Advanced Writing with English in Use

Informationreports:people • Module8A

Practice
A Negativeaspectsof a person'scharactermust also be mentioned, whetheras
a matter of honesty or inorderto give morecredibilityto an otherwise
implausiblyglowingreference.In eithercase, negativepointsare usually
expressed in aspositive a way as possible. The follow ing phrases, all taken from
character references, describenegative qualities. For each phrase, find a word or
wordsin the list abovethat expressestheopposite.The first has been done as
an example.

At t it udeto people
1 canhe alittleimpatientwit hotherp eople's weaknesse s (O PPO SIT E:tolerant')
2.althoughhe rcriticsseehe r as a bitofa trouble make r,
Disposition
3 asyet, she islackingin self-confide nce, h ut
-the takes himself , 'cryseriously
5 wh ileitistruetha tsheis ea..sily led,
6 he tendsto keep himse lfto himself

Attitude towork
7 tho ugh he doe sn't alwaysshowa totalcom mitment to hiswork
Scan gh'c th e impressionofcarelessness when finishinga pieceofwork

Thespokenword
9 h asavel)'frank wayofexp ressinghimsel f
10 though occasionally she hastrouble expressing he rself clea rly.
11 he r re gion al acce nt and occasionaluseofdia ledIllaynot be immediate ly
com pre henstbloto some

Thinking
12 his argume nt s are not always enti re lycoher ent
13 th oughhe hasbe e nacc use d of a lackofimagination.
14 rat herslow at times /notes pecia lly quick -witte d

B Study the examplebelow,as wellas those inA, then writesimilar positive
descriptionsoffive of the ten negativequalitiesgiven in the list below.

imp ulsive, impet uous
" !hellitcomes to tak-iug decision'), 110 onecouldaccuseherofbeing hesitant.

dresse sver~vcasually
His clothes, ,chile Illlclml:elltim wl, areahcaysinteresting.
has a criminalrecord
Althollghshemay.inthepast, hnc e[onndhe rselfmlthe lcrcmgsideofthe lau:.. ..
1 fussy/ a perfectionist
2 aworkaho lic
3 unscrupulous/ ruthless
4 authoritaria n/ bossv
5 arrogant
6 impatient
7 a dock-watche r
8 unsocia bleanddisr uptive

Task types • 115