2

MATRIX INTERMEDIATE

UNIT 2

DESCRIBING PERSONALITY

Tina is practical and reliable. She prefers to

work outside and is quite fit.
Rob is friendly and cheerful. He likes working
with children.
Phil is patient and sympathetic. Hes a very
good listener.
Sue is outgoing and likes organising events.
She enjoys meeting people.

Wanted
a
b
c
d
e

Dog minder for walks and general animal care.

Tel. 05 467 543.
Part-time tour guide. Write to: Sunny Travel, 63
Boat Street, Oxford.
Assistant manager at All Sports sportswear
shop. Need to work long hours. Tel. 0987 6547.
Father Christmas at Selfridges Department
Store. December period only. Contact: Amanda
Smith at Selfridges, Oxford Street, London.
Volunteers for Student Helpline. Interested?
Please contact us on 0978 564 785.
____

Complete the sentences with the words in

the box.
PROUD - FRIENDLY - LAZY - PATIENT CHEERFUL - JEALOUS

Rob has been very __________ recently.

Well, hes got a new girlfriend.
Tim never helps with the housework.
Hes so ____________ !
Zoe was ____________ of Linda. She was
much prettier than Zoe, and more intelligent,
too.
Karen rarely gets angry with people. Shes
usually ____________ and understanding.
Pam is very ____________ . Im sure youll like
her when you meet her.
The teacher felt very ____________ when all
her students passed the exam.

2
3
4
5
6

____
2
1
2
3
4
5
6

Choose the correct alternative.

Karen is so bossy / shy. Shes always telling me
what to do!
Ian started university a year early. Hes
really stupid / clever.
My grandparents are very mean / generous.
They give me some money whenever I see
them.
You should write a novel. Youre so
imaginative / boring.
When I invited Clare to the party, she went
bright red!
She must be very confident / shy.
When Mark ignored his mother, she told him off
for being rude / well-behaved.
____

3
1

/6

/6

Read the descriptions. Match the people

and job adverts.
Paul is hard-working and quite bossy. Hed like
a job with responsibility.

/5

Write the opposites to the following

adjectives.
1 warm and friendly _______________________
2 kind
_______________________
3 nice
_______________________
4 pleasant
_______________________
5 generous
_______________________
6 optimistic
_______________________
7 cheerful
_______________________
8 sensitive
_______________________
9 honest
_______________________
10 relaxed and
_______________________
easy-going
____
4
1

3
4

Complete the sentences with the suitable

adjectives from the exercise 3
Jane is very ________________ at the moment
becaue of her exam, but shes usually quite
________________ and __________________
about most things.
I think the weather influences me a lot: when
its sunny I feel more _______________ and
_______________ but when it is cold and
raining I get very _________________.
He seemed a bit _________________ at first,
but now Ive got to know him I rialise, he is very
warm and _________________.
The shop assistant told me that the dress I tried
on looked better on people younger than me. I
thought that was very _________________ of
her, but at least she was being
_______________, I suppose.
____

5
1
2
3
4
5

/ 11

/ 10

Write the opposites to the following

adjectives.
hard-working
_______________________
punctual
_______________________
reliable
_______________________
clever
_______________________
bright
_______________________

6
7
8
9
10

flexible
ambitious
shy
reserved
strong

_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
____

6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16

/ 10

What prefix forms the opposite of each of

these words?
kind
_______________________
flexible
_______________________
friendly
_______________________
honest
_______________________
reliable
_______________________
sensitive
_______________________
ambitious
_______________________
pleasant
_______________________
considerate
_______________________
sociable
_______________________
imaginative
_______________________
practical
_______________________
efficient
_______________________
polite
_______________________
organised
_______________________
tactful
_______________________
____

Use one of the adjectives to describe the

person of these descriptions.
1
He never bought me a drink all the time we
were together. He is very ________________.
2
I have to tell her what to do every minute
of the working day. She wouldnt even open a
window without someones permission. She has
no sense of ________________.
3
He often promises to do things but half the
time he forgets. He is __________________.
4
Shes always here on time. She is
__________________.
5 I dont think hes done any work since hes been
here. He is awfully __________________.
6 She finds it difficult to meet people and talk to
strangers. Shes quite __________________.
7 He could work in any of the departments, and it
doesnt matter to him if hes on his own or part
of a team. He is pretty __________________.
8 One of the great things about her is that she is
so aware of what other people think or feel.
Shes especially __________________.
9 Bob, on the other hand, is the complete
opposite. He is alwais making people angry or
upset because he just doesnt consider their
feelings. He is particularly _________________.
10 The other thing about Bob is that he is really
_________________. He wants to get the
supervisors job and then become boss for the
whole department.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

/ 16

____

What nouns can be formed from these

adjectives? Use the dictionary to help you.

/ 10

Some important qualitis are expressed

through nouns.
One of her great qualities is that she uses her
initiative.
That boy has got no common sense. His sister,
on the other hand, is very sensible (=has lots of
common sense).

punctual
_______________________
confident
_______________________
sensitive
_______________________
optimistic
_______________________
generous
_______________________
strong
_______________________
reliable
_______________________
ambitious
_______________________
flexible
_______________________
lazy
_______________________
stupid
_______________________
shy
_______________________
____

9
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32

/ 12

Whrite the synonyms.

amusing
_______________________
artistic
_______________________
considerate
_______________________
friendly
_______________________
gentle
_______________________
hard-working
_______________________
honest
_______________________
lively
_______________________
open-minded
_______________________
perceptive
_______________________
practical
_______________________
sensitive
_______________________
sociable
_______________________
symphatetic
_______________________
thoughtful
_______________________
wise
_______________________
effucient
_______________________
energetic
_______________________
creative
_______________________
generous
_______________________
good-natured
_______________________
helpful
_______________________
imaginative
_______________________
loyal
_______________________
organised
_______________________
polite
_______________________
sensible
_______________________
rational
_______________________
spontaneous
_______________________
tactful
_______________________
unselfish
_______________________
witty
_______________________
____

Choose three adjectives or nouns from this

exercises wich describe you.

/ 32

Is there one quality you do not have but would

like to have?
What, in your opinion, is the worst quality
described in these exercises.
Use at least three adjectives to describe 5
people in your classroom.

MATRIX INTERMEDIATE

UNIT 2

DESCRIBING PERSONALITY

Tina is practical and reliable. She prefers to

work outside and is quite fit. (a)
Rob is friendly and cheerful. He likes working
with children. (d)
Phil is patient and sympathetic. Hes a very
good listener. (e)
Sue is outgoing and likes organising events.
She enjoys meeting people. (b)

Wanted
a
b
c
d
e

Dog minder for walks and general animal care.

Tel. 05 467 543.
Part-time tour guide. Write to: Sunny Travel, 63
Boat Street, Oxford.
Assistant manager at All Sports sportswear
shop. Need to work long hours. Tel. 0987 6547.
Father Christmas at Selfridges Department
Store. December period only. Contact: Amanda
Smith at Selfridges, Oxford Street, London.
Volunteers for Student Helpline. Interested?
Please contact us on 0978 564 785.
____

Complete the sentences with the words in

the box.
PROUD - FRIENDLY - LAZY - PATIENT CHEERFUL - JEALOUS

Rob has been very PATIENT recently.

Well, hes got a new girlfriend.
Tim never helps with the housework.
Hes so LAZY!
Zoe was JEALOUS of Linda. She was much
prettier than Zoe, and more intelligent, too.
Karen rarely gets angry with people. Shes
usually FRIENDLY and understanding.
Pam is very CHEERFUL. Im sure youll like her
when you meet her.
The teacher felt very PROUD when all her
students passed the exam.

2
3
4
5
6

____
2
1
2
3
4
5
6

Choose the correct alternative.

Karen is so BOSSY / shy. Shes always telling
me what to do!
Ian started university a year early. Hes
really stupid / CLEVER.
My grandparents are very mean / GENEROUS.
They give me some money whenever I see
them.
You should write a novel. Youre so
IMAGINATIVE / boring.
When I invited Clare to the party, she went
bright red!
She must be very confident / SHY.
When Mark ignored his mother, she told him off
for being RUDE / well-behaved.
____

3
1

/6

/6

Read the descriptions. Match the people

and job adverts.
Paul is hard-working and quite bossy. Hed like
a job with responsibility. (c)

/5

Write the opposites to the following

adjectives.
1 warm and friendly COLD and UNFRIENDLY
2 kind
UNKIND
3 nice
HORRIBLE
4 pleasant
UNPLEASANT
5 generous
MEAN
6 optimistic
PESSIMISTIC
7 cheerful
MISERABLE
8 sensitive
INSENSITIVE
9 honest
DISHONEST
10 relaxed and
TENSE
easy-going
____
4
1
2

3
4

Complete the sentences with the suitable

adjectives from the exercise 3
Jane is very TENSE at the moment becaue of
her exam, but shes usually quite RELAXED and
EASY-GOING about most things.
I think the weather influences me a lot: when
its sunny I feel more CHEERFUL and
OPTIMISTIC but when it is cold and raining I get
very MISERABLE.
He seemed a bit UNFRIENDLY at first, but now
Ive got to know him I rialise, he is very warm
and KIND.
The shop assistant told me that the dress I tried
on looked better on people younger than me. I
thought that was very INSENSITIVE of her, but
at least she was being HONEST, I suppose.
____

5
1
2
3
4
5
6

/ 11

Write the opposites to the following

adjectives.
hard-working
LAZY
punctual
LATE
reliable
UNRELIABLE
clever
STUPID
bright
THICK
flexible
INFLEXIBLE

/ 10

7
8
9
10

ambitious
shy
reserved
strong

UNAMBITIOUS
SELF-CONFIDENT
OUT-GOING
WEAK
____

6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16

What nouns can be formed from these

adjectives? Use the dictionary to help you.

/ 10

What prefix forms the opposite of each of

these words?
kind
UNKIND
flexible
INFLEXIBLE
friendly
UNFRIENDLY
honest
DISHONEST
reliable
UNRELIABLE
sensitive
INSENSITIVE
ambitious
UNAMBITIOUS
pleasant
UNPLEASANT
considerate
INCONSIDERATE
sociable
UNSOCIABLE
imaginative
UNIMAGINATIVE
practical
IMPRACTICAL
efficient
INEFFICIENT
polite
IMPOLITE
organised
DISORGANISED
tactful
TACTLESS
____

/ 16

Use one of the words to describe the

person of these descriptions.
5
He never bought me a drink all the time we
were together. He is very MEAN.
6
I have to tell her what to do every minute
of the working day. She wouldnt even open a
window without someones permission. She has
no sense of INITIATIVE.
7
He often promises to do things but half the
time he forgets. He is quite UNRELIABLE.
8
Shes always here on time. She is always
PUNCTUAL.
5 I dont think hes done any work since hes been
here. He is awfully LAZY.
6 She finds it difficult to meet people and talk to
strangers. Shes quite SHY.
7 He could work in any of the departments, and it
doesnt matter to him if hes on his own or part
of a team. He is pretty FLEXIBLE.
8 One of the great things about her is that she is
so aware of what other people think or feel.
Shes especially SENSITIVE.
9 Bob, on the other hand, is the complete
opposite. He is alwais making people angry or
upset because he just doesnt consider their
feelings. He is particularly INCONSIDERATE.
10 The other thing about Bob is that he is really
AMBITIOUS. He wants to get the supervisors
job and then become boss for the whole
department.
____
8

/ 10

Some important qualitis are expressed

through nouns.
One of her great qualities is that she uses her
initiative.
That boy has got no common sense. His sister,
on the other hand, is very sensible (=has lots of
common sense).

13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24

punctual
confident
sensitive
optimistic
generous
strong
reliable
ambitious
flexible
lazy
stupid
shy

PUNCTUALITY
CONFIDENCE
SENSITIVITY
OPTIMISM
GENEROSITY
STRENGHT
RELIABILITY
AMBITION
FLEXIBILITY
LAZINESS
STUPIDITY
SHYNESS
____

9
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64

/ 12

Whrite the synonyms.

amusing
HUMOROUS, WITTY
artistic
CREATIVE,IMAGINATIVE,INVENTIVE
considerate
THOUGTFUL, SELFLESS
friendly
KIND
gentle
KIND
hard-working
DILIGENT
honest
SINCERE
lively
vivacious
open-minded
FLEXIBLE, TOLERANT
perceptive
SENSITIVE
practical
REALISTIC
sensitive
UNDERSTANDING
sociable
OUT-GOING
symphatetic
SENSIBLE, TACTFUL
thoughtful
CONSIDERATE, SELFLESS
wise
CLEVER, INTELLIGENT
efficient
WELL-ORGANIZED
energetic
LIVELY
creative
IMAGINATIVE, ARTISTIC
generous
BIG-HEARTED, OPEN-HANDED
good-natured
CHEERFUL, PLEASANT
helpful
SUPPORTIVE
imaginative
CREATIVE, INVENTIVE
loyal
RELIABLE
organised
EFFICENT
polite
WELL-BEHAVED
sensible
UNDERSTANDING
rational
REALISTIC
spontaneous
IMPULSIVE
tactful
SENSITIVE, POLITE
unselfish
GENEROUS, SELFLESS
witty
AMUSING, HUMOROUS
____

/ 32

Choose three adjectives or nouns from this

exercises wich describe you.
Is there one quality you do not have but would
like to have?
What, in your opinion, is the worst quality
described in these exercises.
Use at least three adjectives to describe 5
people in your classroom.