Intermediate 3 Unit 10

Unit 10
Personality Types

Introduction
a. Complete the paragraph about different personality types with the words or phrases below.
There are more words and phrases than you need.

ambivert • center of attention • extrovert • introvert • personalities • shy

social interaction • strike up • talkative

My siblings and I look different and have very different (1)________________. My brother,
Hector, is an (2)________________. He’s very outgoing and spends most of his free
time hanging out with friends and meeting new people. No matter where he goes, he
always attracts a crowd, and is the (3)________________. My sister, Nina, is the exact
opposite. She’s an (4)________________. She’s very (5)________________ when she
first meets people. But she’s not antisocial; she enjoys (6)________________ in small
groups, with people she feels comfortable with. As for me, I’m somewhere in the middle.
I’m an (7)________________. I like spending time on my own, but also get energized
when I’m around others. At times I can be quite talkative, and can (8)________________ a
conversation with strangers. But I often prefer to sit quietly.

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Intermediate 3 Unit 10

b. Match the sentences to the meanings they express.

Meanings
1. everyday routines ____
2. actions that began and finished ____
3. spontaneous decisions ____
4. predicitions ____
5. general truths ____
6. series of events that occurred in the past ____

Sentences
a. You’ll be surprised to see how outgoing the children are.
b. Do you study psychology every evening?
c. I’ll talk to Brad about his antisocial behavior.
d. On my flight the person next to me didn’t stop talking the entire time.
e. We heard a lecture, played a game about personalities, had cake and coffee, and went
home.
f. Extroverts enjoy being the center of attention.

c. Write whether these sentences use the Present Simple, Past Simple, or Future Simple.
1. Our date was awkward because we had nothing to say to each other. ______________
2. Do you often go to the movies on your own? _________________
3. Jack always seems very serious. _______________
4. Will you sign up after class to take a personality quiz? _______________
5. She spoke loudly and clearly, and made sure to look at the audience. _______________
6. This job will probably be very boring. _______________

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 Intermediate 3 Unit 10

Are You an Extrovert, Introvert, or Ambivert?

a. What’s your personality type? Take this quiz and find out! When you have completed the
quiz, add up your answers. Then refer to the results table.

Strongly Strongly
Personality Quiz Agree
agree disagree

1. It’s easy for you to start a conversation with someone new.

2. You like to be the center of attention.

3. You are spontaneous and always up for a social event.

4. You get bored when things become too routine.

5. Being around lots of people energizes you.

6. It's difficult for you to go a day without social interaction.

7. It's important for you to be liked by everyone.

8. You are easily able to improvise and adapt in any situation.

Strongly agree = 1 point Agree = 2 points Strongly disagree = 3 points

Results

You enjoy constant social interaction, whether at a large party

17-24 or striking up a conversation with someone in the grocery store.
Extrovert Spending too much time alone causes you to feel bored and anxious.
You seek social interaction in order to recharge.

You are more of a mix. You enjoy social events and don’t mind
9-16 large crowds every so often, but you’re ok spending time on your
Ambivert own as well. You’re in good company, as the majority of people fall
somewhere in this middle range.

You enjoy socializing with small groups of close friends or one-on-

1-8 one. Exceptionally noisy and crowded environments overwhelm you.
Introvert You are energized when spending quiet time alone or engaging in
activities you enjoy.

b. Do you agree or disagree with the results of the study? Discuss with a partner.

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Intermediate 3 Unit 10

The Party
a. Neil and Lana are at a large social event. Read the dialogue and complete the chart that
follows.

Neil: I think I’m going to leave now.

Lana: Already?
Neil: What do you mean, “already?” We’ve been here for an hour. It was fun, but now
I’m ready to go.
Lana: Are you shy about meeting new people? Because I can introduce you to some of
the people I’ve met. They’re really nice…
Neil: No. I’m not shy, and I’ve met lots of new people. It’s not that. It’s just that
socializing in large groups tires me out. It zaps my energy. I need to go home and
recharge.
Lana: Are you serious? I’m just the opposite. Being on my own zaps my energy,
and being in large groups recharges me. I could stay here all night!
Neil: I guess that means you’re an extrovert and I’m an introvert.
Lana: I can’t be an extrovert. I’m shy. I mean, I like being around people, but it takes me
time to feel comfortable around new people.
Neil: Shyness isn’t related to being an introvert or extrovert. There are plenty of shy
extroverts and introverts who aren’t shy at all.
Lana: I didn’t know that… In that case, can you please stay a little longer? This shy
extrovert doesn’t want to be here alone!
Neil: Oh, all right… I’ll stay a little longer, but just a little longer…
Lana: Ok, thanks!

b. Complete the chart according to what we learn from the conversation.

Who… Neil Lana Both

1. thinks all introverts are shy?
2. is energized by large crowds?
3. decides to stay longer at the party?
4. met new people?
5. finds social groups tiring?
6. feels uncomfortable around new people?
7. wants to go home early?

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 Intermediate 3 Unit 10

I’m an Extrovert!
a. Do you remember the conversations about personalities in the computer lesson? Who
would most probably say the following?

Extrovert Introvert

1. People often say I’m quiet and difficult to get to know.

2. I also have a wide circle of friends.

3. I prefer being around people all the time.

4. I really enjoy meeting new people.

5. I often like to spend time by myself just thinking and
relaxing.

6. I just enjoy doing things on my own.

b. The dialogue from the computer lesson had a lot of examples of people agreeing and
disagreeing with each other. Can you classify the statements correctly?

Agreeing Disagreeing
1. I’m the opposite, I’d get stressed without my friends to talk to.
2. I’m the same, people energize me.
3. I know, I really like meeting new people, too.
4. Really I’d say I’m more of an extrovert.

5. I know what you mean, I need to talk things through with people.

c. Continue this dialogue between an introvert and an extrovert.

Introvert: Hey, I just did an online quiz and it says I’m an introvert!
Extrovert: Really? I’d say I’m more of an extrovert myself.
Introvert: _____________________________________________________________
Extrovert: _____________________________________________________________
Introvert: _____________________________________________________________
Extrovert: _____________________________________________________________

d. Practice the dialogue from activity c. with a partner.

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Intermediate 3 Unit 10

Participating in a Psychology Study

a. Do you remember the texts about the psychology study? Complete the flyer describing
another psychology study by choosing from the words below. There are more words
than you need.

analyzing • conducted • confirmation • eligibility • research • upcoming

Psychology Students Looking for Volunteers

Looking for volunteers for an (1)________________ psychology study. The study will
be (2)________________ on Tuesday, March 12th.
Interested students will receive a brief questionnaire to fill out. We’ll let you know on
the spot if you fulfill the (3)________________ requirements for the study.
We are also looking for psychology majors who can assist us in (4)________________
the results of our (5)________________.
All interested students should e-mail Elroy Frank: [email protected]

b. Match the definitions to the words.

Word Definition
1. psychology a. feeling sure of yourself, believing in your ability to do things
b. period of time when a person changes from being a child
2. survey
into being a young adult
3. intense c. a very short time
4. confident d. study of the mind and the way people behave
5. adolescence e. having or showing strong emotions
6. brief f. a series of questions people are asked to get information

1.___ 2.___ 3.___ 4.___ 5.___ 6.___

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 Intermediate 3 Unit 10

An Interview With a Career Advisor

a. Do you remember the podcast about Holland personality types? Read the article below
and answer the questions.

What Is Your Holland Code?

Is your job right for you? In the 1950s, psychologist Dr. John Holland theorized that
certain jobs fit certain personality types. And when people are paired with appropriate
jobs, they succeed.

According to Dr. Holland’s theory, people can be divided into six basic personality types:
Realistic (Doers), Investigative (Thinkers), Artistic (Creators), Social (Helpers), Enterprising
(Persuaders), and Conventional (Organizers). Humans have many different sides to them,
however, and don’t fall into just one category.

With Holland’s personality test, each person receives a three-letter code. The three letters
stand for the top three personality categories the person falls under. One person might
be RES (Realistic, Enterprising, and Conventional), while someone else is IRE (Investigative,
Realistic, and Enterprising).

Holland not only categorized people by these personality types, but he categorized
jobs, too. Nursing is an SIA job, for example, while accounting is CSE. Once we know a
person’s Holland Code, we can match him or her up with jobs that have the same, or
similar, Holland Codes.

Holland Codes are used in many career tests today. Take Holland’s personality test
yourself, and see if you agree with the results!

1. Why does a Holland Code have three letters?

_________________________________________________________________
2. Which personality types make up a CSE?
_________________________________________________________________
3. According to the article, how can you find out your Holland Code?
_________________________________________________________________

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Intermediate 3 Unit 10

b. Below is a discussion between a student and teacher about introverts and extroverts.
Read the dialogue and answer the questions.

Student: What makes one person an introvert and another person an extrovert?
Teacher: Well, according to some studies, part of the answer lies in dopamine. Dopamine
is a chemical released in our brains. When we’re active, social, or take risks, the
dopamine gives us strong bursts of happiness.
Introverts are sensitive to dopamine. They feel dopamine’s effects rather easily, so
they don’t need a lot of it. When they do get a lot of dopamine, it’s too much for
them, and it makes them feel anxious. So lots of activity and socializing can be
hard or tiring for them.
Student: And the opposite is true of extroverts?
Teacher: Yes. Extroverts are less sensitive to dopamine; so they need to try harder to feel
its effects. They need to be extra active, lively, and talkative in order to get the
chemical’s rewards.
Student: I see. But you said that dopamine is only part of the answer…
Teacher: Yes. There’s much more to the question of what makes introverts and extroverts.
In fact, according to the studies I mentioned, another part of the answer lies in a
second chemical called acetylcholine. I’ll talk about that next…

1. What is dopamine?
_____________________________________________________________________
2. Why does the teacher talk about dopamine?
_____________________________________________________________________
3. Who is sensitive to dopamine?
_____________________________________________________________________
4. If you’re not sensitive to dopamine, what happens?
_____________________________________________________________________
5. What will the teacher talk about next?
_____________________________________________________________________

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