Use the word given in capitals at the end of each line to form a word that fits in the space in the same line.

 

Jack’s real character How easy is it to understand another person’s character? My friend Jack, was once a rather (1) … person. He was always getting into trouble at school because he was so (2)... In class he was very (3) … and never stopped making jokes. The teachers all told him he was very (4) … because he interrupted them. When I met him he was very (5) … and didn’t want to talk to me at all. People told me that he stole things, and that he was (6)... His school work was terrible. He didn’t take any (7) … in his writing, he never spent enough time doing his homework, and he was not at all (8) … One day he saw a gang of boys attacking an old man. Jack hated (9) … and he fought them all until they run away. He was awarded a medal for (10) … After that, people changed their minds about him.

1) annoy   2) obey   3) talk   4) polite   5) friend   6) honest   7) proud   8) conscience   9) violent   10) brave

6. Develop the following situations making up dialogues:

1. Imagine a friend of yours is flying to London to stay with your Eng­lish friends. They will be meeting him/her at the airport. To recognize him/her they need a description of your friend. They ask you questions about his/her appearance, what sort of clothes he/she usually wears and about your friend’s character to know if they will get on together.

2. Your friend asks you to describe an ideal man or woman (appear­ance, personality).

 

Text B

 

Pre-text activity 2:

1. People often say such things as «Italians are good lovers’ or «Eng­lishmen are cold-blooded». What other generalizations of this nature can you think of?

2. Do these generalizations serve any useful purpose? If so, what?

1. Read and translate the text:

 

NATIONAL STEREOTYPES

 

We are repeatedly warned to beware of generalizations yet, paradoxi­cally, it seems that the human mind cannot resist categorizing people and things. We love to «pigeon-hole», to make order out of a universe that fre­quently seems to us confusing and even chaotic. Nowhere is this tendency more evident that in our willingness to generalize about nationalities. We create national stereotypes and cling tenaciously to our prejudices. To il­lustrate this point, we shall take a look at the findings of a survey carried out by the market research firm, Parkland Research Europe.

This organization carried out a detailed study of European attitudes by questioning 185 business executives, lawyers, engineers, teachers and other professional people from seven European countries. It revealed many widely-held stereotypes, but also came up with a few surprises.

 

Parkland Findings

 

Germans	Liked themselves best of all. Most Europeans agreed that the Ger­mans had the highest proportion of good qualities. They considered themselves very tolerant, but nobody else did. They saw themselves as fashionable. Others found them «square»
French	Not really admired by anyone except the Italians. Other Europeans found them conservative, withdrawn, chauvinistic, brilliant, super­ficial, hedonistic. Also, not very friendly. The French agreed on the last point!
British	Mixed reactions. Some found them calm, reserved, open-minded, trustworthy; others deemed them hidebound, insular and superior. Everyone was unanimous that the British had an excellent sense of humour. The British most admired the Dutch
Swiss	Showed considerable lucidity and powers of self-analysis. Saw themselves as serious, trustworthy, but too money-minded and sus­picious. Most Europeans agreed. The Swiss liked the Germans best
Italians	Generally considered by everyone to be lazy and untrustworthy, and the Italians agreed! Most also found them to be vivacious, charm­ing, hospitable and noisy. The Italians admired the French and the Dutch. Hardly anyone loved the Italians except the French
Dutch	Most admired people in Europe — except by their neighbours — the Belgians. Everyone agreed that the Dutch are hard-working, thrifty, good-natured, tolerant and business-minded. The Nether­lands, however, was not considered a good place to live in
Belgians	Least admired in this group. They see themselves as easy-going and diligent workers. Other Europeans consider them undisciplined and narrow-minded — and lousy drivers!
Russians	What do foreigners say about your own national character? Fill in the table

 

2. Discuss the following 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 their any aspects of your personality you still don’t like?

3. Which of these traits of character do you most dislike in a partner? Why? Place them in order.

 

vanity	hypocrisy	pomposity	stubbornness
obstinacy	selfishness	dishonesty	pettiness
arrogance	snobbishness	timidity	possessiveness
shyness	meanness	rashness	aggressiveness

 

4. Which of these qualities is most important for you in a partner? Why? Place them in order of importance.

 

compassion	vivacity	frankness	self-assurance
tolerance	patience	generosity	ambition
sincerity	imagination	passion	humility
modesty	sensitivity	courage	creativity

 

5. Which 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

6) a psychologist

3. Develop the following situations making up dialogues:

1. You are writing a paper on the theme: «Major Personality Charac­teristics». You experience some hardships in your research. You come to your scientific advisor to receive some explanations. Ask him:

— if it is correct trend to divide all people into extroverts and intro­verts;

— what is meant by personality traits;

— what he thinks whether a personality formation is genetically pre­disposed;

— what role the family plays in shaping a personality;

— how a social setting influences the personality development;

— at what age the personality character is formed.

2. Your friend is sure that our mood and emotional state depend on the weather and horoscope forecasts. You are not inclined to believe in astrol­ogy but still you ask some questions on the subject.

Ask him:

— what his sign of zodiak is;

— what positive characteristics his star sign supposes;

— whom he is like in character: his mother or father;

— if he has got any negative traits;

— if he believes in horoscope forecasts partly or completely;

— what he does to match his star sign.

3. You are making up a questionnaire in order to find out basic person­ality characteristics and categorize them.

Ask your respondent:

— how he feels in an unfamiliar situation;

— what helps him feel at ease;

— in what situations he feels shy and worried;

— what he considers to be the necessary qualities to feel comfortable everywhere;

— if he can describe the most pleasant situation in his life;

— what he experiences seeing beggar in the streets.

4. Your friend has just come from England. He had a chance to study there for three weeks. He spoke with a number of the British people noted for their particular features. You are eager to receive information first-hand.

Ask him:

— how he would characterize the English as a separate nation;

— if they are as reserved as they seem to be;

— what are the most distinctive features of their character;

— in what dwellings the British people live;

— why they prefer to live in cottages.

4. Translate into English:

Характер — это индивидуальное сочетание существенных свойств личности, выражающих отношение человека к действительности и проявляющихся в его поведении и поступках. Характер представляет собой неповторимое сочетание психологических качеств, индивиду­альных особенностей личности, именно характер дает основание для суждения о том, хороший ли это человек или нет.

Слова, движения, действия, отдельные поступки и поведение в целом позволяют понять характер человека, они как бы высвечивают его внутреннее, скрытое от посторонних глаз содержание. Но, с дру­гой стороны, каждое свойство характера приводит в определенных условиях к совершению тех или иных поступков, накладывает печать на все действия, мысли и чувства человека. Народная мудрость гла­сит: «Каков характер, таковы и поступки».

5. Test yourself:

 

What’s your number?

 

1. Do you believe in numerology?

2. What about astrology? Do you read your stars in magazines?

3. What other things might influence our character and future life?

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