Reading

1. At the other end of the continuum* we find people who believe that personality is determined by “nature”, or the characteristics we receive, or “inherit”, from our parents biologically, through their genes.

2. Some people have easygoing personalities: they are usually cheerful, calm and able to cope with life’s difficulties without much trouble.

3. Experimental psychologists have tried to discover which of these two factors, genetics or the environment is more important in forming our personality.

4. I love to clown around and make people laugh.

5. Even though the experts have largely discarded the idea that personality development is so black and white, the nature-nurture controversy remains a popular discussion among friends.

6. Some people think personality develops as a result of the environment - the combination of influences that we learn from, such as our families, our culture, our friends and our education.

2. CW. Explain the meaning of the words and build up sentences using them

extrovert | inherit | to cope with | a sociable person

introvert | typically | a self-centered person | tend

get on with be bored with get angry with be crazy about get angry about be afraid of be sick of/ be tired of to talk to/about to think of/about | get excited about get happy about get sad about never) complain of/about worry about believe in apologize for object to
Sample: • Don’t get angry about unnecessary things. • Some people are able to cope with life’s difficulties without much trouble.

Extroverts don’t worry ... (1) talking in public. They believe ... (2) being honest and they get bored ... (3) being alone. They may talk ... (4) staying home and reading a book, but when they do, they complain ... (5) having no one to converse. They object ... (6) being by themselves.

*continuum - a continuous sequence