[originaltext] Here’s a question for you. What are the liberal arts? The lib

Here’s a question for you. What are the liberal arts? The liberal arts refer to a wide range of academic subjects that can prepare students for a variety of occupations. College majors that fall under this category do not typically train students for any one career. It includes broad areas of study such as the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and mathematics.
    The humanities include subjects such as drama, music, dance and language. Sociology, psychology, geography and economics are all social sciences. Biology and physics are two examples of natural sciences. Regardless of the career you choose, certain qualities called soft skills will make you invaluable to employers and are vital to your success in many occupations including those in technology. They include critical thinking, problem solving, creativity and innovation, research skills, writing and oral communication, interpersonal skills and the ability to learn.
    You may already have some of these abilities, but you must find a way to acquire those you don’t. The best way to do that is through liberal arts education. Regardless of your major, make room in your schedule for classes in literature, history, sociology and psychology. The second question is: should you major in liberal arts? There is room for both STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and liberal arts in the education of our future workforce. Students should be exposed to both areas of study, but we must also realize that there is a suitable career for everyone. You may find that a career that emphasizes the liberal arts is a better fit for you while your best friend may find success in a STEM occupation. If you want to pursue a career that requires you to get an undergraduate degree in one of the subjects that falls under this category, you should certainly do that. If you will ultimately need a master’s degree for your chosen occupation, you may have some flexibility regarding your undergraduate major. Choosing a liberal arts major will allow you to not only amass the soft skills that will follow you through graduate school and your future career, but it will also expose you to knowledge in a wide range of subjects.
    Questions 23 to 25 are based on the recording you have just heard.
    23. What can be learned about soft skills?
    24. What does the speaker suggest students do when choosing their majors?
    25. What does the speaker say about the advantage of a liberal arts major?