9. Describing people. Exercises.

a) Match these words with their opposites.

1 clever introverted

2 extroverted tight-fisted

3 rude courteous

4 cruel gregarious

5 generous kind-hearted

unsociable half-witted

b) Do you think that the speaker likes or dislikes the people she/he is talking about?

1 Di's very thrifty. 5 Dick's quite bossy.

2 Molly's usually frank. 6 I find Dave self-important.

3 Liz's quite broad-minded. 7 Don't you think Jim's nosy?

4. Sam can be aggressive. 8 Jill is very original.

c) Reword the sentences above to give the opposite impression.

d) Magazines often publish questionnaires which are supposed to analyse your character for you. Look at the words below and then match them to the question which aims to decide whether a person is like that.

Example: If you arrange to meet at 7 p.m., do you arrive at 7 p.m.? - Reliable

pessimistic argumentative sensitive sociable extravagant assertive

inquisitive

1 Do you prefer to be in the company of other people?

2 Look at the picture. Do you think “my glass is half empty”?

3 Do you find it easy to tell your boss if you feel he or she has treated you badly?

4 Do you always look out of the window if you hear a car draw up?

5 Do you often buy your friends presents for no particular reason?

6 Do you frequently disagree with what other people say?

7 Do you lie awake at night if someone has said something unkind to you?

e) What questions like those in ex. 4 could you ask to try to find out whether a person is the following:

1 thrifty 3 sensible 5 even-tempered 7 obstinate

2 blunt 4 intelligent 6 original

f) Can you complete each of these words?

1 self- ................... 2 ................... -tempered 3 ................... –minded

Write a sentence to illustrate the meanings of each of your words.

g) Choose five or six adjectives from ex. 8 which you think best describe either your own or a friend's character. How do you or your friend demonstrate these characteristics?

Example: Sociable - I am sociable because I love being with other people.

10. Building Character Adjectives Vocabulary

• Describe a family member, write descriptive adjectives on the board.

• Pair up and ask each other questions contained in survey.

• Report back to the class on what you have learned about your partner's best friend.

Exercise 1: Ask your partners the following question about his/her best friend. Make sure to listen carefully to what your partner has to say.

1. Is your friend usually in a good mood?

2. Is it important for your friend to be successful in whatever he/she does?

3. Does your friend notice your feelings?

4. Does your friend often give presents, or pay for lunch or a coffee?

5. Does your friend work hard?

6. Does your friend become angry or annoyed if he/she has to wait for something or someone?

7. Can you trust a secret to your friend?

8. Does your friend listen well when you are speaking?

9. Does your friend keep his/her feelings to him/herself?

10. Is your friend usually not worried by things, no matter what happens?

11. Does your friend think the future will be good?

12. Does your friend often change his/her opinion about things?

13. Does your friend often postpone things he/she has to do?

14. Is your friend happy one moment and then sad the next?

15. Does your friend like to be with people?

Exercise 2: Which of these adjectives describes the quality asked about in each of the survey questions?

Generous, easygoing, ambitious, cheerful, hardworking, trustworthy, impatient, optimistic, sensitive, moody, sociable, indecisive, reserved, lazy, attentive