Good Personality Traits Bad Personality Traits

shy outgoing easygoing obnoxious

trustworthy punctual funny messy

picky whiney irritable neat

talkative well-read well-traveled stubborn

irrational rational emotional obsessive

aggressive bossy thoughtful affectionate

shallow romantic honest hard-working

perverted addictive cold-hearted loose-lipped

capable caring fascinating well-spoken

high-strung moody depressed mischievous

phony conceited humble sadistic

down-to-earth cruel generous clever

kind malicious strict conservative

tolerant generous sympathetic irresponsible

ambitious unsociable intelligent sly

patient silly even-tempered greedy

thrifty sincere ill-mannered shrewd

Task 7. Give the synonyms to the following words.

studious

sociable

touchy

ill-natured

well-bred

honest

obstinate

selfish

modest

well-balanced

reserved

Impudent

Task 8. Give the opposites to the following words.

progressive

cowardly

boastful

bright

violent

cheerful

sullen

greedy

arrogant

discreet

strong

bossy

lazy

coarse

naive

broad-minded

responsible

well-known

careful

generous

Task 9. These are descriptions of different personality flaws. Fill in the gaps with appropriate words.

__________ Someone who complains a lot.

__________ Someone who is messy.

__________ Someone who is cheap.

__________ Someone who has no money.

__________ Someone who always borrows things.

__________ Someone who is clumsy.

__________ Someone who spreads rumors.

__________ Someone who threatens other people.

__________ Someone who has no friends.

__________ Someone who is stupid.

__________ Someone who thinks they are better than everyone else.

__________ Someone who is not interesting.

__________ Someone who is strange.

__________ Someone who is always angry.

Task 10. Using the descriptions listed below characterize the people (give 3 or more characteristics).

1. can be always relied on;

2. telling the truth to others;

3. disagreeing with others;

4. wants to do much in his professional life;

5. has no moral principles;

6. taking pleasure in one's pain;

7. enjoys meeting people and making new friends;

8. practical, not dreamy in approach to life;

9. is easily hurt;

10. has a very high opinion of himself.

Task 11. The words below on the left are used in colloquial conversation to describe people of different characteristics or interests. Match each item on the left with the most suitable phrase on the right.

	a chatterbox	is inquisitive and pokes his or her nose into other people's business
	a highbrow	can't stop talking
	a nosey parker	loves reading books
	a bookworm	is confused and forgetful
	a film fan	is intellectual and likes serious literature, art, music
	a slowcoach	loves to work
	a lazybones	is very keen on the cinema
	a scatterbrain	is not very active or energetic
	a workaholic	is slow
	a fresh air friend	causes difficulties between people
	a high flier	seems to enjoy preventing others from enjoying themselves
	a troublemaker	likes to open the windows or be outside
	a killjoy	is clever and ambitious and will get promotion and success

Task 12. Explain the meaning of the given words.

a) a friend in need

b) a fair-weather friend

c) a heart of gold

d) a chameleon

e) a man of character

f) a man of no character

g) to be too big for one’s boots

h) a smarty

i) a snob

j) a good sport

k) a wet blanket

l) to be good for nothing

Task 13. Choose the correct word.

1. Let’s put on some music. It’s as silent/quiet as the grave.

2. He’s got food poisoning and has been as sick as a dog/cat all week.

3. Don’t worry about Maggie; she’s as tough as old shoes/boots.

4. The children are not at all alike. They’re as different as chalk and cheese/milk.

5. I’ll look after Jo anytime. Really, she’s as good as silver/gold.

6. Ben can’t wait to get started on the project. He’s as keen as ketchup/mustard.

Task 14. Say whether you know a person about whom you could say that he or she is:

1. as innocent as a babe unborn

2. as cunning as a fox

3. as busy as a bee

4. as neat as a new pin

5. as slippery as an eel

6. as thin as a rake

7. as true as steel

8. as obstinate as a donkey

9. as wise as an owl

10. as merry as a cricket

Task 15. Use your dictionary to clarify your understanding of the following idioms. Explain their meaning in English.

1. to throw dust in one's eyes

2. to have a big mouth

3. to cost an arm and a leg

4. to keep a stiff upper lip

5. to keep your fingers crossed

6. to put your best foot forward

7. to be born with a silver spoon in one's mouth

8. to be all skin and bones

9. to cut one's teeth

10. to give someone the cold shoulder

11. to pull someone's leg.