A study of introvert and extrovert characters
Read A study of introvert and extrovert characters and check the IELTS Reading answers. We are often labelled as introverts or extroverts, and humans do seem to have biological propensities to behave in certain ways; some of us are naturally more talkative and sociable while others prefer more time…
Passage preview
We are often labelled as introverts or extroverts, and humans do seem to have biological propensities to behave in certain ways; some of us are naturally more talkative and sociable while others prefer more time alone. But, according to Canadian-born research psychologist Professor Brian Little, our traits are by no means fixed. In his book Me, Myself and Us: The Science of Personality and the Art of Well-Being, Little suggests that we are often able to override our biological make-up through the adoption of what he calls "free-traits', which allow us to behave in a manner which contrasts with our natural selves. According to Little, we adopt these free-traits only when we need them, in order to meet the demands of different situations and reach targets and goals that are important to us our 'persona projects' These projects might be big (such as career ambitions) or small (like cleaning the car) and pursuing them shapes our day-to-day behavior and our relationships with friends, family and workmates.
Vocabulary from this passage
8 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- absenteeism noun
The practice of regularly staying away from work or school without good reason
Compromised well-being often leads to high rates of employee absenteeism.
- detrimental adjective
Tending to cause harm or damage to health or well-being
Prolonged stress in competitive environments can be detrimental to mental health.
- equilibrium noun
A state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced
Quiet spaces help employees recover their equilibrium after stressful social interactions.
- idiosyncrasy noun
A mode of behavior or way of thought peculiar to an individual
Researchers are investigating the idiosyncrasies of personal work projects.
- override verb
To use authority or a mechanism to reject or cancel a natural process
We can override our natural introversion to meet professional demands.
- pigeonhole verb
To assign to a particular category, typically an overly restrictive one
Personality tests should not be used to pigeonhole employees into rigid roles.
- propensity noun
An inclination or natural tendency to behave in a particular way
Some individuals have a biological propensity to be more outgoing than others.
- strenuous adjective
Requiring or using great exertion or effort
Acting out of character for hours can be a strenuous psychological task.
Answers with explanations
- 14. vi
The correct heading is **vi** (Examples of various contexts...). Paragraph 14 introduces 'free-traits' and provides **specific examples** of contexts where these are used, such as 'career ambitions' (big projects) or 'cleaning the car' (small projects). It explains how we adapt to different **situations** to reach goals, matching the heading's focus on varied contexts for acting out of character.
- 15. viii
The correct heading is **viii** (Learning by trial and error). The paragraph uses a metaphor of **amateur scientists** to describe how humans function. It explicitly mentions **exploring and testing** to see 'what works and what doesn't,' which is the definition of **trial and error**. The process of observing reactions and storing results further reinforces this scientific approach to personal development.
- 16. iv
The correct heading is **iv** (Why researchers decided to focus on the workplace). This paragraph justifies the **choice of the work environment** for the study. Balsari-Palsule explains that since jobs rarely fit natural traits and high stakes are involved in professional interactions, it is the perfect place to study **pushing the limits** of character acting.
- 17. vii
The correct heading is **vii** (How workplace facilities aid the success of one personality type). The text describes how **introverts** maintain high performance by utilizing **restorative resources** like quiet rooms. These **facilities** allow them to 'recover their equilibrium' after acting as extroverts. This specific aid is presented as a reason why they do not report negative effects compared to their counterparts.
- 18. iii
The correct heading is **iii** (The pressure of restraining an outgoing nature). The text contrasts introverts with **outwardly confident** (extroverted) types who find it 'extremely hard' and **stressful** to 'rein back' (restrain) their natural tendencies. The metaphor of feeling like **caged animals** illustrates the high level of psychological pressure they experience when forced to act introverted.
- 19. i
The correct heading is **i** (How company culture can have a negative impact). The paragraph discusses how **highly competitive environments** (a feature of company culture) force employees to **conform**. This pressure can be **detrimental to well-being** because it prevents the pursuit of personal projects. The mention of 'constraining' employees highlights the negative side of certain professional atmospheres.
- 20. ii
The correct heading is **ii** (Recommendations for employers). The final paragraph provides explicit advice for businesses, suggesting they should **not dismiss costs**, rely less on **pigeonholing surveys**, and instead **build environments** that support free-trait expression. These are clearly structured as actionable improvements for management to implement.
- 21-22: BE
21: The answer is **B** (They are not used by people all the time). The text states that we adopt free-traits **only when we need them** to meet specific demands or goals. This directly matches the idea that they are not a constant state but a **situational tool** used selectively.
22: The answer is **E** (They enable people to act in ways which are not typical for them). The paragraph explains that free-traits allow individuals to **override** their biology and behave in a way that **contrasts** with their natural selves. This is synonymous with acting in a manner that is not 'typical' for their core personality.
- 23. competitive
The answer is **competitive**. The sentence completion requires an adjective to describe a type of workplace. Paragraph 19 mentions **highly competitive environments** as places that demand conformity and prevent the completion of **personal projects**. The word fits both the grammatical context (adjective) and the meaning of the source text.
- 24. implications
The answer is **implications**. The question mirrors the structure of the opening sentence of the final paragraph. The text states that the **implications** of the research are **numerous** for businesses. This word refers to the potential consequences or suggestions derived from the study results.
- 25. surveys
The answer is **surveys**. The text argues that managers should **rely less** (depend too much in the question) on **personality surveys**. These tools are used to **pigeonhole** or categorize people, which aligns with the question's focus on determining personality types. The noun 'surveys' is the required object.
- 26. productivity
The answer is **productivity**. The passage concludes by suggesting that creating a supportive environment for free-trait expression will lead to **increases in productivity**. The phrase 'in the long run' in the text matches 'over time' in the question. The term 'boost' in the prompt is a synonym for 'increase'.