Character

Task 1. Ladies and gentlemen, which of these traits of character do you most dislike in a partner? Place them in order.

vanity obstinacy arrogance shyness

hypocrisy selfishness snobbishness meanness

pomposity dishonesty timidity rashness

stubbornness pettiness possessiveness aggressiveness

Ladies and gentlemen, which of these qualities is most important for you in a partner? Place them in order of importance.

compassion tolerance sincerity modesty

vivacity patience imagination sensitivity

frankness generosity passion courage

self-assurance ambition humility creativity

Task 2. Discuss or write down the personal characteristics (good and bad) that you would expect to find in these people.

1. a nurse

2. the chairman of a multinational company

3. an actor

4. a politician

5. a teacher

Task 2. Discuss or write answers to these questions.

1. How would you say your national character is different from that of people in the immediately neighbouring countries?

2. How do you think your character has changed or developed over the years? Are there any aspects of your personality you still don't like?

3. Write a sentence to describe the character of each of your fellow students or family. Then read the sentences to them. See if they can identify each person.

4. Choose two of the star-signs and write a paragraph for each, as if for a magazine, analysing personality. Use the adjectives in those sections to give you some ideas.

5. 'The weaker sex? The fairer sex? Not any more!' Write an article of 250 - 300 words contrasting the image of women today with that of a few hundred years ago.

? VOCABULARY PRACTICE

People

1. Match each of the following colloquial names for certain types of people with the correct description below.

a pain in the neck a dare-devil a battle-axe a tomboy

a crank a busybody a slow coach a day-dreamer

a lone wolf a sponger a rolling stone a golden boy

1. He's always got his head in the clouds, always fantasizing.

2. She's very inquisitive about my private life.

3. He loves taking dangerous risks.

4. He can't settle down. He goes from job to job, place to place.

5. He's always borrowing money and living off other people.

6. She's very aggressive and bossy. She likes to dominate.

7. Everyone thinks he'll get rapid promotion. He's destined to succeed.

8. He's always slow and behind the others in his work or studies.

9. She's got extremely odd, eccentric, unconventional ideas and theories.

10. He's a real nuisance. I can't stand him.

11. He likes to do things on his own.

12. She's a girl who likes to play rough, boys' games.

2. Instructions as above.

a tear-away a miser a slave-driver a road-hog

a clock-watcher a wind-bag a slob a jay-walker

a layabout a litter-lout a name-dropper a fare-dodger

1. She talks on and on about her opinions and ideas.

2. He keeps count of every penny he has and only spends money if he must.

3. She likes to mention all the famous and important people she's met.

4. He makes his employees work extremely hard.

5. She crosses the road without bothering to look at the traffic.

6. He's lazy and prefers not to work.

7. She drops rubbish anywhere and never puts it in the bin.

8. He drives very inconsiderately of other drivers.

9. She's only interested in leaving work and going home.

10. She avoids paying when she travels on public transport.

11. He dresses and behaves in a very careless, often disgusting, way.

12. He's a bit wild, always getting into fights and other trouble.