Practice Listening English Exercises for B2 – Personality traits

1 Tim: O

2 Emily: A

3 Julie: AB

4 Joe: B

5 Ted: O

6 Rosa: A

Audioscripts in B below

1 yes; have to agree

2 no; don’t fit, total opposite

3 yes; match perfectly

4 yes; sensitive, independent, optimistic

5 no; not like that

6 yes; describes me perfectly

Audioscripts

1

Tim:   What’s my personality like? Well, I like sports – volleyball, soccer – and I play pretty hard. I guess you could say I’m pretty competitive. When I graduate from college, I’d like to start my own business. I know I’ll be successful. I’m totally confident. As long as I get to work with people, I’ll be happy. I’m a total extrovert. My friends say that I’m a typical blood type O personality. I guess I have to agree.

2

Emily:   I like life to be interesting. I always try to do the most exciting thing, even if it’s a little dangerous. I’ve been bungee jumping. Oh, and I’ve tried skydiving twice. Some people tell me I should be more cautious, but I say, why not get out and enjoy life? One problem I have, though, is that I’m not very organized. When it comes to planning things, forget it! It drives my friends crazy. My blood type is A. But I definitely don’t fit that type. I’m the total opposite.

3

Julie:   I’m a busy person. I work for the city at City Hall. Let me tell you, it’s not easy, especially for someone like me. I guess I’m pretty picky. There are just a lot of things I don’t like about my job. I never let my feelings show, though. I’m too reserved. At least after work I can relax with my best friend Amy. She has a similar personality. Her blood type is also AB. Amy and I are totally loyal to each other. I think we match our blood type perfectly.

4

Joe:   I’m Joe. I’m a teacher. I just started a job at a new school. I think it’s important for a teacher to be sensitive, you know, to try to understand students’ feelings. I think I’m pretty good at that. The students are great at my new school. I have a lot of classes, though, and things can get pretty busy – too busy, sometimes. I don’t like to ask for help, though. I can do it myself, no problem. My blood type is B. I’m sensitive, independent, and optimistic.

5

Ted:   Um, I’m Ted. What can I say about myself? I’m a pretty quiet guy. I guess you could say I’m kind of shy. I keep to myself mostly. I always have. I just like to stay home with a good book. Funny thing is, my blood type is O. My granddaughter says according to my blood type, I should be confident, competitive, and extroverted. But I’m not like that at all. I think she must have made a mistake.

6

Rosa:   I’m always on the go. I’m a party planner, and my job keeps me really busy. I’m one of the most organized people I know, and that’s good. I have to be organized in my business. I plan people’s weddings and birthday parties. My customers like me because I plan everything very carefully. I’m a blood type A. I’m very cautious, and I don’t like to take risks, so I take a lot of time to make a decision. I’d say blood type A describes me perfectly.

1 rat, monkey, dragon

2 ox, rooster, snake

3 tiger, dog, horse

4 rabbit, pig, goat

Audioscripts in B below

1 rat: extroverted

   monkey: independent

   dragon: extroverted

2 ox: reserved

   rooster: picky

   snake: independent

3 tiger: confident

   dog: loyal

   horse: confident

4 rabbit: sensitive

   pig: loyal

   goat: indecisive

Audioscripts

Description 1.

Man:   People born in the Year of the Rat are very extroverted. They love to be around people and make new friends. Rats get along very well with people born in the Year of the Monkey. Monkeys are very independent. They make good leaders. Both rats and monkeys are a good match with people born in the Year of the Dragon. Just like the rat, dragons are extroverted. They like to be around other people. Rat, monkey, and dragon are all strong characters.

Description 2.

Woman:   People born in the Ox year are often reserved. They keep their emotions to themselves. Ox people get along well with people born in the Year of the Rooster. It’s hard to make roosters happy. They can sometimes be picky. Rooster and Ox are very compatible with people born in the Year of the Snake. People born in the Year of the Snake are independent. They like to decide things and do things for themselves.

Description 3.

Man:   Tigers believe strongly in themselves, and their opinions and ideas. They are very confident. Tigers get along great with people born in the Year of the Dog. Dogs make great friends. They are very loyal. Dogs and Tigers are compatible with people born in the Year of the Horse. Like tigers, people born in the Year of the Horse are confident people. They believe in themselves one hundred percent.

Description 4.

Woman:   Rabbits are good at understanding other people’s feelings. They’re sensitive. Rabbits get along best with pigs. Pigs are very loyal. They will do anything to help their friends. Rabbits and pigs are compatible with people born in the Year of the Goat, also known as the Year of the Sheep. Goats can be extremely indecisive. They sometimes worry too much.

1 rat; rabbit

2 snake; tiger

3 horse; horse

4 rooster; dog

5 goat; pig

Audioscripts in B below

1 sensitive   2 independent

3 confident   4 picky   5 loyal

Audioscripts

1

Jill:   What year were you born?

Jim:   Nineteen eighty-four.

Jill:   Oh, so you’re a rat.

Jim:   A rat?

Jill:   That’s your Chinese zodiac sign. It means you love to be around people. And you love to make new friends.

Jim:   That sounds like me. How about you, Jill? What’s your sign?

Jill:   I’m a rabbit. That means I’m good at understanding other people’s feelings.

Jim:   You know, you are good at that.

2

Woman:   Do you want to know your Chinese zodiac sign?

Man:   Sure.

Woman:   What year were you born?

Man:   In nineteen eighty-nine.

Woman:   That’s the Year of the Snake. That means you like to decide things and do things for yourself. That definitely describes you! And I’m a tiger. Tigers believe strongly in themselves and in their opinions and ideas.

Man:   Yeah, you’re a tiger.

3

Man:   According to the Chinese zodiac, we’re horses.

Woman:   So, what does that mean?

Man:   It says we believe in ourselves a hundred percent, and we believe strongly in our opinions and ideas.

Woman:   Right. We usually do.

4

Woman:   This is my favorite Chinese restaurant. I love these placemats on the tables. They have information about the Chinese zodiac.

Man:   Let see. Oh, I’m a rooster. See? It says, “It’s hard to make roosters happy.” Hmm. I guess that’s true sometimes.

Woman:   And I’m a dog. Dogs make good friends, and they love to help others.

Man:   That sounds exactly like you.

5

Man:   Look, this Web site has our Chinese zodiac signs. Your sign is big, and my sign is goat.

Woman:   I’m a pig, and you’re a goat? What does that mean?

Man:   Pigs will do anything to help their friends, just like you. You’re a great friend. And goats have trouble making up their minds. That’s why I depend on you to help me make decisions.

Woman:   I guess that explains why we get along so well.