About my friend

Janet is my best friend; we go to school together. We have been friends for 5 years already, since she came to our school. Some people say that we look alike but I don't think so. Janet has blue eyes and fair hair, while my eyes are brown and I'm dark-haired. She has a lovely fresh complexion and a beautiful mouth with full lips, but she is short-sighted so she wears contact lenses. Janet is quite tall and has a beautiful slim figure. Actually we are the same height and build, maybe that is why our neighbours sometimes take me for Janet. Janet is very smart and looks really attractive when she dresses up to go out with her boyfriend.

Janet likes studying languages and is thinking of learning them at the university to be able to work later for a travel agency. She can already speak French and Spanish fluently and is learning Modern Greek. Janet loves being with crowds of people and makes friends easily. She loves going to parties, and there she immediately becomes the centre of attention. Janet is good at games but never takes them seriously, so when we play tennis, I always win because she doesn't care if she wins or loses.

Janet is very witty and amusing and she always cheers me up when I am depressed because she has a wonderful sense of humour. I think her only fault is that she is restless and gets bored easily. She is an intelligent and hard-working person, but she doesn't get good marks at school because she doesn't study enough. I admire her because she is so bright and energetic, but I think it is a good thing that both her boyfriend and I are calm and tolerant, and when she is impatient with us we just laugh, and then she laughs, too.

Exercise 7. Write a similar description of a member of your family or your friend in about 15 – 20 sentences. Include the following:

1. your opinion of the person

2. physical description

3. their character, habits, likes, dislikes.

Exercise 8. Read and translate the text.

Character and Appearance

Appearance is deceptive. It is a common truth; practically everyone has met at least someone whose character and appearance differ radically.

When one sees a tall, broad-shouldered youth, one expects him to be strong-willed and brave. One thinks: "A model to follow!" How often a good-looking person turns out to be weak-willed or even cowardly. Then one thinks. "A mediocrity!"

At the same time everyone knows that a lot of great people were of poor build, short and fragile. It did not stop them from displaying intelligence and courage.

Plump or fat people create an impression of generous and kind personalities. Strangely enough, not rarely they may be greedy. One usually thinks: "What a scrooge!"

On the other hand, thin and slim ladies often tend to be lavish. They like to buy and never think twice when they pay. Then one thinks. "I would call her open-handed and my mother would call her a spend-thrift" Yes, mothers are always stricter in judgments.

Has it ever happened to you that you come to an important office and see an important boss? You immediately evaluate his appearance. "Round-faced, small eyes, dimples on the cheeks and an upturned nose. What a kind-hearted person!" You tell the boss of your troubles and expect immediate help. But the toss appears to be rude and willful. You never get your help and think: "A stone heart!"

When someone sees a delicately built pretty blonde with curly hair, blue eyes, a straight nose and a high forehead, one is inclined to think that the beauty is intelligent and nice. It may be disappointing to think later: "What a stupid impolite bore!"

On the contrary, when one sees a skinny girl with irregular features one doesn't expect her to be a clever, kind-hearted and good-mannered lady. It may be a relief to think later: "What charm! A heart of gold"

Another general misconception lies in the fact that children are always expected to resemble their parents. And parents like it when children take after them. The greatest compliment is: "They are as like as two peas." The greatest disappointment is to find nothing in common.

Exercise 9. Answer the questions.

1. Do you agree with the statement that appearance is deceptive? 2. Have you ever met a person whose character and appearance differ? 3. What do you think when you see a broad-shouldered and tall youth? 4. Does one's intelligence and courage depend upon his or her constitution? 5. What impression do plump people create? 6. What do you call people who like to buy and never think twice when they pay? 7. What are you inclined to think when you see a delicately built pretty blonde with curly hair, blue eyes, a straight nose and a high forehead? 8. How would you describe appearance of a cunning person? 9. What does a general misconception consist in? 10. Do parents like when children take after them?

Exercise 16. Sort out the personality qualities and features of appearance given in the box into corresponding column according to your opinion.

boring, stout, stupid, obstinate, slender, sensitive, forgetful, skinny, sociable, moody, greedy, calm, shy, fat, plump, mean, thin, sly, energetic, selfish, modest, tolerant, ambitious, indecisive, absent-minded, generous, dishonest, hard-working, persistent, witty, impudent, sincere, courageous, cruel, attentive, envious.

Positive/ Pleasant	Neutral	Negative/ Unpleasant