MODULE 2

THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE RIGHT JOB

Topics Functions Structures

- Personality traits - Describing personality - Adjectives and
- Talking about nouns
professions - Good/Bad + at +
- Defining strengths and noun or ing
weaknesses - Find it + adj + to
- Talking about past infinitive
actions - Adjectives +
Fiction - Giving opinions: enough + to
The Selfish Giant by Illustrating your point. infinitive
Oscar Wilde - Like+ noun or ing
- Relative connectors
who – that
- Past Simple
(revisited), Past
Continuous

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Section 1

BEFORE READING

1. Have a look at the following dialogue. What is the context? Who

are the speakers? What is the message implied?

_____________:

_____________:

_____________:

_____________:

2. Now, read the title of the text and look at the paratext. Then…

a) Underline three possible synonyms of the word trait /treɪt/(n).

peculiarity – intent – mark – attribute – purpose – characteristic

b) Underline two possible synonyms of the word hired /haɪəd/ (v).

recruited – invited – fired – accepted – employed – required

c) Tick the idea that best illustrates the content of the text.

1. The typical roles developed in a multinational company.

2. The most relevant qualities of a competent employee.
3. The necessary steps to prepare for a job interview.

WHILE READING

Now, read the text and answer the following question: How is the
article related to the dialogue in Activity 1?

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The Personality
Traits Needed to be
Hired

By Katharine Paljug, Business

News Daily Contributing Writer,
February 9, 2018 10:15 am EST

5 Promotable
personality traits
that will help you When you’re applying for a job, your professional success and
get ahead industry experience are only part of what your interviewer
wants to see. Many times, your personality traits are crucial for
getting the job because they make you the right fit for the
10 transferable
company.
skills that will get
you hired “Employers want to know about your hard skills, which show
that you are qualified for a position, but they also want to see
20 Great jobs that you will fit in with the company culture. The only way to
for present day assess this is to get a sense of your personality,” said Susan
Peppercorn, CEO of Positive Workplace Partners. “Knowing
professionals
that someone has the experience and skills to be successful in
a job is very important, but when two candidates have similar
capabilities, often the soft skills are the reason why one person
gets the job and the other doesn’t.”
A study by the career resource site CareerBuilder found that many employers prioritize the same soft
skills in employees, looking for candidates who are dependable, positive, flexible and effective
communicators who work well under pressure, among other personality traits.

The right personality traits can make the difference between a strong candidate and a new employee.

1. A multitasker
Companies rarely hire employees to perform only one function. Especially in a small business,
companies need people who are willing to come out of their roles and perform different and varied
tasks. If you are a multitasker, you will have many chances to be hired.

2. A strategist
Career psychologist Eileen Sharaga said that every business needs a strategic thinker. Therefore, when
managers are hired, they want someone who is good at identifying long-term goals. “It’s critical to
demonstrate that you have not only a vision for the future, but also a plan to get there,” she
explained. If you can plan strategically, you will be successful.

3. A decider
“People who can use their own judgment and take decisive action are valuable to any company,”
Selewach said. Business leaders can’t be involved in every minor decision, so they look for a candidate
who has the ability to act and take responsibility for the results. If you want to move into a
management or leadership position, you will have to decide by yourself.

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4. A cautious person
Beth Gilfeather, CEO and founder of Sevenstep Recruiting, told the site Career Builder that a cautious
employee acts prudently as a counterbalance to risk-takers. “They do not like risks as risky situations
make them nervous. Therefore, they provide stability and balance. If you want to prevent dangerous
risks, you will need to hire an employee with this personality trait,” she said.

5. An independent thinker
Some employees always agree with what their boss says, without questioning. Although these people
may be good at following instructions, leaders ultimately need team members who will challenge the
status quo if it’s better for the business. “I want people who will not be afraid of contradicting my
decisions if they think it is better for the company,” Meg Sheetz, president of Medifast, told the site.

6. A team player
Most jobs require some kind of collaboration, whether with a team of other employees, a group of
clients or occasional outside contractors. The ability to work pleasantly and effectively with others is a
key part of nearly any job. If you find it easy to deal with people, you will be considered a good
candidate who is flexible enough to get along well with a variety of personalities and work styles.

7. A cultural fit
Employers look for people who can fit in the company’s culture. Every company’s culture is different
and each is founded on different values. “Our culture is founded upon a work-hard, play-hard, humble,
self-reflective and collaborative environment,” said Max Yoder, CEO of an online training software
company. If you match these values, you will be the perfect cultural fit.

Personality traits are difficult to demonstrate on a resume, so it's essential to highlight them during
the interview. However, simply stating you're a team player, for instance, isn't enough for most hiring
managers. Instead, you should provide a concrete example of when you worked on a team to
accomplish a goal. Moreover, remember that the best way to express your personality is to simply be
yourself!

AFTER READING

Complete the following summary diagram of the text with the words
and phrases in the box. Two have been done for you!

technical knowledge / a cultural fit / experience / hard / qualifications

hired / abilities / a strategist / soft / a decider /

personality traits / a team player / have / a cautious person /

an independent thinker / a multitasker

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 HIRED
IF YOU WANT TO BE ,

YOU NEED TO _________…

…_________SKILLS AND …_________SKILLS

WHAT DO THESE SKILLS INCLUDE?

TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE

________________

___________ ________________
________________

1) ___________________________________
2) ___________________________________
3) ___________________________________
4) ___________________________________
5) ___________________________________
6) ___________________________________
7) ___________________________________

According to the text, are both types of skills equally important?

______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

VOCABULARY BUILDING

Now… let’s focus on soft skills! Complete the concept maps below
by following these steps:
a. Look at the pictures and label each map with the name of the
corresponding personality trait.
b. Reread the text and extract one sentence that best explains
each trait.

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 c. Which of the groups of adjectives below may describe each
type of personality better?

- productive, efficient, and organized

- resolute, firm, and strong-minded
- analytical, anticipatory, and results-oriented
- contemplative and careful
- sociable, communicative, and helpful
- nonconformist, confident, and self-determined
- flexible and adaptable
d. Choose an opposite trait from the box below.
- A dependent person
- A cultural misfit
- An indecisive person
- A single-tasker
- A non-strategic person
- An audacious person
- An individualistic person

Let’s do the first concept map together!

CONCEPT MAP 1

Illustration Definition

Opposite
Characteristics

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CONCEPT MAP 2

Illustration Definition

Characteristics Opposite

CONCEPT MAP 3

Illustration
Definition

Opposite
Characteristics

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CONCEPT MAP 4

Illustration Definition

Characteristics Opposite

CONCEPT MAP 5

Illustration Definition

Characteristics Opposite

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CONCEPT MAP 6

Illustration Definition

Characteristics Opposite

CONCEPT MAP 7

Illustration Definition

Characteristics Opposite

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 LEXIS AND GRAMMAR: ABILITIES, QUALITIES, LIKES AND DISLIKES
Have a look at the following examples. Can you work out the rules?

EXPRESSING QUALITIES

 I’m flexible.
 The candidate is dependable and positive.

Rule: Subject + _________ + _________.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 I’m a flexible person.
 The candidate is a dependable and positive person.

Rule: Singular Subject + _______ + _________ + ________ + _________.

EXPRESSING ABILITIES

 A cautious person can provide stability.

 A strategist can identify long-term goals.

Rule: Subject + _________ + _________ + …

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Although some people may be good at following instructions, leaders
ultimately need team members who will challenge the status quo.
 A strategist is good at identifying long-term goals.

Rule: Subject + _________ + _________ + __ + __________ + …

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 A team player finds it easy to deal with people.
 I find it easy to provide stability.

Rule: Subject + _________ + __ + __________ + __________ + …

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 A team player is flexible enough to get along well with a variety of
personalities and work styles.
 The employees are cautious enough to provide stability.

Rule: Subject + ________ + ________ + __________ + __________ + …

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Notice!
If you want to talk about your weaknesses, it is advisable to soften them by
contrasting them with a positive idea.

 I’m a little absent-minded, but I usually try to keep an organized planner.

 Although I’m not sociable enough to make friends at work, I can work pleasantly and
effectively with others.

EXPRESSING LIKES AND DISLIKES

 I love working with other people for a common goal.

 A multitasker enjoys doing multiple activities at once.

Rule: Subject + _________ + ________ + …

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 1

1. Read a leader’s experience of working in teams. Complete the

blanks with the expressions from the box.

a) an effective multitasker

b) is good at working with others and contributing to

c) can easily come out of her role

d) he finds it hard to share

e) is cautious enough to find

f) like working

g) doesn’t like taking

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I (1)___________________ in teams because projects are usually enriched by
each member’s contributions. In my work team, you can find people with very
different personalities and this… well… this makes each work meeting certainly
challenging!

For example, Jack is a fantastic team player as he (2)__________________

everyone’s well-being. Besides, he always considers everyone’s ideas or
arguments. In this way, nobody feels that their viewpoints are overlooked. Liam,
on the other hand, is a little individualistic as (3)______________________ his
ideas with others, but we are trying to help him open up.

I must admit I am very audacious and sometimes I need other people to tell me
to take time to think decisions over. And Laura is the one who does so! She
(4)___________________ a balance between tension and tolerance. Moreover,
she (5)______________ unnecessary risks.

Annie is an essential member of the team as she is (6)________________. She

has an extraordinary working capacity and she (7)__________________ and do
whatever is required.

As you can see, we’re all very different. However, we all have something in
common… commitment to work!!

2. Read the following text on personality traits and fill in the

blanks with the words between parentheses in the correct form.
Add words if necessary!

In a job interview, applicants highlight their qualifications, experience and

accomplishments. However, the interviewer may be more interested in the
personality traits that will make them suitable for the job. In fact, some

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personality traits are appreciated by potential employers but… some are
not. Let’s learn about them!

A non-strategic person can become a real nightmare for a company as

1
she/he _______________(find/hard/think and plan) goals
carefully. There is nothing worse than working without a clear aim.
Therefore, any business needs a strategist. A strategic thinker
2
______________(good at/set) short-term and long-term goals and
determining actions to achieve them. Moreover, he/she
3
______________(can/mobilize) resources to execute the actions.

4
Indecisive people generally _______________(find/difficult/take)
decisions, even minor ones, which can be very negative for a business.
Therefore, bosses appreciate employees who
5
_______________(can/make) timely decisions and take responsibility
for them.

Cultural fits are also important as they

6
________________(can/recognize) the identity values of a company
very easily. And then, they
7
_______________(flexible/enough/adapt) to the core values
8
and culture of the organization. A cultural misfit ____________(not
9
can/do) that. Therefore, he/she ______________(not enjoy/do)
his/her job in given workplaces.

Like a cultural misfit, a dependent person can also be an obstacle in a

10
company because he/she ________________(bad at/generate) new
ideas and always relies on what other people suggest. Therefore, an
independent thinker is usually required by companies as he/she
11
________________(find/easy/think up) innovative ideas and state
his/her own viewpoints, even when they are contrary to those of the rest.

After considering different types of personalities, it is possible to conclude

that all of them can be found in any workplace and it is a challenge for any
boss to make things work!

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3. Now, listen to what three professionals are saying1. What
personality trait from the article does each one have? Do you
remember the opposite personality trait?

1. Philip Clough, public relations manager.

__________________
Personality trait: …………………………………………………

2. Danny Silverstone, accountant.

Personality trait: ………………………………………………… __________________

3. Michelle White, engineer.

__________________
Personality trait: …………………………………………………

EXPRESSING YOURSELF

Now… it’s YOUR TURN to express yourself! When you are called for
a job interview, you are usually asked to describe yourself.

What are you like? What are your skills and qualities? What are
your weak points?

Write a five-sentence paragraph describing yourself but… DO NOT

MAKE YOUR PERSONALITY TRAIT/S EXPLICIT. Your classmates will
have to GUESS what your personality trait/s is/are! Be ready to
share your description with the class.

Use the vocabulary and grammar in the Concept Maps and the Lexis
and Grammar Section above. Also, include connectors.

* I am a/an …
* I have …
* I find it … to …
* I can …
* I’m good/bad at …
* I like …
* I’m a little … but …
* Although I’m not … enough to … , I can …

1
If you need the transcription, you can find it at the end of the booklet.

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Have a look at the example!

Although I am not good at starting conversations with some people

because I am an introverted person, I like working in groups. I
prefer working with other people because I feel it is easier to do some
projects with a team. I am always open to different opinions. However,
I am not afraid of giving my opinion when something is wrong. It is a
good way of maintaining a balance between the good and the bad
aspects of the group.

Mmmm… I think he/she is a team player because he/she enjoys

working in teams. Besides, he/she is an independent thinker as
he/she can express his/her opinions when necessary.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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Rules:
1. Choose six personality traits from the list and write them in the
bingo card below.

A multitasker A single-tasker
A team player An individualistic person
A strategist A non-strategic person
A cautious person An audacious person
An independent thinker A dependent person
A cultural fit A cultural misfit
A decider An indecisive person

2. You will see some cartoons and listen to some extracts from
songs2. What personality traits are they illustrating? Check if
they are in your card!

3. And the winner is… the first student who marks his/her six
chosen personality traits! Good luck!

BINGO CARD

PERSONALITY
TRAITS

2
If you need to read the transcript, you will find it at the end of the unit.

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GRAMMAR STOP

Relative connectors WHO / THAT

These connectors introduce an identifying clause (part of a sentence) which
gives specific information about a person or thing.

Subject + verb + noun + WHO / THAT + verb + rest of the clause.

 Deciders are people who take decisive action.

 A narrow-minded person is someone who doesn’t accept others’ ideas.

a) Unjumble the following sentences.

1. capable of / who / are / at the same time / people / engaging /

multitaskers / in different activities / are
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. person / skilled in / is / a / is / planning action or policy / a
strategist / that
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. people / it / find / deciders / reach / are / who / easy / to /
decisions
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. a list of pros and cons / cautious employees / who / always make /
before making any decision / are the ones
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
5. as a member / who / well / is / of a team / plays or works / a team
player / a person
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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b) Now, write your own definitions for “cultural fits” and
“independent thinkers” using relative pronouns and adjectives
that describe job personality traits.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 2

a) Paraphrase the following sentences by using the word(s)
between parentheses. Keep the meaning of the given sentence.
Have a look at the example.

Example: Janice can encourage other people to work well. (good at)
Janice is good at encouraging other people to work well.

1. My colleague Jennifer can work under strict deadlines easily. (find)

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. Both John and Sarah are good at handling multitasks. (can)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. Sam is hard-working and reliable. (employee)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. I’m not a good team leader, but I am an excellent team player.
(enough)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
5. Helen is committed and responsible. (worker)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
6. I am indecisive. (find)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
7. I’m not very organized, but I’m trying hard to change this. (a little)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
8. Jane is not very creative, so she won’t make much progress in the
company. (enough)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
9. Jason isn’t good at dealing with people. (find)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
10. Sophie can work under pressure and meet deadlines. (is good)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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b) Read the following summary of the text “The Personality Traits
Needed to be Hired”. Complete the dotted lines (………) with a
connector from Box 1 and the solid lines (____) with vocabulary
from Box 2. The first two are done for you.

Box 1 Box 2
what’s more therefore attributes hire
before after plan views
although as responsibility collaborative
if due to balance values
however despite get along well characteristics

Personality Traits
1
………Although…….… you can prove to be a successful professional, you
need to show a set of positive personality 2attributes to get a good job.
Many employers seek for similar hard skills in their future employees.
3
…………………… , they usually prefer applicants who can show their most
favourable personality 4_______ easily and effectively. In fact, 5……………….
two skillful and experienced candidates are applying for the same job, the
employer will choose the one who can demonstrate transferable personal
traits. What are they?

1. Multitaskers: Employers need people who can survive in chaotical

situations. 6…………………. , they generally 7________ candidates who
can develop well in doing different activities.
2. Strategists: Strategic thinking implies that, 8………………….. describing
his/her vision for the future, the candidate can design a
9
_________to get there.
10
3. Deciders: ………………… their ability to act quickly and take
11
__________ for their decisions, employees can have access to
leading positions.
12
4. Cautious people: ……………………. risky situations are uncomfortable,
13
cautious employees are necessary to keep _________ and stability
in the work place.
14
5. Independent thinkers: …………………… their natural authority, many
bosses usually appreciate the opinion of confident employees who
15
can stand their _________ with respect.
16
6. Team players: The ability to _________ with a variety of

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 personalities and work styles is valued as essential in any job
17
interview. ………………………. , it shows that candidates will succeed in
18
performing any _________ task.
19
7. Cultural fits: ……………… hiring a new employee, companies make
20
sure that the applicant shares the cultural _________ of the work
environment.

c) Ask and answer questions to complete this conversation

between two friends.

Ron: You know… I’m going to start looking for a job but I’m not sure
what to do. Can you help me? I know you have a lot of experience.
Beth: Sure. The first thing you should know is that today making a smart
hiring decision depends on a candidate’s skills or experience and
also on personality traits.
Ron: Sorry. 1……………………………………………………………………………………mean?
Beth: Well, in a few words, the characteristics that make you fit for a
job.
2
Ron: …………………………………………………………………………………….……………………?
Beth: An example? Well … Yes, to be a good candidate you have to be
dependable, positive, flexible and an effective communicator.
Ron: Oh, I see. 3………………………………………………. if I am a good candidate?
Beth: Well, I don’t know… If you answer three simple questions, I will tell
you.
Ron: OK. Shoot!
Beth: Can you identify long term goals?
Ron: Mmmmm… I 4……………………………………………………………………………………
Beth: What about decisions? 5………………………………………………………… easily?
Ron: Not at all. I find it 6………………………………………………………………………… to
decide what to do.
7
Beth: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………?
Ron: Actually, I don’t. I love working alone. I’m not 8………………………………
Beth: Oh God, you’ll never get a job… Hahaha...
Ron: You are very mean. 9……………………………………………………..…………………?
10
Beth: To be hired, you need to be a strategist, a ……………………………………

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 11
and a ……………………………… . You’d better start working on that!
12
Ron: Fine! I promise I will. I want ………………………………………………………….

d) Fill in the blanks with the verbs between parentheses in their

Active or Passive Voice forms in the proper tense.

Looking for a job may be a stressful experience. Preparation is of utmost

importance. In the first place, it is a good idea to make a list of the kind of
1
posts you ………………(be) interested in. If the list
2
…………………………(carefully/make), it will help you to stay focused
during your search. Therefore, you won’t waste time. After that, you
3
…………………(should/write) a complete resume and send it to many
4
companies. If your resume ……………………(prepare) with care, you
5
…………………(will/have) more chances to get a call for an interview.
6
When you …………………(finally/call) for one, you
7
………………………(may/want) to make another list of your personality
traits. Are you a decider, an independent thinker, or a strategist? Reflect on
your traits carefully so that you 8…………………………(can/speak) about
them in the interview. If, for any reason, you
9
………………………………..(not consider) the right fit for the company,
10
don’t get depressed. You ………………………(should/refocus) again as
11
quickly as you can. Eventually, you ………………………………(will/give)
an opportunity somewhere.

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 TIME FOR FICTION II

BEFORE READING
The Selfish Giant
by Oscar Wilde

a) Do you know the story? If you do, read and tick the best
answer/s to each of these questions (✓). If you don’t, try to
guess them.

1. Who are the other characters in the story apart from the Giant
ˈ/dʒaɪənt/?

a monster a small boy an ogre

some pets a witch a group of children

2. Where does the story take place?

in a castle’s lawn in a big garden by the seaside

in a terrifying house in a school yard in the mountains

3. When does it happen?

in summer in autumn in winter in spring

4. What is the story about?

An evil Giant who eats children in winter.

A bad-tempered Giant who changes his character for the better.
A generous Giant who loves playing with children in the streets.

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 5. What is the ending of the story like?

sad happy moving unexpected

WHILE READING
Read the story and check your answers to the previous exercise.

Part 1
The Selfish Giant
by Oscar Wilde

Every afternoon, as they were coming from school, the children went and
played in the Giant's garden.

It was a large lovely garden, with soft green grass. Here and there over
the grass stood beautiful flowers, and there were twelve peach-trees that
in the spring-time broke out into delicate blossoms of pink and pearl, and
in the autumn had rich fruit. The birds sat on the trees and sang so
sweetly that the children stopped their games to listen to them.

One day the Giant came back after staying at his friend’s castle, the
Cornish ogre, for seven years. After the seven years, he decided to return
to his castle. When he arrived, he saw the children were playing in the
garden.

"What are you doing here?" he cried angrily, and the children ran away.
"My own garden is my own garden," said the Giant, "anyone can
understand that and I will not allow anybody to play in it." Therefore, he
built a high wall all round it, and put up a notice-board:
TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSECUTED.

He was a very selfish Giant and now the poor children had nowhere to
play. They tried to play on the road, but the road was very dusty and full
of hard stones, and they did not like it. They wandered round the high
wall when their lessons were over, and talked about the beautiful garden
inside.

Then, the Spring came, and all over the country there were little blossoms
and little birds. However, in the garden of the Selfish Giant, it was still
winter. The birds did not sing in it as there were no children, and the
trees forgot to blossom. The only people who were pleased were the Snow
and the Frost. The Snow covered up the grass in white, and the Frost
painted all the trees silver.

"I cannot understand why the Spring is so late in coming," said the Selfish
Giant, as he sat at the window and looked out at his cold white garden; "I
hope there will be a change in the weather." But the Spring never came,
nor the Summer. The Autumn gave golden fruit to every garden, but to
the Giant's garden she gave none. “He is too selfish," she said.

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One morning the Giant was lying awake in bed when he heard some
lovely music. A little linnet was singing outside his window and he thought
it was the most beautiful music in the world. A delicious perfume came to
him through the open casement. “I believe the Spring has come at last,”
said the Giant; and he jumped out of bed and looked out. What did he
see?

He saw a wonderful sight. There was a hole in the wall and in his garden
the children were sitting in the branches of the trees. In every tree that
he could see, there was a child. And the trees were so glad to have the
children back again that they were covered with blossoms now. The birds
were flying about and twittering with delight, and the flowers were
laughing. It was a lovely scene, only in one corner, it was still winter. It
was the farthest corner of the garden, and in it was standing a little boy.
He was so small that he could not reach up to the branches of the tree,
and he was wandering all round it, crying bitterly. The poor tree was still
quite covered with Frost and Snow. "How selfish I have been!" he said;
"now I know why the Spring did not come here. I will put that poor little
boy on the top of the tree, and then I will knock down the wall, and my
garden will be the children's playground for ever and ever."

He was really very sorry for his selfish attitude so he went out into the
garden. However, when the children saw him, they were so frightened
that they all ran away, and the garden became winter again. Only the
little boy did not run because his eyes were so full of tears that he did not
see the Giant coming. And the Giant took him gently in his hand, and put
him up into the tree. And the tree broke at once into blossom, and the
birds came and sang on it, and the little boy stretched out his two arms
and put them round the Giant's neck, and kissed him. And the other
children, when they saw that the Giant was not wicked any longer, came
running back, and with them came the Spring.

"It is your garden now, little children," said the Giant, and he took a great
axe and knocked down the wall. And when the people were going to
market at twelve o'clock they found the Giant playing with the children in
the most beautiful garden in the country.

b) Unjumble the first part of the story. Read this sequence of

events and put them in the order they occur in the story. The
first one has been done for you.

a The Giant saw some children in his garden. They were sitting in
the branches of the trees which were now covered with blossoms.
b One day the Giant heard a bird in his garden. It was singing. He
looked out of the window.
c Every day some children played in a beautiful garden. It was the 1
Giant’s garden.
d The children were sad that they couldn’t play in the garden.

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 e But in one corner of the garden it was still winter. There was a
little boy and he couldn’t climb the tree.
f One day the Giant came back from holiday. He saw the children in
his garden.
g Now there were flowers in the tree in the corner and the birds
were singing. The little boy kissed the Giant.
h He was angry that the children were in his garden. He told them
to go away and built a high wall all around it.
i The Giant went into the garden, he picked up the boy and he put
him in the tree.
j The Giant told all the children that they could play in his garden.
They were all happy.
k It was always winter, and there were no flowers or birds in the
Giant’s garden. The Giant didn’t understand why.

Part 2
All day long they played, and in the evening they came to the Giant to tell
him good-bye. "But where is your little companion?" he said: "the boy I put
into the tree.” The Giant loved him the best because the boy was so tender.

"We don't know," answered the children; "he has gone away."

"You must tell him to come here tomorrow," said the Giant. But the children
said that they did not know where he lived. The Giant felt very sad.

Every afternoon, when school was over, the children came and played with
the Giant. But the little boy who the Giant loved was never seen again. The
Giant was very kind to all the children; however, he longed for his first little
friend, and often spoke of him. "How I would like to see him!" he used to
say.

Years went by, and the Giant grew very old and weak. He could not play
anymore, so he sat in a huge armchair, and watched the children at their
games, and admired his garden. "I have many beautiful flowers," he said,
"but the children are the most beautiful flowers of all."

One winter morning, he looked out of his window as he was dressing. He

did not hate the Winter now as he knew that it was merely the Spring
asleep, and that the flowers were resting.

Suddenly, he rubbed his eyes in wonder, and looked and looked. It certainly
was a marvelous sight. In the farthest corner of the garden was a tree
covered with lovely white blossoms. Its branches were all golden, and it had
silver fruit, and underneath it stood the little boy that he loved.

Downstairs ran the Giant in great joy, and out into the garden. He walked
across the grass, and came near the child. And when he came quite close
his face grew red with anger, and he said, "Who hath dared to wound

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thee?" For on the palms of the child's hands there were the prints of two
nails, and the prints of two nails were on the little feet.

"Who hath dared to wound thee?" cried the Giant; "tell me, that I will take
my big sword and kill him."

"Nay!" answered the child; "but these are the wounds of Love."

"Who art thou?" said the Giant, and a strange awe fell on him, and he knelt
before the little child.

And the child smiled on the Giant, and said to him, "You let me play once in
your garden, today you will come with me to my garden, which is Paradise."

When the children ran in that afternoon, they found the Giant lying dead
under the tree, all covered with white blossoms.

AFTER READING
a) Are these ideas true or false? When false, provide the correct
version.

1. The village children played in the Giant’s garden once a week. ___
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. The Giant built a small wall around his garden. ___
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. The Giant prohibited the entrance of children into his garden. ___
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. The children climbed over the wall into the garden. ___
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
5. The Giant asked the children to come back into the garden. ___
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
b)xAnswer these questions.

1. What was the Giant like at the beginning of the story? Were his
personality traits favourable or unfavourable?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. Why do you think he behaved like this with the children?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. When did his attitude change? Was there any special action?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. Who was the little boy? Account for your answer.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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 5. In your opinion, why did he change for the better?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

GRAMMAR STOP

Read the following passage, look at the underlined verbs and then
join the uses with the corresponding tense, Past Simple or Past
Continuous?

Every day in the afternoon, the children went and played in the Giant’s
garden. It was a lovely garden covered with soft green grass and there
were beautiful trees and flowers. One day, when the children were
playing, the Giant arrived.

What tense do we use for…? Tense

a) …completed actions in the past?

b) …an action in progress at a moment in the past?

Past Simple revisited

The Simple Past is used to express an activity or situation that began and
ended in the past.

Example:
Every day in the afternoon the children went and played in the Giant’s
garden.

Past Continuous

The Past Continuous is used to describe an action in progress at a specific

time in the past.

Example:
When the children were playing, the Giant arrived.
was(n’t) / were(n’t) + verb + ing

We often use the Past Continuous to describe the situation at the

beginning of a story.

Example:
Every afternoon, as they were coming from school, the children used to go
and play in the Giant's garden.

How are questions in the Past Continuous formed?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

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CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 3
a) Put the verbs between parentheses in the Past Simple or the
Past Continuous and match the two halves of the following
sentences.

a) When the Giant ………..(approach) 1. the Giant …………..(watch) them

the little child, and ……………..(enjoy) their
company.

b) As the children ……………(run) in 2. they saw that the Giant

his garden, ………………….(lie) dead under a
tree.

c) One day, when the children 3. he noticed that the boy

………………(enter) the garden, ……………….(cry).

d) One day, the Giant 4. the Spring ……………………(sleep)

………………..(look) out of his and the flowers ……………….(rest).
window

e) One day the Giant 5. as he ………………………(dress) and

…………………..(understand) that in realized that he didn’t hate the
the Winter Winter now.

b) Read the summary of the story and put the verbs in brackets in
the correct tense: Past Simple or Past Continuous. Also,
complete the blanks with the connectors in the box.

when - therefore – but - however

There was once a giant who had a beautiful garden. One day, he
1
………………. (go) to visit his friend, the Ogre. He 2………………….(stay)
3
with his friend for seven years. …………………… he returned home, he
found that some children 4……………….(use) his beautiful garden as their
playground.
Very angry at the children, he threw them out of his garden and
5
…………………(build) a tall wall around it. The children could not return to
the garden.
6
As the seasons …………………(pass) and the time for Spring to
arrive came, the Giant waited eagerly to watch his garden bloom with

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 7
beautiful flowers. …………………………, Spring never
8
……………….(come) to his garden.
One day, he 9……………….(wake up) in the morning and heard the
laughter of the children and saw the touch of Spring in his garden. The
10
Giant saw that the kids ………………….(sit) in the branches of the trees
11
and they ……………………(laugh). They were so happy.
12
He also ………………..(notice) a small boy could not get onto a
tree. The Giant very lovingly helped him and the kid kissed him. From then
13
on, the Giant ……………….(let) the children play in his garden. The Giant
14
waited for his little friend to come ……………………… he never came.
After a very long time, when the Giant was old, he
15
………………(wake up) in the morning and saw his little friend in his
16
blooming garden. ………………………, he quickly ran out to meet the child.
The child told him that he was going to take him to Heaven with him. The
Giant died peacefully, and his soul rested in Heaven with God.

EXPRESSING YOURSELF
Illustrating your point.
Useful expressions:
In conversation we often want to illustrate what we are saying with an
example. If we tell someone that the Giant was “selfish”, we can’t leave it
there. The phrases in this list will help you to introduce the extra
information.

For example, … For one thing …

For instance, … To give you an idea …
Take the way (he) … Look at the way …
Take for example … By way of illustration … (formal)

Example:
The Giant was selfish. To give you an idea, he built up a wall around his
garden so that the children could not play in it.

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Choose two of the following questions and give your opinions
illustrating your point in a five-sentence paragraph. Be ready to
share them with the rest of the class.

1. Tick the adjectives that can be used to describe the Giant at some
point in the story and explain why.

 empathetic  reliable

 impulsive  helpful

 moody  committed

 motivating  down-to-earth

2. What problem/s did the children have? How did they solve it/them?
3. Everybody has problems. Can you talk about a problem you once had
and how you solved it?
4. How many symbols are there in the story? What do they symbolize?
Do you agree with their symbolic meaning?
5. What was the turning point3 in the story?
6. Can you think of a turning point in your life?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3
The time when an important change takes place, usually with the result that a situation
improves.

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CHECK YOUR PROGRESS TOWARDS MID-TERM TEST 1.
a) Highlight the correct option from the list below.

Why are you asked to talk about your personality?

Important aspects of a good answer
A good answer 1…………………………… on the understanding of why the
question 2……………………………. .
Descriptive and positive characteristic
First, your answer must start with a simple and clear characteristic.
3
Here are some good, characteristics you ………………………… use: creative,
empathetic, motivating, reliable, flexible and committed.
Now, you should choose a word that’s positive but authentic and true
4
to your personality. You …………………………… to use negative or passive
words to describe yourself in this situation. For example, some negative
words to avoid include: reckless, unhelpful, moody.
You should be authentic. You shouldn’t choose the word “Cautious”
5
…………………………… you are not. You must always be authentic.
Descriptive justification of the trait
It’s also important to add a justification. You don’t just want to give a
list of characteristics 6……………………………. it can be boring. Simply saying
you are “Creative” doesn’t mean anything, it is not enough.
7
…………………………… , it’s a good idea to include a descriptive
justification. You could say something like:
“I’m empathetic and focused on solutions. When my previous work
8
team …………………………… their job, I created a group for us to get together
to look for new jobs as a collective group.”

1. bases base is based

2. is asked asks ask
3. can must will
4. aren’t wanted don’t want doesn’t want
5. after if although
6. due to so as
7. however besides therefore
8. were lost lost was lost

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b) Ask and answer questions to complete this conversation between
a secretary and a human resources manager.

Secretary: What is the most important trait for my future co-worker,

Linda?
1
Manager: ……………………………………………………………………………………………
Secretary: A decider? Why a decider? What about me?
2
Manager: ……………………………………………………………………………………………
3
Secretary: …………………………………………………………………………………………?
Manager: You have many strengths but you are not good at
making decisions.
Secretary: Well, the point is that I’m a cautious person so
sometimes I’m not independent enough.
4
Manager: …………………………………………………………………………………………?
Secretary: I think we need a multitasker, someone who can perform
varied tasks.
5
Manager: …………………………………………………………………………………………?
Secretary: If you hire a multitasker, I will have more free time.
Manager: You see, hiring your best friend as your secretary was a
reckless decision.

c) Answer questions about the stories.

- Why did Dr Son Tech do his experiment?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
- What were the children doing when the Giant arrived at his castle?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

d) Expressing yourself.
When you are called for a job interview, you are usually asked to describe
yourself.
What are you like? What is your dominant personality trait useful
for your future career?

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Write a paragraph that best describes you using phrases to describe abilities
and qualities and the following connectors: what’s more, although, due to.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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