F a c e 2 F a c e U M AT P re p a r a t i o n C e n t re

Section 2
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Section 2 Understanding People

A bit of history

Section 2 UMAT has evolved to fit with the type of health care professional the public is
after. The old style of section 2 involved passages and questions relating to what you
would do in that situation based purely on decision making. This was difficult for
many students, particularly those still in high school and with little world experience.
The new style of section 2, which was first introduced in 2003, gives you scenarios
asking questions relating to the experiences of the people in the scenario. This
encourages you to identify and understand the feelings of other individuals which will be
very important in practice. At the same time you can be asked to comment on:
The meaning behind a certain action or comment
The effect of a certain action or comment on others in the scenario
The relationship between 2 people in the scenario
How a person would react if they were put in the same situation a second time

The purpose of all of these questions is to help facilitate your understanding of patient
centred care. Many health care professionals find entering the realm of patients feelings
difficult. This is the beginning of becoming aware of and practising the skills involved in
discovering and responding to patients feelings.

Timing

You are allocated 1 minute and 15 seconds per question. Section 2 traditionally is the
one people find easiest to finish. Passages are getting longer in the exam however and
therefore as a rough guide aim for a minute per question to allow time to spare.

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A GOOD Doctor

As the great physician Sir William Osler said, "To study the phenomenon of disease
without books is to sail an uncharted sea ..... while to study books without patients is not
to go to sea at all."

Being a doctor is more than being able to select the correct investigation or diagnosis.
Being a doctor involves being able to relate to your patients as people rather than the lung
cancer in bed 19. The best way to know what makes a good doctor is to think back to
your own personal experiences with the health profession. What was it about those
doctors that made that experience good such that you would like to emulate that or what
made that experience bad and you know how not to act in the future.

Task: List 8 characteristics that you believe a good doctor should have. Try and select a
variety of characteristics as this will assist you in your UNSW application form also.

As health care professionals, we have a duty of care towards our patients and aim to
benefit them in each way we possibly can. However, doctors are often perceived to be in
a position of power and patients can hang onto every word of their doctor. As a result,
some doctors may not realise the impact their words may have, especially if they are
misinterpreted or the situation is serious.

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Example:

Doctor: So, now that you know you have breast cancer, I suppose you are coming
to me to find out what treatment is available?

Antonia: Well . (wipes away tear) Um . Actually

Doctor: Well, there isnt really much I can offer you. Chopping the breast off
would be the most logical solution and I dont know why you have not
considered it.

Task: Identify areas where the doctor acted inappropriately:

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How do you think Antonia was feeling as she was hearing this?

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This is not an example of a good consultation between a doctor and a patient. Our job
should be to try and understand them and deal with their concerns while working with
them to develop the best form of treatment. In other words, be an empathetic doctor
which is what this section aims to identify.

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Rapport: Relation of mutual understanding or trust and agreement between people.

When rapport has been developed between two people, trust is created as well as a sense
that the other person understands and appreciates your point of view. It is the rapport
between your family and friends which allows you to chat to them about anything and
trust them with your secrets. When meeting a patient for the first time, you need to
develop a level of rapport so that they can feel comfortable enough to share their own
feelings and experiences with you. Forging a relationship with a patient is central to the
success of every consultation. Although this can be difficult in a short period of time, it
should not be neglected.

Example:

Interviewer: Can you tell me a little bit about how you have coping since your
diagnosis?

Max: Well, I was diagnosed with emphysema about 4 years ago now. At first I
was still feeling pretty well, apart from being a bit breathless going up
stairs and the like. About 1 year ago I began finding it harder and harder
to do day to day stuff like cooking and cleaning for myself. At first I
pretended it wasnt really happening and kept going.

Interviewer: Why was it you decided to pretend it wasnt happening?

Max: I suppose you dont like to believe you are going to die sometime. I saw
this as an indication my condition was getting worse and I was in denial
about it. Slowly it got harder and harder. I was always tired. Getting
dressed was an effort for me. Eventually I had to let my son know. He
would visit regularly but he didnt realise how bad I really was. This was
a really hard thing for me to do. I was supposed to be the strong one and
now I had to call him to look after me.

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Interviewer: So what your saying is you had a difficult time accepting your condition
and being in a vulnerable state in front of your son?

Max: Pretty much. In the end I moved in with him and his family, my wife died
about 15 years ago you see. They were really great but some nights I
wouldnt make it to the toilet and he would have to help me into the
shower.

Interviewer: That must have been difficult for you?

Max: It was. My son tried to act normal it was still really hard. I tried to not let
it dampen my spirit. Everyone has been so wonderful to me and I am
making sure I enjoy every minute of each day. I just wish I could help
more around the house to show how thankful I am.

Task: Describe the level of rapport between the interviewer and Max? How was it
achieved?

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Approaching a Section 2 Question

Passages will range in length and the trend last year was for longer passages with
between 3-5 associated questions. Especially in this section where it can be easy to
misinterpret the scenario if you do not read it carefully. We recommend you:

1. Read the questions first to gain an elementary idea of what has been asked.
Consequently as you read through the passage, you will be on the look out for
relevant information so you can quickly select the most appropriate answer.

2. Identify flags or pieces of evidence from the passage including thoughts,

actions and descriptions in the passage. This is the most important part of
answering section 2 questions. These flags provide you with the relevant information
allowing you to appreciate what is going on. It is also useful to put yourself into the
scenario when answering section 2 questions. Even if it is not a circumstance which
you are familiar with, by identifying the actions and behaviours described, it will
indicate what underlying feeling is being expressed. A note of warning however,
while this is sound advice, many students fall into the trap of applying their own
experiences to the scenario given. This does not always reflect what information or
flags have been given to you and thus lead you to selecting an incorrect answer.

Although it would make your job easier, the passages are not going to say, I was
feeling angry today as this is too obvious. Rather there will be certain cues such as
behaviours or actions in the passage which can be used as an indicator to identify
what the person is feeling. For example, if you are feeling angry, the sort of actions
and behaviours which could demonstrate this include:

Hitting or throwing an object

Raising voice
Raising/clenching your fists
Furrowed brow

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Task: Read the following text and answer the question below.

Pacing up and down the corridor I just wanted to run away and hide somewhere. My
silly back-chatting comments had landed me here, outside the Deans office, waiting to
see what my fate would be. Beads of sweat were running down my forehead and I
needed to go to the toilet for the 4th time this hour. Any moment now I knew the
secretary was going to open the door and usher me into his office. I had never spoken to
the Dean in person but he commanded a sense of authority whenever he was in the room.
Just thinking about him made my heart beat faster. I sat down, stood up again and sat
down. Perhaps this was all part of his game . making me sweat it out before he
delivered his verdict (holds head in hands).

Identify 4 flags from the following text which may be useful in forming an understanding
of the text.

3. Form your own mental summary of the text. This involves taking a second to
evaluate the situation and get into the mind/s of those involved. This helps you to
appreciate the interaction better.

Task: Put yourself in this persons shoes. What feeling is being described here? What
alternative words can you think of which have the same meaning and are still appropriate
to the situation?
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4. Carefully consider ALL answer options before committing to one. Some words
used, particularly when asked to pick a feeling, will be very similar. Therefore it can
be easy to choose the first answer. The best solution is to eliminate those answers
which you know are incorrect first. Hopefully, with a good understanding of the text
and pieces of evidence, this will leave you with your solution. In the situation where
you are left with 2 solutions, go back and evaluate which solution best supports the
evidence you have been provided in the passage. Remember, the UMAT exam
requires you to select the BEST answer. Therefore even if you are unsure, always go
with the answer where you have the most amount of information to support.

DO NOT fall into the trap of:

Selecting an answer based on your own experiences

Eliminating an answer because it seems to be too obvious
Focusing on only a small part of the passage i.e. ignoring other significant
pieces of evidence if this is what is required
Concentrating only on the quoted text in the question or referring only to the
referenced line number without gaining appreciating other pieces of evidence
Eliminating answers because on first glance they seem wrong ie eliminate
without thinking about them first or because you dont understand the
meaning of the word. To overcome the latter, use the word bank and read
widely.
Generalising just because it happened in such a way for one person does not
make it applicable to everyone else in the passage
Mixing up the feelings of the characters involved or mixing up the chronology
of events map it out along the side of the page
Forgetting that a person can change feelings within the passage know when
each feeling was felt

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Task: Read the following scenarios and answer the associated questions. Underline the
flags which will assist you in formulating ideas about the feelings portrayed.

A. John describes his encounter with his wifes doctor

The doctor came today, as he usually does. Today was different to the others however.
He came and told me that Vicky had improved and was now stable. Although she would
never be able to walk again and would require assistance with everything from showering
to feeding and toileting, he was happy for her to go home. When he said this she
squeezed my hand and tears began to stream down her face. Finally, after 3 long months,
it was time to go home. I love Vicky and there is nothing more that I want than to be
with her at home. It wasnt as simple as that though. There were so many things to
consider. I had been hoping that when this moment came things would be different, I
would appreciate the fact she was moving out of this place of sickness. The doctor left
the room, I followed him out. Are you sure everything is ok to take her home, I
questioned . hoping there was. Everything looks great. Like I have said before, we
werent expecting to se her walking but now that everything else is stable there is no
reason why she cant go home and enjoy a happy life. I felt so terrible for wanting her
to stay but at the same time I didnt know if everything really was going to be ok.

1. John, with relation to Vicky going home, can be described as being:

a) Confused
b) Angry with himself
c) Apprehensive
d) Upset

2. Vicky appears to be ______________ about going home:

a) Afraid
b) Upset
c) Overwhelmed
d) Jubilant

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B. The following scenario recounts the events of a student, Belinda, during her HSC
trials.

Belinda was a top student and wanted to become a lawyer. Everyone always expected
her to come top of the class and nearly every time she did. When she didnt, it was like
front page news at her school with everybody finding out. When she thought she didnt
perform well in an exam, people would proclaim with a laugh, oh well, Im sure you
wont mind getting 95% once in a while.

The HSC trials were coming up. Belinda studied day and night, memorising the syllabus
and doing practice question upon practice question. She was even dreaming about
chemical equations and mathematical formulas. Her first exam was extension maths.
She thought she was so well prepared but once she opened the paper her mind went
completely blank! She tried to remember her notes but it all came back in a jumble. She
started hyperventilating, not believing what was happening. All she could think of was
her chance of getting into law going down the drain. This made her even more flustered.
What she did next she was not very proud of. She looked over to her left. Next to her
was Miko who was currently coming 2nd in their maths class. She could see some of
Mikos working out on her scrap paper. She couldnt help herself, she looked over and
started copying it down onto her page. Suddenly the exam was over and she had to put
her pen down. Then she realised what she had just done, she had to leave. She didnt
want anyone talking to her. On her way home, she kept replaying the image of Mikos
notes over and over again, again she started hyperventilating. The next morning, before
her English exam she saw her maths teacher. She took one look at Belinda and shook her
head, Belinda turned away.

3. Belinda felt _____________ by what she did:

a) Embarrassed then ashamed
b) Guilty then nervous
c) Insecure then guilty
d) Annoyed and then apprehensive

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Meanings behind actions and comments

Now that you have learnt how to identify flag or pieces of evidence from within a
scenario, you need to be able to read between the lines and appreciate the underlying
meaning of both verbal and non verbal communication. There are endless examples
which can be used. You will encounter these on a day to day basis and find yourself
subconsciously analysing the meaning behind an action or comment before you respond.
In the UMAT scenario, this can be a little more difficult because you are not actually
there and, particularly for a conversation, it is difficult to pick up on the tone. Therefore,
rather than simply reading the words like a story, try and get into the persons head and
follow them through the story. Each sentence has a purpose and is attempting to convey
and emphasise various feelings. As you identify various flags, extrapolate what they
mean and how they are relevant to the scenario.

Task: Listed below are a range of common actions. Take a moment to think of a situation
as to where this action may be applied and think of a meaning behind it.

1. Rolling your eyes___________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

2. Avoiding eye contact _______________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

3. A pat on the back __________________________________________________

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4. A pause __________________________________________________________
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5. Scratching your chin ________________________________________________

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Task: We can now apply this to comments people may say or think throughout the
passage. Read the following quotes from various passages and decide what is being
conveyed.

1. I cant believe you would cancel our plans to go to the movies to go to your
boyfriends house __________________________________________________
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2. I wish at that moment the ground would have swallowed me whole

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3. Why am I always the one left picking up the pieces behind you
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4. My kids used to make up excuses to their teachers saying I wouldnt be able to

make parent teacher interviews because I was working late. Meanwhile I would
be passed out at home. I didnt think this was a bad thing then.
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5. I have attempted to date. I told one up front about my HIV status. He didnt call
for a week but then came around. He is a good friend now. I didnt tell the second
one. I've come to the conclusion that I shouldnt have to tell such information
unless its getting serious. ___________________________________________
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6. I have been dropped from the squad for my best friend. Yeah Im happy for him
but Im the one that deserved it _______________________________________
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The effect of a certain action or comment on others in the scenario

In the last exercise we focused on the meaning a particular person was attempting to
convey through various actions and comments. We are now going to take this one step
further and not only appreciate the meaning a person was attempting to convey but the
impact of what is heard/observed by other people within the scenario as this is also very
important. As a doctor, it is important you develop the skill of expressing to your patient
correctly and appropriately information but appreciate the impact this can have on them,
their family and their life.

The way in which to approach this type of question is simple. Like described earlier, as
you read the scenario, identify flags. Use this to help you appreciate the tone of the
passage. This is very important because if you dont understand the context in which a
comment or action was conducted, it will be difficult to try and understand the effect it
will have on the other person. For example, if Janet was upset, a friend who leans over
and puts his arm around her shoulder may comfort her. However, if Janet doesnt really
like John or doesnt even know who John is, then she might not appreciate the gesture.
Therefore, on its own, a hand around a shoulder is a supportive gesture, but if in the
scenario it is unwelcome, it becomes an intrusion of personal space.

Task: Read the following scenario. Attempt to understand the tone of the scenario and
people involved. We will then work through the questions together.

Paul was captivated by Cecilias smile. He couldnt stop staring at her from across the
room. Every time she looked over in his direction he would turn away, pretending to be
looking for a friend or something. This went on for a while. Every time a guy appeared
to approach her, he would move to the edge of his seat. He wished he had the courage to
go over and talk to her. Then suddenly their eyes met. Paul looked away. Glancing back
he realized she was still looking over in his direction. He waved. Nothing. He thought
he made the biggest fool of himself. Then she smiled. Thats all he needed to see.

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Question: Why did Paul look away when he was glancing over at Cecilia?
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Question: Why did Paul move to the edge of his seat as other guys approached?
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Question: Cecilia smiled back, what does this represent? __________________________

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Question: The comment, Thats all he needed to see indicates that Paul .
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The relationship between 2 people in the scenario

Now we are starting to get into a more difficult form of section 2 question. The reason
why these questions are more difficult is based on the fact that you are required to pick
up on the flags/pieces of evidence, interpret them and then use them collectively to judge
something which is outside of the scenario being presented to you. What this means is
that you dont usually get a scenario of a boy and girl discussing their relationship
followed by questions asking for your interpretation. The usual circumstance involves 2
people having a conversation about topic X eg. The weather in the Ukraine, and from the
way in which they discuss this topic and the vibe you get from the passage, you are
required to judge their relationship.

An important thing to remember. The scenario and the evidence it contains will reflect
the state of their relationship at that point in time. It will not tell you what their
relationship was like last week or last month or even yesterday unless this is specifically
indicated. This is particularly relevant for serious or stressful situations. For example, if
Murray found out he had been sacked form his job and did not want to talk to his
girlfriend, this alone does not indicate that their relationship is on the rocks or strained.
It could just be at that point in time, he was too upset or too angry or too ashamed to face
his girlfriend whom he loved very much.

When judging relationships between people, look out for the following:

1. The way in which the people act around each other

Does there appear to be a level of discomfort in the way the 2 people in
question are communicating ie. Is there are sense of unease, hesitancy,
awkwardness
Do they appear to be comfortable/open discussing sensitive topics with
each other
Do they appear to be responsive to each others needs and wants ie. If one
has an issue, does the other person react appropriately

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2. The way in which a person feels after they have spent time together
If the person is apprehensive or feels worried/insecure after spending time
with someone, this indicates there is underlying issues or concerns with
the relationship

3. How the person acts with the person involved compared to the other people in the
scenario
If the relationship in question is that of a husband and wife and the wife
appears to be more comfortable talking to her friends, this might indicate
to you there are underlying issues between the husband and wife
A person who acts remarkably differently around the person they are
dating compared to their friends indicates they are hiding their true self to
one party or the other. You need to know more information to find out
which is the true person.

4. How well those involved know and understand each other

5. How much of an impact the people involved have in each others lives

In a good relationship:

There is sharing in decision making

Extra support is provided when required
Each person is allowed their own thought, beliefs and freedom
Those involved demonstrate good listening skills and provide appropriate
advice when necessary
Those involved understand each others likes, dislikes, needs and wants

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Task: Read the following scenario and answer the associated questions.

The following personal account is from a father, discussing his 2 year old son Mitchell.

We were not expecting the obstetrician to call out, "its a boy." Kim and I had felt so
certain that our baby would be a girl, parent instinct you could call it. Even all our
family and friends thought it was going to be a girl. We hadnt even chosen a boys
name.

Everything then happened so suddenly. The paediatrician ushered me out of the delivery
room and said, your son has webbed hands and isnt breathing too well. I was still
reeling from this news when he was rushed away followed by a team of doctors and
nurses. I didnt even get to hold him. The nurse paused as she whisked him past,
observing the expression on my face. She looked down at my son, gave me a little smile,
shook her head and then continued. All I could hear was Kim sobbing in the background.
I went over and just hugged her. The whole situation just felt so . wrong.

We were able to take him home after a week though we had weekly check ups with the
hospital paediatrician. On the Friday after the 3rd week, the paediatrician decided it was
time to readmit Mitchell on the Monday unless he put on some significant weight over
the weekend because he weighed no more now than he did when he was born. In tears,
Kim went straight to the store and bought formula and bottles. Together, we began
feeding him formula with an eyedropper, into his mouth, drop by drop, again and again.
By Sunday, I couldnt wait for Monday morning so I could go to work to escape the
pressure. Kim took Mitchell to the doctor; she called me at the office to say he had gained
100 grams in three days. It felt like a miracle.

About 35 doctors later we got a diagnosis. Mitchell has a rare genetic condition where he
cant swallow or use his facial muscles properly. Rather than shock, I was relieved to hear
this. Things were now starting to make sense. We started him in early intervention. We
lived from bottle to bottle, from therapy session to therapy session. Dirty nappies were a

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joy; they meant he was getting plenty of formula. We listened, we watched, we learned
and we played with our son.

My boss was fantastic. He let me take time off work when I needed it and let me work
one day a week from home. This let me be around my son more and help him achieve
every milestone. Without this support I would have never seen him take his first step or
say his first word. The fact that it took Mitchell longer than all the other kids we know
did not make us disappointed but made us so proud because we were told that he
wouldnt be able to do any of these things at all at one stage. Even still, I know he will
never be a normal child. I hope that he will still be able to lead a happy and successful
life.

1. The comment from the second paragraph, She looked down at my son, gave me a
little smile, shook her head and then continued indicates the nurse:
a) Felt embarrassed as to how the situation was handled by the medical staff as the
situation was inadequately explained to the father
b) Felt pity towards the father and his wife as she could see that this is not the
experience they had been expecting
c) Was troubled by the fact that Kim and the father were not excited by the fact they
had a new son as they had been expecting a girl
d) Was worried about the child and whether or not he would be ok

2. The comment by the paediatrician to the parents regarding the possibility of Mitchell
being readmitted to hospital (paragraph 3) had the following affect on Kim and her
husband:
a) Made them realise they were bad parents and they desperately worked to rectify
the situation
b) Shocked them because they thought everything had been going smoothly
c) Increased their focus of ensuring that Mitchell met the requirements such that he
stayed out of hospital at all costs
d) Empowered as they understood exactly what they needed to do

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3. Kims relationship with her husband can be described as being:

a) Strong and supportive
b) Civil and reassuring
c) Encouraging and supportive
d) Open and honest

4. The father in this scenario sees his son as:

a) A hindrance in his life
b) A person he has to take care of
c) A person he wants to offer the most opportunities at life
d) A person who will not meet his expectations

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How a person would react if they were put in the same situation a
second time and what will happen next

A new style of question first appeared in the 2007 UMAT exam. Following the scenario,
students were required to either provide an answer as to what they would do/feel in the
circumstance of the situation occurring a second time or decide what will happen next in
the scenario.

Learning for future experiences: In these questions you are required to work out what
the person learnt from their experience the first time and how this would change their
response on subsequent occasions. People will only respond differently the second time
if they learn from the first occasion. For example, for Nathan to learn from his mistakes,
he would need to admit to himself that he made the mistake. If Nathan was to go around
blaming other people, he would be distancing himself from any possible lesson. If he was
to courageously stand up and honestly say This is my mistake and I am responsible
possibilities for learning and understanding are created.

If the situation involved a stressor being placed upon a person, this will no doubt prepare
them for what feelings they will experience if the stressor was to be placed on them
again. As a result, they may react in a more collected manner but this is not to say, the
second time a person within your family is diagnosed with cancer, you will not be as
upset as the first time. What it does mean, is that you know what to expect next and you
will be better prepared for the physical and psychological pressures involved.

What will happen next: Decide how the person is feeling at the end of the passage. This
should reflect the pieces of evidence provided to you and may be in the form of events,
comments, actions or behaviours. Once you have this information sorted, the best way to
decide which is the correct answer is to attempt to get inside the shoes of that person.
Hence having a good appreciation of what is going on inside the head of the person is
vital. Assess the persons position in the scenario with relation to anyone else involved.
Warning: do not let your own experiences reflect your answer. Stick to the passage!

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Task: Provide reasons for the following statements.

1. Why do they have to put English as the first exam. Its not that I am bad at English, I
seem to blank out all the time. I have the same problem when they put maths first.
________________________________________________________________________
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2. They told me the cancer was back. The tears were different this time____________
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3. I broke my wrist .. again. Thought I would have learnt the first time around
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Task: Think about if this was you in the following scenarios, what would happen next.

1. I was enjoying my life as a single university student. Then everything changed. I

took the pregnancy test and the little smiley face came up, it hit me, Im pregnant.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

2. My son wondered off in the shopping centre, I was desperate. Then I saw him,
staring blankly as the crowds walked past him _________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

3. John had given me the biggest opportunity allowing me to work with him. Then I
caught him stealing money last week. I loved my job and knew I wouldnt be able to
keep working here if I dobbed him in. The boss asked me if I knew about anything
happening around the place.____________________________________________

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Task: Read the following scenario and answer the associated questions.

Jana: Mum . Something bad happened at school today..

Mother: What was it darling?

Jana: Theres this boy in my class he .. he keeps

Mother: What is it sweetheart?

Jana: He keeps .. picking on me. He laughs at my hair and . my lunch box

Mother: WHAT!! How dare he. Did you tell the teacher?

Jana: No . I didnt know how to.

Mother: Im going to go up there tomorrow and speak to him myself

Jana: No mum please dont!

Mother : Oh yes I will

Jana: (Bursts into tears)

Mother: Oh Jana, I am so sorry!

1. The mother:
a) Did not understand her daughters concerns
b) Was ignorant to her daughters concerns
c) Reacted inappropriately to her daughters concerns
d) Reacted selfishly to her daughters concerns

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2. How might the mother reacted if she was to experience the situation for a second time?
a) Calmer, keeping her true feelings to herself
b) More angry because she would hope that the bullying would have stopped after
the first occasion
c) Indifferently, at the end of the day there is nothing she can do really
d) More practically, organised with her daughter how they would overcome the bully
together

3. Which of the following is the most likely situation as to what will happen next:
a) Jana and her mum talk about what they should do
b) Jana decides not to tell her mother anymore but her mother persists and rings the
school
c) The mother decides to ring the school acting like a concerned parent
d) The mother decides to take justice into her own hands and confronts the other
child

2008
Section 2 Understanding People_________________________________________- 24 -

Section 2 Word Bank

Accepting = To acknowledge that the past can not be changed and decide to move on

Adamant = To stand ground about ones belief

Afraid = To be filled with fear or apprehension

Agonise = To worry

Angst = Troubled

Annoyed = To be frustrated

Anticipation = To look forward to something excitedly

Apathetic = To show a lack of interest

Apprehensive = To be uncertain or afraid of the unknown

Astounded = Deeply surprised

Attentive = To pay close attention

Baffled = Amazed

Bewildered = Taken aback, puzzled

Bitter = To find it difficult to accept

Blissful = In high spirits

Calm = To be composed and accepting. To be still.

Cautious = reserved, showing careful thought

Chivalrous = Gallant or courteous

Civil = satisfactory but not noteworthy consideration to others

Compassionate = To be concerned and caring toward someone

Complacent = Unconcerned or self-satisfied

Concern = To show you are worried or that the issue is important to you or affects you

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Condemn = To put someone down

Confused = Unsure, puzzled

Conscious = To be mindful of a situation/issue

Considerate = To be kind

Content = To be happy with the present

Courageous = To be brave

Deliberate = On purpose

Delighted = Very happy

Despairing = To feel hopeless

Desperate = Frantic or distressed

Despondent = Without or almost without hope

Disbelief = To doubt the truth behind something

Distraught = Deeply upset

Ecstatic = Overjoyed

Elated = Delighted

Empathy = To show concern and understanding for another persons feelings

Embarrassed = Feeling uneasy and self-conscious

Fleeting = To be brief with someone

Flustered = To be overwhelmed

Furious = Very annoyed/angry

Grateful = Thankful

Guilty = To realise you have made a mistake

Hindrance = To be in the way

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Section 2 Understanding People_________________________________________- 26 -

Humiliated = Embarrassed (more severe)

Ignorant = Unaware, uninformed

Inconsolable = Unable to be comforted

Indifferent = To neither agree nor disagree

Innocent = Free from evil or guilt

Intimidated = To fear something

Intrigued = To be interested

Inundated = To be overwhelmed with things to do

Irate = Very angry (rage)

Irresponsible = To not consider the consequences of ones actions

Jubilant = Extremely happy

Mortified = Deeply shocked

Neglect = To ignore

Nostalgic = To remember the past favourably

Optimistic = To expect a favourable outcome

Overwhelmed = To be overly surprised or to have too much to handle ie overly stressed

Panic = An overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety

Pessimistic = To expect a negative outcome

Polite = Gracious, well mannered

Prudent = Careful

Rebellious = Resisting control or authority

Reckless = To be irrational or careless

Relief = The feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced

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Section 2 Understanding People_________________________________________- 27 -

Regret = To wish that the past could be changed, to be disappointed with ones actions in
the past

Remorse = To be ashamed/sorry

Resigned = To accept a situation without a fight

Resilient = To bounce back, be courageous

Positive = To look at a situation with certain or under a good light

Sad = Depressed or miserable

Satisfied = Pleased with an outcome

Sensible = level headed, rational

Shock = The feeling of distress and disbelief

Sombre = Gloomy

Stubborn = Unwilling

Supportive = To help someone in a time of need

Sympathy = To show support towards someone

Tense = Nervous

Tentative = To be unsure, approach with caution

Trepidation = Fear

Troubled = Bothered

Upset = Unhappy or worried

Uneasy = To be uncomfortable, something does not sit right with you

Unfortunate = To be unlucky

Vexed = Bothered

Worried = To be concerned

2008
Section 2 Understanding People_________________________________________- 28 -

Homework Questions

A mothers journey with post-natal depression refers to questions 1-4

When the knock came on Veronicas door, she could never have known that help was at
hand. Jodie was 19, had a baby boy she couldnt look after and a husband who was
starting to wonder whether he had lost the beautiful, bubbly woman he had fallen in love
with.

I thought I just had the baby blues, says Veronica. I didnt pick up on the warning
signs and nor did my husband really. All my friends said they could see it though. My
husband David did mention something but I just brushed his comments away, I thought
post natal depression was an excuse for laziness. I didnt think I fell into that category
and I was just waiting for the feelings to pass. Looking back now I realise the baby blues
dont go on for weeks like that. David was coming home to look after the baby on his
own because I had absolutely no motivation or energy to do anything for my son. I felt
lost and overwhelmed. The thought of harming my baby never entered my mind.

The knock on the front door was a turning point. When she opened it to see people from
the Department of Community Services there the first thought that entered Veronicas
mind was that they were going to take my son away from me. I opened the door and
realised who they were, I started weeping and then I collapsed. They could see what was
wrong and got me help.

Veronica got the post natal depression after her second baby also. In one sense it was
comforting knowing but at the same time, it made no difference, nothing can prepare you
for those feelings. I would sit there knowing I had 2 kids to look after and my house was
a disaster. My daughter would cry all the time, so would my son, wanting my attention.
It was all too hard for me. I knew I had to find a way to make our lives better. Veronica
started to organise her life and slowly she is finding her home is filling with energy and
happiness again.

1. The fact that she didnt have any motivation or energy to do anything for her son
indicates she:

a) Did not care about him

b) Felt he was a burden in her life
c) Could not cope with his needs and her emotional problems at the same time
d) Felt he limited her ability to overcome her emotional issues as he demanded too
much of her time

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Section 2 Understanding People_________________________________________- 29 -

2. In the final paragraph, Veronica comments, In one sense it was comforting knowing
but at the same time, it made no difference, nothing can prepare you for those feelings.
What feelings was she referring to?

a) Apathy, she didnt really care about what was happening around her
b) Denial, she didnt really believe what was happening in her life
c) Despair, she gave up on what on overcoming her state of mind
d) Hopelessness, she didnt know how to cope with what was going on around her

3. How did the first experience of post natal depression affect Veronica the second time:

a) Made her realise how to recognise the early warning signs

b) Encouraged her to seek help
c) Did not help her the second time
d) Helped her work through the stages of the condition with more control

4. How did Veronicas post natal depression affect her relationship with her husband?

a) It had no effect
b) It increased her husbands responsibilities around the house
c) It encouraged her to open up to him more
d) Need more information to make a judgement

The following scenario refers to questions 5-7.

Hannah: Hey Pam, hows you prac teaching going?

Pam: Ahhhhh (sigh). Its going alright.

Hannah: Thats great, how are the students?

Pam: They are really nice. Its just a lot of work involved with preparation.
Then they seem to want to only work from the textbook though I have
spent hours preparing the lesson.

Hannah: Do they ask you questions?

Pam: Yeh I suppose so. Its just so draining . and the teacher doesnt really
seem to pay much interest in what I do.

Hannah: Ah well I suppose you have it easy then.

Pam: I wish (pause). So .. hows things in your life?

2008
Section 2 Understanding People_________________________________________- 30 -

Hannah: Everythings great. Work is really busy at this time of the year. The boss
has been really getting under my skin, wanting me to stay back all the
time, but I keep telling him, I just cant keep doing these 60 hour weeks

Pam: Yeh

Hannah: But he doesnt seem to listen. Its always all about him and what he
wants. No consideration for anyone else.

Pam: (mumbles to self: sounds like you)

Hannah: Sorry?

Pam: Nothing nothing, I got to run, see you.

5. Hannah is:

a) Disinterested in what Pam has to say

b) Ignorant of Pams feelings
c) Supportive of Pam
d) Apathetic towards Pam

6. Pam mumbles the comment, sounds like you to herself because:

a) She is annoyed at the way Hannah only thinks about herself

b) She is attempting to highlight to Hannah what she thinks about her
c) She is trying to drop a hint that she wants Hannah to ask her more about her prac
teaching
d) She is upset that Hannah is angry with her boss

7. What do you think will happen next?

a) Pam will return to apologise

b) Pam will return because she wants to talk to Hannah
c) Hannah will realise and call back Pam
d) Nothing

The following scenario about Bec relates to questions 8-10.

Bec is a 19 year old mother, trying her best in difficult social circumstances to raise her
18 month old son Scott. He is not gaining weight adequately. She breast fed him for the
first three months but because he used to cry so much she changed to bottle feeding. He
still likes his milk but he should be eating a wider variety of food by now. Currently, the
only other food he likes to eat are vegemite or nutella sandwiches.

2008
Section 2 Understanding People_________________________________________- 31 -

Bec is finding it really hard to take care of Scott and herself. She had left home when she
was 15 to live with her boyfriend. Her parents were really upset about this at the time
and have not met their grandchild. Bec also has 2 older brothers but they dont want
anything to do with her because of what she put her parents through. To top things off,
Becs boyfriend left 6 months ago and now she shares a flat with another girl in a similar
situation. She cant work because she has no spare time or money to get someone to look
after Scott and now she is falling behind in her rent repayments. She comes to the doctor
because she is worried about Scotts weight:

Bec: He never seems to be hungry. I cant make him eat. How can I get him to
eat properly?

Doctor: Ok, how about we deal with each issue one step at a time.

Bec: Is it my fault? Does that make me a bad mother?

Doctor: You shouldnt take the blame upon yourself. There are lots of things we
can do, we just need to work out whats going on

Bec: (Rolls eyes) Thats why I came here. Will he have to hospital?

Doctor: Like I said, lets take this one step at a time. Can you tell me a little bit
about how youre coping?

Bec: For goodness sakes. Scott is the issue here.

8. Becs relationship with her parents can be described as:

a) Strained
b) Civil
c) Non-existent
d) Missing

9. The doctors comments demonstrate:

a) They are attempting to find out what is wrong with Scott

b) They do not really appreciate why Bec has come to see them
c) They are attempting to develop an idea of the scope of the problem
d) They are concerned more about Bec than Scott

2008
Section 2 Understanding People_________________________________________- 32 -

10. The above consultation would have the following effect on Bec:

a) She would be appreciative of the doctors concerns but wished he had really
addressed her concerns
b) She would be confused and afraid this would mean someone might come and take
her son off her
c) She would be dissatisfied and feel as though it was a waste of time
d) She would feel more empowered as how to deal with the feeding issue with Scott

The following scenario involves Chantel, a 55 year old woman and relates to questions
11-12.

It was the day of Chantels operation where she was going to have a breast removed as
they had found a breast cancer lump within it. Although she had 4 beautiful children and
a husband who loved her unconditionally and knew without this operation the cancer
could spread, she still felt that by losing her breast she was losing part of her identity as a
woman. Everyone kept telling her not to worry, that it would not change the person she
was on the inside. Deep down she knew she just had to get through this.

On the morning of the surgery she awoke with a strange feeling in her stomach. She
arrived at the day surgery and by this stage she just wanted to get everything over with.
Meanwhile her husband Steven kept asking all these questions to make sure everything
would be ok. He kept asking me if she wanted anything, did she want my pillow
propped, he was being too nice. He didnt really know how to talk to her. Unfortunately
this was only delaying the time to which she could go into theatre and it was driving her
crazy.

11. Chantels husband:

a) Is more of a hindrance than a help

b) Is trying to supportive of his wife
c) Is nervous about his wifes operation
d) Is not being very supportive to his wife

12. Although she had 4 beautiful children and a husband who loved her unconditionally
she still felt that by losing her breast she was losing part of her identity as a woman
indicates:

a) Chantel was afraid about changing her mind and wanting more children one day
b) Chantel felt a sense of loss before going into the operation
c) Chantel was afraid she would not feel feminine anymore
d) Chantel did not want other people knowing about the operation because she felt
incomplete

2008
Section 2 Understanding People_________________________________________- 33 -

The following is a conversation between Adriana and Michael and relates to questions
13-15.

Adriana: Ahhh I just dont understand how the kidneys are able to create this
concentration gradient and how that relates to urine production and what
that has to do with dehydration.

John: Well, you take a tubule and the difference across the wall from A to B

Adriana: But where did you pull that from?

John: Just listen, the difference from A to B means that .

Adriana: Hold on hold on. So, the way I see it ..

John: Will you let me finish, PLEASE. The concentration .

Adriana: (bangs head on table)

John: I give up. You obviously dont want my help.

13. Adriana bangs her head on the table because she is:

a) Frustrated because she does not understand

b) Annoyed because John is not explaining it clearly
c) Tired of studying
d) Determined to get the answer correct

14. John made the comment, Just listen, the difference from A to B means that .
because:

a) He wants Adriana to let him explain first and then ask questions
b) He wants Adriana to not ask any questions
c) He wants to get it over as fast as possible
d) He needs quiet so that he can think clearly

15. John:

a) Attempted to understand Adrianas concerns

b) Dealt with Adrianas problem efficiently
c) Tried his best to explain the solution to Adriana
d) Was empathetic with regards to Adrianas inability to grasp the concept

2008
Section 2 Understanding People_________________________________________- 34 -

The following diary entry refers to questions 16-19

Valentine's Day was one of the worst days this year. I didn't find anything on my front
doorstep in the morning, thank god. Every year for the past 10 years (and I am only 12)
put chocolates on my door step. It obviously isnt his idea, but his mum makes him do it
anyway because his mum and my mum are best friends. But around 4pm in the
afternoon, something was there. And it was chocolates. I asked every single boy I knew
and all said NO!!!!!!!!. Even asked Tim and he said no. I told him I was relieved since
we had broken up and I knew if we got back together it would cause all those problems
with my family again and neither of us wanted that now but it really was quite a bitter-
sweet moment opening the card and not seeing his name there.

One day I got home from school and my parents said that my phone bill say high. They
calculated I had sent 52 text messages to Tim and they were not happy. Not at all. And
that day I found out that my dad sent me the valentines chocolates. They took my phone
off me to try and teach me a lesson but I dont care. About one week and five days later,
my parents start getting angry at me because they don't want me talking to Tim. I told
them I hadn't and they said I have been e-mailing him (how do parents find out these
things when they don't even watch you). I told them I hadnt but it was pointless arguing.
The next day I caught mum trying to get into my msn account. I told her my password to
get in but while I am around she doesnt look. When my mum isn't looking I change my
password and go into my account to see who has sent me e-mails. HAHAHAHAHA she
is such a loser. I'm smart with computer things now. People like my parents can't work
out things on a computer.

Then on the 10th, Tim and his family left for Fiji for 5 days. I knew they were back on
the 16th because I saw his car on the way to school that morning. That afternoon I asked
mum if I could go and walk the dog. She said she was too busy and I would have to wait
until dad was home. I told her not to worry and that I would go anyway. Normally she
wouldnt let me go on my own, she always has some excuse but I think she is just making
sure I dont see Tim. Anyway, she thought he was still overseas, hahaha, and so let me
go for once. I knew he usually walked his dog at this time so I went down his street. I
saw him coming before he saw me. We approached each other. He stopped a bit back,
as if to think about what to do next . Ah got to go, you will have to find out next time.

16. The narrator describes opening the Valentines card as being a bitter-sweet
moment because:

a) She still has feelings for Tim

b) She was afraid that if it was Tim she would start to fall for him again
c) She didnt want to start another argument with her parents
d) She remembered how much it hurt when they broke up

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Section 2 Understanding People_________________________________________- 35 -

17. In the second paragraph, the narrator comments, They calculated I had sent 52 text
messages to Tim and they were not happy. Not at all. The purpose of the second
sentence was to:

a) Demonstrate her feeling of betrayal after her parents looked at her phone
b) Describe the situation as accurately as possible
c) Emphasise the way her parents acted unfavourably to the phone bill
d) Emphasise the high number of messages sent to the one person on the phone bill

18. The narrator is ________________ with her parents:

a) Upset
b) Frustrated
c) Irate
d) Disappointed

19. What do you think happened next, when the narrator saw Tim accidentally walking
his dog?

a) Tim would turn the other way

b) Tim and the narrator would embrace and discuss ways in which they could see
each other more often and perhaps get back together
c) Tim and the narrator would chat for a bit and then continue walking the dogs
d) Tim would ask the narrator if there was any opportunity of seeing her again after
they chatted for some time

The following scenario refers to question 20

Jill was finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel with her research project.
Going into work, as per usual, she found her supervisors were no where to be found. She
didnt think this was too unusual as they usually had a meeting on Fridays anyway. After
a few hours she realised something wasnt right. She decided to speak to someone else in
case they knew what was going on. Finding out her supervisors had decided on the spur
of the moment to go away for 3 weeks was not what she had been expecting to hear. She
was supposed to start her experiments on the Monday and now she was going to be very
very behind. She checked her email, maybe they left instructions, nothing. She checked
her desk, maybe they left instructions there, still nothing. She even checked her phone,
they didnt even leave a voice message. She picked up her lab diary and threw it across
the room. She couldnt wait to get back to clinical studies.

20. Why did the narrator throw the lab diary across the room?

a) She was sick of the troubles and barriers she was facing with her research
b) She wanted to go back to clinical studies
c) She wished her supervisors had considered her position before leaving to go away
d) She wished she was more organised

2008