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Directions: You are expected to study this section in class. Don’t preview.
- Word Pretest
For each italicized word or expression, choose the best meaning below.
1. Will the strike affect the price of coal?
A. raise B. lower C. influence
2. Though a simple story, it has a profound effect.
A. interesting B. easy to find C. deep
3. He had never had any experience, so he appeared timid in the job interview.
A. very brave B. confident and proud C. easily frightened
4. Please concentrate on your own test paper. Don’t look around.
A. focus attention on B. start working C. finish working on
5. I spoke to him about it on numerous occasions.
A. different B. few C. many
6. She interpreted his silence as anger.
A. translated
B. understood the meaning of
C. strongly believed
7. Several villages have been isolated by the floods.
A. covered B. separated C. damaged
8. He worked so hard that eventually he made himself ill.
A. at the beginning B. in the middle C. in the end
Text
Cultural Background:
Shyness may be defined experientially as discomfort and/or inhibition in interpersonal situations that interferes with pursuing one's interpersonal or professional goals. It is a form of excessive self-focus, a preoccupation with one's thoughts, feelings and physical reactions. It may vary from mild social awkwardness to totally inhibiting social phobia. Shyness may be chronic and dispositional, serving as a personality trait that is central in one's self definition.
 Overcome Shyness
Shyness causes much unhappiness for many people. All kinds of people describe themselves as shy: short, tall, dull, intelligent, young, old, slim, overweight. Shy people are anxious and self-conscious; that is, they are excessively concerned with their own appearance and action. Worrisome thoughts are constantly wandering in their minds: What kind of impression am I making? Do they like me? Do I sound stupid? I’m ugly. I’m wearing unattractive clothes.
In general, the way people think about themselves has a profound effect on all areas of their lives. For instance, people who have a positive sense of self-worth or high self-esteem usually act with confidence. They do not need constant praise and encouragement from others to feel good about themselves. Self-confident people are their own best friends. They are not affected by what others think they “should” do. People with high self-esteem are not hurt by criticism; instead, they view criticism as suggestion for improvement.
In contrast, shy people are likely to be passive and easily influenced by others. Shy people are very sensitive to criticism; they feel it confirms their inferiority. They also find it difficult to be pleased by compliments because they believe they are unworthy of praise. A shy person may respond to a compliment with a statement like this one: “You are just saying that to make me feel good. I know it’s not true.” It is clear that, while self-awareness is a healthy quality, overdoing it is harmful.
Can shyness be completely overcome, or at least reduced? The answer is positive. Here are some specific helpful steps toward building self-confidence and overcoming shyness:
1. Recognize your personal strengths and weakness. Everyone has both. As self- acceptance grows, shyness naturally diminishes.
2. Set reasonable goals. For example, you may be timid about being with a group of strangers at a party. Don’t feel that you must talk with everyone. Concentrate on talking to only one or two people. You will feel more comfortable.
3. Guilt and shame are destructive feelings. Don’t waste time and energy on them. Suppose you have hurt someone’s feelings. Feeling ashamed won’t do any good. Instead, accept the fact that you have made a mistake, and make up your mind to be more sensitive in the future.
4. There are numerous ways to avoid complaining about yourself. Avoid describing yourself as stupid, ugly, worthless, a failure. Stress the positive.
5. Accept criticism thoughtfully. Do not regard it as a personal attack. If, for example, a friend complains about your cooking, accept it as a comment on your cooking, not yourself. You are the same good friends; perhaps your cooking could improve.
6. Remember that everyone experiences some failures and disappointments. Very often a disappointment becomes a turning point for a wonderful experience to come along. For instance, you may be rejected by the college of your choice. However, at the college you actually attend, you may find a quality of education beyond what you had expected.
7. Set aside time to relax, enjoy hobbies, and reevaluate your goals on a regular basis. Time spent this way helps you learn more about yourself.
8. Practice being in social situations. Don’t isolate yourself from people. Try making one acquaintance at a time; eventually you will move around in large groups with skill and self-assurance.
Each one of us is a unique, worthwhile individual. We are interesting in our own personal ways. The better we understand ourselves, the easier it becomes to realize our full potential. Let’s not allow shyness to block our chances for a rich life.
Total words: 600
Total reading time: minutes seconds
The text is from on The Independent Reader, by Betty Sobe and Lorraine Smith. New York: CBS College Publishing House, 1987.
Reading Skill: Context Clues to Word Meaning
With the help of the context clues, write down your own definition of the italicized word or phrase in the space provided.
1. For instance, people who have a positive sense of self-worth or high self-esteem usually act with confidence.
2. It is clear that, while self-awareness is a healthy quality, overdoing it is detrimental, or harmful.
3. As self-acceptance grows, shyness naturally diminishes.
4. Do not make negative comments about yourself. This is a form of self-rejection… Accept the positive.
5. They also find it difficult to be pleased by compliments because they believe they are unworthy of praise.
6. Some people start to say something while looking right at you, but, three words into the sentence, they break eye contact and look out the window.
Reading comprehension
Decide whether each of the following statements is true or fale.
1. Only certain kinds of people describe themselves as shy.
2. If we think well of ourselves, we will act with confidence.
3. People who are shy can’t change.
4. Shy people have trouble accepting compliments.
5. At a party, you must talk to everyone.
6. A disappointment can often become a turning point for a wonderful experience to come along.
7. We should reevaluate our goals regularly.
8. Each of us is interesting in the same way.
Vocabulary Building
①Word Match
Match the following words with their definitions within each group of five words.
notable husband or wife
tentative spend time thinking sadly about something
spouse a famous or important person
signal not certain
brood a sound or action intended to give a message
intelligent move about without a fixed purpose
potential become less active and worried
wander possibility for development
goal having powers of learning, reasoning or understanding
relax aim; purpose
stride receive something from one’s parents
intimidate walk with quick, long steps
muffle threaten; frighten
inherit character
personality make a sound less easily heard
Complete the sentences by using the words above. Change the forms if necessary.
1. When I look at my watch, it’s a for us to leave.
2. We have made plans for a vacation but haven’t really decided yet.
3. To have a good is more important than to have a good appearance.
4. Laughing and crying are behaviors.
5. One should have a in life instead of living without thinking about anything.
6. Don’t just sit there over your problems.
7. Look at that little boy about — perhaps he’s lost his mother.
8. Louisa watched him across the lawn.
②Suffix
Many nouns end in suffixes –ness and –ment. Study the examples, and then list some nouns that end in these suffixes in the space provided. Add more if you can.
suffixes examples
-ness shyness, unhappiness, weakness
-ment encouragement, improvement, disappointment
-ness 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
-ment 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Many adjectives end in suffixes –ive and –ful. Study the examples, and then list some adjectives that end in these suffixes in the space provided. Add more if you can
suffixes examples
-ive unattractive, positive, passive
-ful wonderful, thoughtful, harmful
-ive 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
-ful 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Fill in each of the blanks with the given word in its proper form.
1. He was given a medal for the brave act by the local . (govern)
2. I want my children to be brought up in a world. (peace)
3. The president issued an official about next year’s budget last night. (state)
4. The of Jon to Mary was announced in the newspapers yesterday. (engage)
5. It was the most storms in 30 years. (destroy)
6. Though they are old classmates and close friends, they often had . (agree)
7. The power of an engine can be measured by a dynamometer. (effect)
8. To read more good books is to teenagers. (help)
Cloze
Fill in each of the blanks with a given word below.
worse public people service position meeting
women differently low physical interview loud
Everything that shy do with other people is difficult for them. Two researchers asked hundreds of men and what made them most anxious. They said going to a play with strangers was the worst. That was even than having to give a speech or have an for a new job. They also felt unhappy when people asked them personal questions in or when they talked to someone in a superior
. Young people were anxious when they met the parents of a date. The first day on a new job was also hard for shy people.
Shy people behave from more confident people. They don’t want to complain about bad in a store or restaurant. They don’t make suggestions or volunteer to do things. They avoid social gatherings. They usually speak in a voice. Some shy people have reactions when they have to face one of these situations.
Key
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