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 ‘personal projects’. These projects might be big (such as career ambitions) or small (like cleaning the car) and pursuing them shapes our day-to-day behaviour and our relationships with friends, family and workmates.
Vocabulary from this passage
11 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.
- constrain verb
To limit or restrict someone's freedom of action, or the scope of something, through pressure or circumstances
Rigid budgets can constrain how far a research team is able to pursue unexpected leads.
- detrimental adjective
Tending to cause harm or damage, especially to someone's health, well-being or long-term prospects
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 take precedence over or suppress a natural tendency or instinct, usually through deliberate effort or authority
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.
- rein back verb
To restrain or hold in check one's natural impulses, behaviour or personality, usually for a specific purpose
Speakers who rein back their enthusiasm often appear more measured and credible to sceptical audiences.
- restorative resources noun
Spaces or facilities that help people recover their energy and composure after a period of demanding effort
Quiet rooms and rest areas are restorative resources that help staff recover between meetings.
- strenuous adjective
Requiring or involving great physical or mental effort, energy and sustained determination
Acting out of character for hours can be a strenuous psychological task.
Answers with explanations
- 14. vi
Paragraph A introduces Little's idea of **free-traits**, which people adopt to behave unlike their natural selves. The key phrase is **different situations**, which matches the heading's 'various contexts in which we might need to act out of character'; the paragraph also gives **examples** of personal projects, from career ambitions to cleaning the car. Heading viii (trial and error) belongs to the next paragraph, and heading v is about careers, which is only a passing example here. Answer: vi.
- 15. viii
Paragraph B is about learning by **trial and error**. Little asks us to think of ourselves as **amateur scientists** who are **continually exploring and testing** the world to find out what works and what doesn't, then observing the reactions and storing the results. That cycle of trying something and noting the outcome is exactly the heading's idea. The paragraph is not about acting out of character or about the workplace, so the other headings fit it less well. Answer: viii.
- 16. iv
Paragraph C begins with the researchers and then explains **the reason for basing the research** on the workplace. This paraphrases the heading 'Why researchers decided to focus on the workplace', where **decided to focus** corresponds to basing the research and **workplace** to the working **environment**. Balsari-Palsule's quotation about jobs rarely fitting traits supports this purpose. Heading i, about company culture harming people, matches the later paragraph on competitive environments. Answer: iv.
- 17. vii
Paragraph D explains how **introverts** cope when they act like extroverts: they make frequent use of **restorative resources**, defined as **spaces** designed to let employees read quietly or relax. These **facilities** let them recover their equilibrium after acting out of character, which is why they report no negative effects. This matches the heading about workplace facilities aiding one personality type. The heading about the pressure of restraining an outgoing nature belongs to the next paragraph, which discusses extroverts. Answer: vii.
- 18. iii
Paragraph E turns to **extroverts**. The writer says **outwardly confident** personality types find it extremely hard and **stressful** to **rein back** their personalities and act as if they were introverts. The comparison with **caged animals** reinforces the strain. 'Rein back' paraphrases restraining, and 'outwardly confident' paraphrases an outgoing nature, so the matching heading is the pressure of restraining an outgoing nature. The introverts in the previous paragraph cope well, so that heading does not apply. Answer: iii.
- 19. i
Paragraph F looks at how the **work environment** affects personal projects. The writer notes that **highly competitive environments**, which demand **conformity** to certain types of behaviour, leave little time for personal projects and may eventually be **detrimental** to well-being. This is the negative effect of company culture named in the heading. The heading about recommendations for employers does not fit, since the paragraph describes a problem rather than offering advice. Answer: i.
- 20. ii
Paragraph G sets out the **implications** of the research for businesses and gives practical advice. Balsari-Palsule suggests that companies should not dismiss the **costs** of free-trait acting, should rely less on **personality surveys**, and should **build work environments** that support free-trait expression. These are actionable recommendations aimed at management, matching 'Recommendations for employers'. The heading about a negative company culture describes a problem, not advice, so it does not fit. Answer: ii.
- 21-22: BE
- 23. competitive
The gap follows 'very' and comes before **workplaces**, so it needs one adjective. In the paragraph about the second stage of research, the writer says that **highly competitive environments** place demands on employees to **conform**. The question paraphrases this as workplaces that **prevent employees from completing projects** of personal importance, which matches 'leave little time for employees to pursue projects'. The adjective is copied directly from the text and fits the one-word limit. Answer: competitive.
- 24. implications
The gap follows 'many' and precedes 'for businesses', so a plural noun is needed. The final paragraph opens with the **implications** of the research by Little and Balsari-Palsule, described as **numerous** and to be considered by **businesses**. The question paraphrases 'numerous' as 'many' and keeps the idea of businesses. Scan the last paragraph, since a section on practical consequences usually appears at the end. The word is lifted directly and satisfies the one-word limit. Answer: implications.
- 25. surveys
The gap follows 'depend too much on' and needs a plural noun naming something managers hand out. The passage says that **management** should **rely less** on handing out **personality surveys**, and 'rely less' is the writer's version of the question's 'depends too much'. These surveys **pigeonhole** employees into introvert and extrovert categories, which matches 'aimed at determining personality types'. The noun is copied from the text and fits the one-word limit. Answer: surveys.
- 26. productivity
The gap follows 'a company's' and needs a noun that can be **boosted**. The passage ends by saying that making these changes, meaning supportive work environments, is likely to lead to **increases in productivity** in the **long run**. 'Increases' paraphrases the question's 'boost', and 'in the long run' paraphrases 'over time'. Scanning the last paragraph for the closing benefit of the recommendations finds the word. It is copied from the text and fits the one-word limit. Answer: productivity.