulary topics and try one of the 400 exercises and language games.
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