I suppose so because character is associated with ... And ...
We can’t but say this because ...
No doubt, character depends on ... and ... because ...
What’s more, it’s important to mention that ...
So, I can come to the conclusion that ...
LESSON 2. WHAT KIND OF PERSON ARE YOU?
“We know what we are, but
know not what we may be”.
W. Shakespeare
It’s a well-known fact that in order to get to know yourself better, we should learn more about the peculiarities of other people’s characters.
Exercise 1. Read the ideas people use to describe their own character and say whose personality appeals to you most of all.
Irene: “Well, actually it’s very difficult to speak about yourself. But still, I’ll try. I think I’m home-loving, kind and patient. I can get on with people well, because I always try to help them and they trust me. But sometimes I am lazy – I don’t want to do anything. And I guess Steve doesn’t like it very much.”
Steve: “I’m practical I think, because I always try to do the work that will help me in future. I’m also honest and I don’t like those people who lie to me, because I always notice it and tell them about it. That’s why they say that I’m tactless. I won’t argue, perhaps I am. What I don’t like about myself is that I’m sometimes bossy and Irene knows it very well. I am sorry.”
Jane: “Me? Ha! My mother says that I’m light-minded, because I do everything without thinking. I like to take risks, because I’m really risky. The feature of my character that I really hate is that I’m undisciplined and my mother is always angry with me about it. But I’m really hard-working. I try to do everything when I’m asked, but sometimes I just forget about it.”
Kate: “I’m very conservative, they say and I completely agree with them. I never change anything in my life: ideas, principles, and friends. And the proverb ‘’ Old friends and old wines are the best’’ is my motto. I don’t go out often as I like to stay at home with my relatives. People say that I’m shy. Is it really bad?”
George: “I’m very timid. I’m always afraid that people will laugh at me. I’m not very sociable. As I work in the Zoo, I prefer to spend time with my animals. I’m also very patient, because animals need care and attention. I like them very much and they know it.”
Mark: “I’m very active, although my parents say that I’m lazy, because I don’t like to do the things they want me to do. I think that I’m leading, because I want other people to follow me. They sometimes get offended with me and say that I’m rude. But I don’t think that I’m really that bad. I’m just very honest and I tell other people what I think about them. It’s natural, believe me. And if they don’t agree with me, it’s their problem.”
Natalie: “Hi! I’m Natalie. I have a lot of friends. But I can say that most of all I enjoy my own company. My brother believes that I’m rather self-centered and live only for myself. Do you consider it bad? I think selfishness is not so bad, because all people are selfish. The most important thing is being hard-working, thorough and ambitious. That’s why my friends say that I’m very reasonable and trustworthy.”
Andrew: “You might think that I boast, but I’d say that I’m really clever. I study a lot because I like it and I try to work hard to get good results. That’s why I think that I’m determined. I’m rather critical I’d say, because I like when everything is perfect. Do you still think that I boast?”
Exercise 2. Find in the opinions the ideas to say whether the following statements are true or false. If one is wrong, correct it.
Irene is very shy.
Steve is lazy.
Jane is risky.
Mark is a hard-working person.
Natalie is very self-centered.
Andrew is boastful.
Kate is very conservative.
George is kind.
People say that Steve is tactless.
People say that Jane is light-minded.
People say that Kate is unsociable.
People say that Irene is patient.
People say that Natalie is selfish.
People are sure that Mark is very polite.
People believe that Andrew is clever.
People are of the opinion that George is timid.
Exercise 3. Find in the opinions the ideas to explain
why people like Irene
why Kate stays at home often
why Natalie enjoys her own company
why Mark’s parents say that he is lazy
why Jane’s mother is often angry with her
how George spends his time
what kind of people Steve dislikes
why Andrew is very critical
what Steve doesn’t like in his girl-friend, according to her viewpoint
what Kate’s motto is
why Andrew studies a lot
why Steve thinks that he is very practical
why Natalie doesn’t think that she is selfish
why George spends more time with animals than with people
why Mark’s friends get offended
why Jane’s mother says that she is undisciplined
Exercise 4. Complete the given statements in writing, finding in the opinions the best continuation.
People are interested in Irene because ___________________________
People think that Steve is tactless because ________________________
Jane is very light-minded because _______________________________
Mark doesn’t agree with his parents because _______________________
Natalie has few friends because __________________________________
Andrew thinks that he is clever because ___________________________
Kate likes to stay at home because _______________________________
George is afraid of communicating with people because _______________
People don’t like Natalie because _________________________________
People are sure that Andrew boasts a lot because ____________________
Mark gets along badly with his friends because ______________________
Steve says that he’s practical because _____________________________
George spends his time with animals because _______________________
Mark is honest because ________________________________________
Exercise 5. Whose personality of the mentioned above appeals to you most? Follow the scheme to answer the question.
I’ve read ... descriptions of different characters.
I find the descriptions ... and ... .
First, ...’s personality appeals to me most of all.
... is ... and at the same time ... is ... .
It’s wonderful when one is ... and ... .
The only fault that I see here is ... .
I wouldn’t be able to communicate with the one who is ... or ... .
Besides, it also should be mentioned that ... is ... .
As for other people mentioned above, I like ... too.
His/ her ... draws my attention.
As for the rest of the people, I should say that I won’t mix with them as they are ... and ... .
Such people can irritate me as they are ... .
So, you see that ...’s personality attracts me.
So, you see that people’s personalities are different and we perceive one and the same person differently. But do other people see you as you see yourself?
It is no good looking into a mirror if you wish to see the person who is really you. The only real test is to see yourself in the same way as other people see you. The following quiz has been psychologically developed to help you do exactly that ...
Exercise 7.Work through this quiz with a partner. Count the results. Be ready to comment on them.
1. When do you feel yourself best:
Soon after waking up? a
During the afternoon and early evening? b
Before you go to bed? c
2. Do you usually walk:
Quite fast, with long, swinging steps? a
Quite fast, but with short, quick steps? b
Not very fast, with your head up, looking at the world? c
Not very fast, with your head down? d
Very slowly? e
3. When you are talking to people do you:
Stand with your arms folded? a
Stand with your hands together in front of you? b
Stand with one or both hands on your hips? c
Touch the person you are talking to? d
Touch your ear or chin or smooth your hair? e
Have something like a pencil or a cigarette in your hands? f
4. When you are relaxing, do you sit with:
Your knees bent and your legs together? a
Your legs crossed or wrapped round each other? b
Your legs stretched straight out in front of you? c
With one leg curled up underneath you? d
5. When you find something very funny, how do you react? Do you:
Give a loud, appreciative laugh? a
Laugh, but not very loudly? b
Laugh softly, under your breath? c
Give a very big smile? d
Smile slowly? e
6. When you go to a party, do you:
Make so much noise as you enter that everybody notices you? a
Walk in quietly looking for someone you know? b
Hope that nobody will see you walking in, so you can remain unknown? с
7. When you are interrupted while you are working hard, concentrating on something, do you:
Feel pleased to be interrupted a
Feel very irritated? b
Or do you feel neither of these reactions very strongly? c
8. Which of the following colours do you like most:
Red or orange? a
White? b
Black? c
Dark blue or purple? d
Yellow or light blue? e
Brown, grey or violet? f
Green? g
9. Just before you go to sleep, when you are lying in bed, do you lie:
Flat out on your back? a
Stretched out on your front? b
On your side? c
With your head under one arm? d
With your head under the bedclothes? e
10. Do you often dream that you are:
Falling? a
Involved in a fight? b
Looking for someone or something? c
Liking your clothes off or with nothing on at all? d
Flying or floating? e
Do you dream rarely? f
Or do you usually have nice pleasant dreams? g
1. |
A - 2 |
B - 4 |
C – 6 |
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2. |
A - 6 |
B - 4 |
C - 7 |
D - 2 |
E - 1 |
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3. |
A - 4 |
B - 2 |
C - 5 |
D - 7 |
E - 6 |
F - 1 |
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4. |
A - 4 |
B - 6 |
C - 2 |
D - 1 |
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5. |
A - 6 |
B - 4 |
C - 3 |
D - 5 |
E - 2 |
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A - 6 |
B - 4 |
C - 2 |
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7. |
A - 6 |
B - 2 |
C - 4 |
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8. |
A - 6 |
B - 2 |
C - 7 |
D - 3 |
E - 5 |
F - 1 |
G - 4 |
9. |
A - 7 |
B - 6 |
C - 4 |
D - 2 |
E - 1 |
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10. |
A - 4 |
B - 2 |
C - 3 |
D - 7 |
E - 5 |
F - 6 |
G - 1 |
LESSON 3. WHAT KIND OF PERSON IS YOUR FRIEND?
Exercise 1. Study the given table and describe your friend’s character.
1. My friend was born in … and his/ her Zodiac sign is … |
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2. By nature my friend is … |
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3. I like to be around her/ him because … |
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4. I always admire my friend for … |
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5. To my mind, my friend has only one negative quality as he/ she … |
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6. But I am happy to have such a friend and I am sure he/ she will never … |
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7. … is my bosom friend. I am sure we will … |
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Exercise 2. Do you believe that your character or your friend’s character is determined by the stars? What astrological sign do you have? Say if you are typical of your sign or not. Use the words: extremely, not at all, quite/ fairly, a bit, rather, very. Follow the model if necessary.
M: - I think I’m quite happy and I’m rather emotional.
- I don’t think I’m very happy but I’m rather emotional.
Exercise 3. What astrological sign does your friend have? Describe him/ her using the tables.
What qualities are typical of your friend?
Do you like to communicate with him/ her?
What do you value in your friend most of all?
What don’t you like in your friend?
Are you happy that you have such a friend? Why?
♪ Exercise 4. Listen to the dialogue about people’s attitude to horoscopes and fill in the names of zodiac signs and the missing traits of character concerning Zodiac signs.
♪ Make sure you know the pronunciation of the following words and their Russian equivalents.
calm practical
concerning realistic
future reliable
imagine rise
late well-balanced
lonely zodiac sign
meeting
“Horoscope”.
Hi, Mark!
Hi, Jane! What are you reading?
It’s a horoscope for next year.
Do you believe in horoscopes?
Not really, but sometimes I have doubts about my future and I want to find out what will happen. Then I read horoscopes.
I never read horoscopes. I don’t believe in what they say.
What is your zodiac sign?
_____________
So you must be ___________, _______________, _______________ and rather __________. That’s why you don’t believe in horoscopes.
That’s interesting. What else can you tell me about my personality?
You are __________ and generally __________.
And what about my future?
You will be really ____________ this week. You will forget about important meetings and it’s not the best time to be _________. You have to start taking part in more activities – go on holiday.
You know, it’s true that I have been feeling rather ___________ recently. But I can’t imagine myself being ___________. I never lose things or arrive late for meetings. What about my career?
You will begin to look for a new job. You can start thinking about your future now.
That’s amazing! I really want to change my job! My boss doesn’t want to give me a rise and I’m beginning to feel fed up with my work there.
So, it’s high time you changed it.
Thanks for the lesson, but I’m still not sure if I should start believing in horoscopes. What’s the time?
It’s 6.40.
What? I’m going to be late for the meeting concerning my new job!
Didn’t I warn you?
♪ Exercise 5. Supply the English equivalents for these sentences and check with the recording. Consult the previous dialogue if necessary.
Я (не) верю в гороскопы.
Самый подходящий момент, чтобы это изменить.
Что ты можешь мне сказать о моей личности?
Каков ваш знак зодиака?
Вы являетесь спокойным, рассудительным и реалистичным человеком.
♪ Exercise 6. Listen to one more dialogue about people’s characters. Fill in the blanks with the words from the box below. Check your suggestions with the recording.
girl sister kind modest open count reliable trust hair different rude intolerant |
This is a nice party, isn’t it?
Yes, it’s all right.
Do you know that .......... over there?
Yes, it’s Brian’s ............... .
What is she like?
She seems to be a very .................. person. She is very ................ and ............... to everybody. I think you can always .............. on her.
I like ................. people.
Yes, me too. And I think she is the kind of person you can always ................ .
And do you know that girl over there?
Which one? The one with short ..............?
Yes.
I know her, as well, but she is totally .................... .
What do you mean?
Well, she is very ............ and ................... . In fact, not many people like her.
So what she is doing at this party?
I’m asking myself the same question.
Exercise 7. Pair off. Suggest your own variant of the dialogue concerning horoscopes. Follow the one above as a model.
Exercise 8. Do you believe in horoscopes? Get ready with the utterance to stand your ground.
LESSON 4. IS TEMPERAMENT GUILTY?
Why does a person behave in a particular manner? Psychology has its own opinion of this problem. Psychologists consider that only temperament determines our behaviour.
Do you know anything about the types of people’s temperaments? What’s your temperament like?
Exercise 1. Read the poem and comment on its message. Which type of the temperament is this person close to? How can you prove?
“The Pessimist”
Nothing to do but work,
Nothing to eat but food,
Nothing to wear but clothes,
To keep one from going nude.
Nothing to breathe but air,
Quick as a flash ‘tis gone;
Nowhere to fall but off,
Nowhere to stand but on.
Nothing to comb but hair,
Nowhere to sleep but in bed,
Nothing to weep but tears,
Nothing to bury but dead.
Nothing to sing but songs,
Ah, well, alas! alack!
Nowhere to go but out,
Nowhere to come but back.
Nothing to see but sights,
Nothing to quench but thirst,
Nothing to have but what we’ve got.
Thus through life we are cursed,
Nothing to strike but a gait;
Everything moves that goes.
Nothing at all but common sense
Can ever withstand these woes.
B.J. King
Exercise 2. Look on the figure which gives in brief outline the results of a large amount of research.
In the smaller circle at the centre you will see the four classical temperaments. You see that two of the temperaments, the choleric and the melancholic are opposed to the phlegmatic and the sanguine, in the sense that the former have strong emotions; are relatively unstable and neurotic, whereas the latter have rather less violent emotions and are more stable in their behaviour.
Exercise 3. a) How about the description of these four temperaments? Read an extract from the book “Fact and Fiction in Psychology” and fill in the following table:
Temperament |
Character Traits |
1. melancholic |
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2. choleric |
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3. phlegmatic |
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4. sanguine |
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b) Report on the results of your work using the Complex Subject. Follow the scheme.
The melancholic person is thought/ considered/ believed/ expected/ supposed/ known to be ... but is not ... to be ...
The choleric person is said/ stated/ reported to be ... but is not ... to be ...
The phlegmatic person is (un)likely/ certain/ sure to be ... but is not ... to be ...
The sanguine person seems/ appears/ proves/ turns out to be ... but does not ... to be ...
c) Find in the article the sentences with the Complex Subject and translate them into Russian.
Let us follow Kant, who first published his description in 1798. According to him, then, “the sanguine person is carefree and full of hope; attributes great importance to whatever he may be dealing with at the moment, but may have forgotten all about it the next. He means to keep his promises but fails to do so because he never considered deeply enough beforehand whether he would be able to keep them. He is good-natured enough to help others but is a bad debtor and constantly asks for time to pay. He is very sociable, given to pranks, contented, does not take anything very seriously, and has many, many, friends. He is not vicious but difficult to convert from his sins; he may repent but this contrition (which never becomes a feeling of guilt) is soon forgotten. He is easily fatigued and bored by work but is constantly engaged in mere games – these carry with them constant change, and persistence is not his forte.”
We next come to the melancholic temperament. “People tending towards melancholia attribute great importance to everything that concerns them. They discover everywhere cause for anxiety and notice first of all the difficulties in a situation, in contradistinction to the sanguine person. He does not make promises easily because he insists on keeping his word, but has to consider whether he will be able to do so. All this is not so because of moral considerations but because interaction with others makes him worried, suspicious and thoughtful. It is for this reason that happiness escapes him.”
Here now is what Kant has to say about the choleric temperament. “The choleric person is said to be hot-headed, is quickly roused, but easily calmed down if his opponent gives in; he is annoyed without lasting hatred. Activity is quick but not persistent. He is busy but does not like to be in business precisely because he is not persistent; he prefers to give orders but does not want to be bothered with carrying them out. He loves open recognition and wants to be publicly praised. He loves appearances, pomp and formality; he is full of pride and self-love. He is miserly; polite but with ceremony; he suffers most through the refusal of others to fall in with his pretensions. In one word, the choleric temperament is the least happy because it is most likely to call forth opposition to itself.”
Last, the phlegmatic temperament. “Phlegm means lack of emotion, not laziness; it implies a tendency to be moved neither quickly nor easily but persistently. Such a person warms up slowly but he retains the warmth longer. He acts on principle not by instinct; his happy temperament may supply the lack of sagacity and wisdom. He is reasonable in his dealing with other people and usually gets his way by persisting in his objectives while appearing to give way to others.” (The reader may perhaps guess that Kant considered himself a phlegmatic!)
Exercise 4. Make sure you know how to pronounce the following words. Provide their Russian equivalents.
Melancholic, choleric, phlegmatic, sanguine, debtor, vicious, anxiety, precisely, sagacity, hatred
Exercise 5. Unscramble the given words.
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Exercise 6. Match the verb with its synonym and express the same idea in the sentences below.
to attribute to repent to escape to imply to retain to fail |
to flunk to avoid to hold to regret to mean to refer |
He attributes his success to hard work.
Try to avoid danger.
Where can we go to escape the crowd?
I’ve failed my exam in English this semester.
You can hardly avoid meeting her if both of you work in the same office.
How can we escape observation?
Some people can’t hold their anger if they are irritated.
We’ve just avoided an accident.
You were lucky to escape punishment.
Do you imply that I’m not telling the truth?
I regret being unable to help.
Exercise 7. Say if the sentences are true or false. Prove your viewpoint.
The sanguine person is careless, but is always full of ideas.
The sanguine person is considerate and thinks a lot before doing something.
The sanguine person has a sense of humour.
The sanguine person is a workaholic.
The melancholic person is doubtful.
The melancholic person cannot keep his word.
In general, the melancholic person can be happy.
The choleric person is said to be hot-blooded.
The choleric person is known to be lazy.
The choleric person likes to speak in public.
The phlegmatic person is easy to make do something.
The phlegmatic person is said to be smart.
The phlegmatic person isn’t persistent.
Exercise 8. Sum up the information about different types of temperament and translate the situations into English.
Известно, что сангвиники по натуре беззаботны, но полны надежд.
Предполагается, что сангвиники придают большое значение тому, чем они занимаются в настоящий момент.
Сангвиники склонны не сдерживать свои обещания, потому что они не обдумывают своих обещаний заранее.
Не давайте им деньги в долг. Сангвиники считаются ужасными должниками, но постоянно просят, чтобы им напомнили время возврата долга.
Сангвиники общительны и имеют много друзей. Они любят шутить и не воспринимают некоторые вещи серьёзно.
Сангвиники быстро утомляются и начинают скучать, если в работе не происходит постоянных изменений.
Меланхолики склонны к беспокойству, и всегда отмечают трудности в любой ситуации.
В отличии от сангвиников, меланхолики не дают обещаний, потому что они хорошо обдумывают свои дела и поступки.
Из-за того, что меланхолики подозрительны и задумчивы, счастье избегает их.
Холерики бывают вспыльчивы, но быстро успокаиваются, если их оппонент сдаётся.
В работе холерики не постоянны; они предпочитают отдавать указания, но не любят беспокоиться по поводу их выполнения.
Холерики любят, когда их публично хвалят, так как они полны гордости и любви к себе.
Флегматикам, в отличии от холериков, не хватает активности, эмоций и энергии, но они не ленивы.
Флегматики руководствуются принципами, а не инстинктами.
Флегматики разумны в общении с другими людьми и умеют настоять на своём, используя свою настойчивость и упорство.
♪ Exercise 9. Look through the adjectives used to describe this or that type of temperament. Fill in the table and check your results with the recording. Each word should be written once.
Cheerful, worried, contented, touchy, delighted, unsure of oneself, dejected, weary, full of longing, thrilled, ecstatic, upset, depressed, uncertain, melancholic, exhausted, elated, enthusiastic, discontented, seething, nostalgic, nervous, exhilarated, introspective, disheartened, empty, pensive, inspired, grateful, livid, disillusioned, irritable, sentimental, insecure, merry, drained, distressed, excited, thoughtful, in a rage/ fury, optimistic, edgy, frustrated, embarrassed, positive, furious, self-satisfied, cross (BrE), gloomy, easily annoyed, heartbroken, confused, miserable, angry, to be fed up with/ sick and tired of, apprehensive, bewildered
Happiness |
Unhappiness |
Melancholy |
Anger |
Excitement |
Tiredness |
Uncertainty |
Nervousness |
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Exercise 10. Translate the situations with the adjectives mentioned above.
Она так нервничала из-за выпускных экзаменов, что не могла ни на чём сосредоточиться.
Мальчик чувствовал себя неспокойно в большой тёмной комнате.
Эта музыка действительно меня раздражает.
Когда он не вернулся во время, я начала беспокоиться.
Она была неспокойна из-за того, что подслушала в офисе.
Старшая сестра была без ума от новорожденного.
Я беспокоюсь о её здоровье. Я думаю, что она не говорит всей правды.
Их беспокоит безопасность тех, кто ещё не найден.
Я очень беспокоюсь о Марке. Я боюсь, что у него серьёзные проблемы.
Она выглядит такой встревоженной. Я думаю, ей нужна помощь.
Мой друг очень весёлый. Он знает много шуток и анекдотов.
Exercise 11. Say which types of temperaments are drawn here. Prove your suggestions.
LESSON 5. WHAT IS ANGER?
“He has the right to criticize
who has the heart to help”.
Abraham Lincoln
What kind of person are you by nature? Kind, emotional, reserved or patient? Do you always manage to remain such? Can you control yourself? Or do you think your character is your fate?
Exercise 1. Is it easy to infuriate you? Make a list of some things which had happened to you that really made you angry. Did you always have a reason for anger?
Exercise 2. It isn’t always easy for us to keep our temper when things go wrong. What is anger for you? Can you control it? Study the table “Anger”.
“Anger”
1. Anger by its nature is ...
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2. The basic drivers for anger are ...
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3. When people are angry, they can ...
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4. Anger can cause ...
- headache - high blood pressure - diseases
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5. The great outlets for anger are ...
- boxing - football } through vicarious - hockey entertainment
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6. Tips for controlling anger ...
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Exercise 3. Read the questions below. Find the answers to them in the passages given after in a mixed order, so look them through and decide on your choice. Mind that parts of the same answer may be given in different places.
Dr. Meadow, just what is this thing we call anger?
How dangerous is this emotion?
Could you tell me about the most common ways that anger shows up in daily life?
Do most of us know when we are angry, or are we often unaware that it guides our behaviour?
Do you agree that football, boxing or other violent sports give outlet for anger?
Can anger be the cause of any physical problems?
What tips would you offer for controlling temper?
It can be very dangerous. People can murder in anger, or they can turn the anger against themselves and commit suicide. We also know that people who themselves were abused as children are now abusing their own children, partly out of a belief that rough temperament is part of rearing children. But really their actions can often be traced to their own rage.
One of the most common cases of headache is tension, questions. The answers are and a common cause of tension is repressed or unrecognized anger. It also can contribute to high blood pressure and diseases such as arthritis. In arthritis, our own rage and frustration can make the crippling worse.
Absolutely. One of the great outlets for anger is through vicarious entertainment. Take hockey. People go to the game and enjoy the expert skating and the good playing. But when do they get to their feet? When the fight breaks out. Despite criticism that such sports may be too violent, I believe, that for spectators, they are a tremendous outlet for hostility, because sports are viewed as not quite real. Players are not really out to kill each other. People go to a wrestling match and see what appears to be one person breaking another person’s arm, and they enjoy it because they believe it is a phony. It is a wonderful outlet for them because it isn’t genuine.
A related outlet is humour. Think about the classic situation in which one man takes a pie and throws it in another’s face. People break up over this. But what is funny about a person throwing a pie in another person’s face? Well, it vibrates with our own unconscious angry feelings. But it is an acceptable outlet.
Most of us have trouble with anger because we don’t recognize it in ourselves, or we feel we have to deny it and we push it down inside us. People coming into my office will say things like: “I’m frustrated” or “I’m fed up” or “I’m sick and tired of that”. Some might even say, “You make me laugh”, when they are really saying, “I’m angry”. These are modified expressions of anger. I’ve collected more than 100 of them over the years.
There are four simple steps in dealing with anger. First and most important is to recognize it. You can’t do anything about anger until you recognize it – and by that I don’t mean intellectually. You have to feel it inside – “Yes, I am angry.”
The second thing is to decide what you’re angry about. The odds are that the man who comes home from work and kicks the dog is not angry about the dog. He’s angry because he had a hard time at the office.
Anger is not a basic drive but an emotion that is acquired and developed over time. It arises from a number of sources, one of the most common being frustration. In part, it is the essence of growing up.
A baby starts out doing anything he wants, but soon he runs into frustration when he is made to sit at the table, eat with a spoon, drink from a cup and control his bladder. This is necessary, however. If you don’t frustrate a child and teach him about structure and control, he can’t grow up normally.
As life goes on, people are forced to adapt to still more physical and mental challenges – in school, in college, at work, in contacts with others and the world in general. Anger boils down to the frustration people feel at wanting something and not being able to have it, whether it is more satisfaction on the job or a ride home from work without a traffic jam.
Outbursts of temper, screaming and physical manifestations. But depression is probably the most common sign of hidden anger in our society. More people get depressed because of repressed or unrecognized anger than almost any other symptom.
When people speak of having the blues or just feeling blab, I suggest that they look into what’s going on inside themselves and see if there’s something they’re angry about.
A more disguised category is indirect expression of anger: “I was disappointed” or “I felt let down”. Little Johnny comes home from school with all D’s on his report card, and his Mother says, “Now, I’m not angry, Johnny, but I’m disappointed in you”. But poor Johnny can’t fight back, because the mother is using a euphemism and even denying her anger.
The fourth step takes care of itself. If I’m angry at my boss because he doesn’t treat me like his son, then the problem is within me. I have to recognize that my anger is unfounded. On the other hand, a woman who is angry about her job because she feels she is the victim of discrimination must sit down and analyze whether she is being hypersensitive or whether she has a legitimate complaint. If there is proof, for example, that she is getting a lower salary than she should, then the anger is legitimate, and she should set out to change the situation.
The third step can be a particularly difficult one. Why are you really angry? If a man is angry at his boss because his boss hasn’t treated him like a son and has not given him special favors, as a father would, then that’s not a realistic reason to be angry. After all, the boss is not his father. If, on the other hand, somebody is stepping on my foot, giving me a lot of pain, that’s a real reason to be angry. You have to decide whether what you’re angry about is realistic.
Exercise 4. Make sure you know how to pronounce the following words correctly. Provide the Russian equivalents for them.
Rear, arthritis, frustration, outlet, vicarious, tremendous, wrestling, phony, genuine, acceptable, acquire, disguised, euphemism, hypersensitive, legitimate
Exercise 5. Find the prepositions these words were used with and read out the sentences with the given verbs.
to trace ... sth to contribute ... sth to break .../ ... sth
to push ... sth to be fed ... to deal ... sth/ sb
to start ... sth to be angry ... sth/ ... sb to go ... doing sth
to fight ... to be disappointed ... sb to set ...
Exercise 6. Provide the English equivalents for the following word combinations and practise using them while translating the situations given below.
совершить самоубийство; злоупотреблять; плохо обращаться; из-за уверенности; грубый темперамент; подавленный; гнев; высокое кровяное давление; враждебность; «нет сил терпеть»; определённые выражения гнева; физические и моральные проблемы; вспышки гнева; грустить; быть в плохом настроении; необоснованный гнев; жертва дискриминации
Часто подростки совершают самоубийства из-за непонимания со стороны родителей или из-за несчастной, неразделённой любви.
Многие родители плохо обращаются со своими детьми. А этот факт может в будущем отразиться на развитии личности ребёнка.
Из-за уверенности в своей правоте, некоторые люди игнорируют полезные советы или замечания окружающих.
Человек с грубым темпераментом не должен работать с детьми.
Гнев может привести к повышению кровяного давления.
Многие люди, которые считают себя консерваторами, испытывают враждебность по отношению к новым идеям и переменам.
«Нет сил терпеть» - типичная фраза, знакомая многим психологам.
Определённые выражения гнева помогают психологам понять причины депрессии.
Физические и моральные проблемы, которые испытывают подростки, могут показаться взрослым глупыми и незначительными.
Необоснованные вспышки гнева могут испортить любые отношения.
Когда человек грустит, бывает трудно смириться с этим и понять причину его плохого настроения.
Женщины больше не хотят быть жертвами мужской дискриминации и всё чаще и чаще выходят на первые позиции в бизнесе, науке и искусстве.
Unit II. National Character. How Do We See Each Other?
LESSON 6. TYPICAL AMERICANS. WHAT ARE THEY?
People who travel to another country take more than just their luggage. They take their own ideas, their own way of thinking and their own lifestyle as well.
Exercise 1. Read the interviews of people from different countries. Name the typical features of the Americans they mention.
- Toughness? Toughness comes from the sense of individual freedom - the first value and belief of Americans.
- Self-reliance and moral value? Self-reliance and moral value are supposed to be obligatory to a true American and most Americans believe that individuals must rely on themselves; otherwise they risk losing their freedom. True Americans must come to both financial and emotional independence from their parents by the age of 18 or 21. So, self-reliance and moral value are supposed to be obligatory to a true American.
- Confident and optimistic? Americans are confident and optimistic; they believe competition and desire to win are healthy and desirable. In spite of the fact that society cannot consist only of "winners", the Americans are confident and optimistic and believe competition and desire to win are healthy and desirable.
- Inventive and optimistic? The fact that Americans are inventive and optimistic proceeds from a "can-do" spirit of earlier settlers who had to be inventive experimenters and had come to believe that every problem has a solution.
- Changes? Yes, Americans are very changeable and love changes. Americans love changes and call it "the spirit of adventure". They change homes and jobs, friends and cars, and call it "the spirit of adventure".
- Sociable? It is easy to communicate with Americans because they are very sociable. Some people believe it is ill-mannered to be sociable and to ask so many questions as Americans do.
Exercise 2. Provide the English equivalents to the following Russian words and word combinations.
Жесткость (выносливость), общительный, плохие манеры, дух приключений, изменчивый, изобретательный, конкуренция, желание победить, победитель, экспериментаторы, дух всемогущего, обязательный, способность положиться на себя, моральные ценности, эмоциональная и финансовая независимость.
Exercise 3. Provide synonyms for the following words.
Sociable |
communicative, ... |
Self-reliable |
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Independent |
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Optimistic |
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Inventive |
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Exercise 4. There are certain stereotypes about every nation. What stereotypes do Germans, French people and Englishmen have? Some of them can be positive, some - negative, and others - neutral.
1. Americans? You can easily spot them abroad by their toughness. It comes from their sense of individual freedom - their first value and belief. Americans realize, however, that individuals must rely on themselves; otherwise they risk losing their freedom. They must come to both financial and emotional independence from their parents as early as possible, usually by the age of 18 or 21. So, self-reliance and moral value are supposed to be obligatory to a true American. It designates the ability of succeeding on one's own. "Pull yourself up by the bootstraps" is their saying as well as "Life is what you make of it" and "Actions speak louder than words"
(German)
2. Typical Americans? I think they are very confident and optimistic. 60% of the Americans believe competition and desire to win are healthy and desirable. So you can hardly see a person wishing to look incapable or "a looser". But you shouldn't think that their optimistic look is but make believe. In spite of the fact that society cannot consist only of "winners", the Americans are very optimistic. This trait proceeded from a "can-do" spirit of earlier settlers who had to be inventive and had come to believe that every problem has a solution: a difficult problem can be solved immediately - an impossible one may take a little longer. This "can-do" spirit was for all that strengthened by natural abundance and unmeasured territory.
(French)
3. What is typical to true Americans? Perhaps, their changeable way of life. They love changes, they call it "the spirit of adventure"; they like to "move away", to change homes and jobs, friends and cars. They seem to be constantly pulling down old and often quite beautiful houses or throwing away things merely because they are old. Besides, Americans are very sociable and boastful. If you communicate with them, they will inquire where you have come from, what your job is, how you like America and how long you are staying in the US and so on. I think it is ill-mannered to ask so many questions.
(English)
Exercise 5. Travellers to the USA all over the world noticed different characteristics about the American character. Read the viewpoints and copy out the features typical of them. Write them down into three columns.
POSITIVE
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NEGATIVE
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NEUTRAL
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Exercise 6. Read the interviews about the American character and compare the views. Answer the given questions and fill in the table.
• How do the Germans visualize the Americans?
• What do the French think about the Americans?
• How do the British describe the Americans?
The Germans |
The French |
The British |
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Exercise 7. Use the views and make a general description of the American character. Add some features, which you think, are not mentioned. Share your viewpoint with the group. Use the scheme.
First of all, Americans are believed to be...
Besides, Americans are considered to ...
More than that, Americans are announced to...
In conclusion it should be mentioned that Americans are reported to...
LESSON 7. WILL THE NEXT CENTURY BE CALLED AMERICAN?
Several decades ago America used to be one of the leading countries. There were the opinions that America ruled the world. And still there are those who believe that the next century will also be called American. Are you of the same opinion?
Exercise 1. Read the poem, single out the main idea and comment on it.
“I, too”
I, too, sing America.
I am the darker brother.
Tomorrow,
I’ll sit at the table
When company comes
Nobody’ll dare
Say to me,
“Eat in the kitchen,”
Then.
Besides,
They’ll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed –
I, too, am America.
Langston Huges
Exercise 2. Read the article, state the central ideas claimed in it and comment on them. Do these ideas coincide with those implied in the poem?
“The Second American Century”
Henry Grunwald, the author of the article “The Second American Century”, shares his thoughts about the achievements and failures of America and poses an important question: “Will the next century again be American?” He asks us to look around America, to observe the filth and decay, the homeless sleeping in the streets, the haze of drugs, the racial hate, the crime and the fear and to consider the sense of breaking. This contrast bears a lot of questions. Is this still a country that can lead? A country that can give others its ideals of freedom and justice, its formula for creating wealth, its generosity? Was the American Century always an illusion? And, if it was real, is it over?
It is nearly 50 years since Henry Luce published his essay “The American Century”. The XX century, wrote Luce, must be, “to a significant degree, an American Century”. This assumption was often questioned, ridiculed and even attacked. When the US emerged as a nuclear power, when communism spread across the map, when the US was defeated in Vietnam, many people decided that it could not really be the American Century.
On the other hand, Americans possess some tremendous assets that allow them to occupy the leading position in the world. Due to their bright mind they have achieved a great success in technology. They have pioneered the move from the industrial to the information society. They have invented jet planes and computers. They have built and used the atom bomb changing the calculus of war and peace. Moreover, they have proved capitalism to be a vital and successful system. Above all, they have helped defeat two great enemies of freedom – Nazism and Communism.
But still there are widespread announcements of the end of the American Century. Declinism has become a growth industry, the US has Japan and the European Community as serious trade rivals. Besides, the US has changed into a debtor nation; it has revealed great shortcomings of education. All this is accompanied by a new isolationism, known as an economic isolationism.
Some people hope there can be will be a second American Century if Americans want it. It should be admitted Americans have the capacity for renewal. They were able to reform their society after the cruelties of 19 century. America is more open to newcomers than any other country in the world. Immigration has always been a source of boundless fresh energy and enthusiasm. America possesses a special instrument of change and reform – the civic crusade. It represents an extraordinary American capacity to change perceptions and habits.
For these reasons America has claimed for the leadership in the world in XXI century.
Exercise 3. Make sure you know how to pronounce the given words correctly. Consult your dictionary where necessary. Read out the sentences with these words and translate them.
achievement failure filth decay
illusion assumption to ridicule to defeat
tremendous asset calculus vital
rival debtor renewal boundless
crusade extraordinary perception technology
Exercise 4. Match the beginning of the word combination with its ending. Translate the situations to practise the usage of the given word combinations in your speech.
to pose the leading position
haze crusade
to bear degree
to a significant announcements
shortcomings of a question
trade power
debtor isolationism
capacity for of drugs
economic a lot of questions
civic education
nuclear rivals
widespread nation
to occupy renewal
Проводя научные исследования необходимо правильно сформулировать вопрос для того, чтобы получить необходимые результаты.
Алкоголь, наркотический туман часто являются атрибутами лёгкой жизни современной молодёжи.
В настоящее время учёные поднимают много вопросов, касающихся будущего нашей планеты.
Хорошие отметки на экзаменах, в значительной степени, являются результатом тяжёлой работы.
Недостаток образования нации может сказаться на уровне её благосостояния.
Торговые конкуренты и экономический изоляционизм могут превратить страну в нацию должников.
Нельзя не признать, что некоторые страны имеют способность к обновлению.
Гражданские кампании, призывающие решать некоторые социальные вопросы, могут привлечь внимание общественности к наиболее актуальным проблемам.
Державы, обладающие ядерной мощью, зачастую могут позволить себе диктовать условия остальному миру.
Многие страны Западной Европы занимают лидирующие позиции по вопросам развития экономики и туризма.
Широко распространённые заявления Америки о своём превосходстве приводят её к непониманию с некоторыми странами и становятся причиной неприязни на международной арене.
Exercise 5. Find 16 verbs taken from the article. Make up your own examples with them to illustrate their usage.
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P
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S
S
E
S
S
A
O
D
B
A
C
P
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S
E
P
C
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D
D
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F
B
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A
R
C
F
S
M
G
I
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H
I
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U
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P
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V
P
A
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J
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Q
A
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to p - - - to o - - - - - - to b - - - to l - - -
to e - - - - - to s - - - - - to d - - - - - to p - - - - - -
to a - - - - to o - - - - - to i - - - - - to p - - - -
to r - - - - - to a - - - - to c - - - - to p - - - - - -
Exercise 6. Find in the article the information to answer the following questions:
What are the basic achievements and failures of the USA according to Henry Grunwald?
What’s Henry Luce’s viewpoint on the XX century?
Which assets allow Americans to occupy the leading positions in the world?
What makes people think that America has already lost its leading positions?
What can help America hold its leadership?
Exercise 7. Do you approve or disapprove of the fact that the XXI century can be called American? Why? Complete the sentences to stand your ground.
I approve of the fact that the XXI century can be called American, because …
they can give others its ideals of freedom and justice
they can give others its formula for creating wealth
…
I support the idea that this century can be called American, because …
they possess a nuclear power
they have achieved a great success in technology
…
I agree to the fact that the XXI century can be called American, because …
they have pioneered the move from the industrial to the information society
they have invented many things
…
I back up the idea that this century can be called American, because …
they have proved capitalism to be a vital and successful system
they have the capacity for renewal
…
I disapprove of the fact that the XXI century can be called American, because …
of the racial hate, the crime and the fear
…
I condemn the fact that this century can be called American because …
there’s declinism in its industry
the US has Japan and the European Community as serious trade rivals
…
I object to the idea that the XXI century can be called American, because …
there can be revealed great shortcomings of education
…
LESSON 8. THE BRITISH CHARACTER? YES, THE BRITISH CHARACTER!
Exercise 1.Almost every nation has a reputation of some kind. The national character of the British has been differently described. Look at the table below and say what qualities of the British are pointed out.
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People, who hadn't visited Britain |
People, who had visited Britain |
nice / kind to foreigners |
24% |
79% |
friendly / honest |
27% |
29% |
quiet /serious / polite |
33% |
37,5% |
reserved / cold |
54% |
33% |
unfriendly to foreigners / conservative / think they are better than other people |
45% |
8,5% |
What do most people think about the British? Did they change their opinion after they had visited Britain?
Exercise 2. Travellers to Britain from all over the world noticed different characteristics of the English character. Study the table "The British" and say if most British people are really like these described in the table:
1) What are British people considered to be?
2) What surprises travellers to Britain most of all?
3) What is typical of the British?
4) What would the real British people never do?
5) How is the British order displayed?
6) What can't the British imagine their lives without?
The British? What are they like?
1. British people are considered to be ...
• polite
• modest
• prudent
• careful
• realistic
• practical
• reserved
• snobbish
• aloof
• hypocritical
• unsociable
• conservative
• superior
• haughty
2. Real British people never ...
• talk very much to strangers
• show many emotions
• talk about personal
• display feelings, even in dangerous or tragic situations
• dispute loudly in the street
• boast
• shake hands at the meeting
• yell in the street
• make love in public
3. Travellers to Britain from all over the world say that the British
• have strange traffic rules
• have heavy / substantial plain cooking
• always talk about the weather
• always stand in a line at a bus stop or in a post
• are not very friendly
4. British people like order in everything. They always have ...
• lawns closely cropped
• trees neatly pruned
• flower beds primly cultivated
• seats in a cinema carefully assigned
• drinks carefully measured
5. It is typical of the British to ...
• love familiar things
• wait for their turn in the queue
• keep their traditions
• have feeling for privacy
• do everything carefully & sensibly, without risk
• talk about the weather
• be infatuated with common sense
• be not mislead by romantic delusions
• remain good-tempered & cheerful under difficulties
• divide into social groups
6. It is a well-known fact that the British have the devotion to …
• animals
• gardening
• pubs
• tea with milk
• sport
• houses
• nature
• traditions
Exercise 4. What new facts about the British have you learned? Read out the character traits of the British people which impressed you most all.
Exercise 5. You have probably ideas about what British people are like. Does your image of the British differ from that described in the table? Which characteristics do you find true / untrue?