Collocations Lesson 4

Collocations Lesson 4

Character & Behaviour

When I was a teenager, I was painfully shy (extremely shy). I loved reading books, and I had a vivid imagination (had a creative and colourful imagination). My best friend had a more outgoing personality (she liked to be friendly and sociable) and a good sense of humour (ability to make other people laugh). Unfortunately she was also brutally honest, and sometimes her comments hurt my feelings (made me sad, upset, or angry).

Although I was fiercely loyal to her, she showed her true colours (revealed her true personality) when she played a prank (did a trick) that humiliated me in front of the class. I bore a grudge (continued feeling angry) against her for years afterwards. Now that I look back on it, I can see that she had low self esteem (she considered herself inferior) and a bit of a mean streak (a “streak” is a tiny bit of someone’s personality).

I've come out of my shell (become less shy) since those days; I have a thicker skin (I’m less sensitive to criticism) and it doesn't bother me when people speak their minds (say exactly what they think, without considering the effects of the words on others).

My biggest flaw is that I have a tendency to be arrogant – some say I have a superiority complex (consider myself superior to others). I’ll admit that it is hard for me to swallow my pride (stop being arrogant) and recognize when I've been mistaken about something. My resolution for the New Year is to make a more concerted effort to put others first (consider the needs of other people more important than my own).

Multiple Choice

A lot of successful entrepreneurs have not only a ________ imagination, but also the willingness to work hard.

• bright

• lucid

• vivid

Multiple Choice

He really hurt my ________ when he called me an idiot.

• emotions

• feelings

• senses

Multiple Choice

His superiority_________ makes him impossible to work with because he won't listen to suggestions.

• belief

• complex

• tendency

Multiple Choice

I had to _______ my pride and apologize to Janet for overreacting to her criticism.

• chew

• eat

• swallow

Multiple Choice

I like to date men with a great ____________ of humour.

• feel

• sense

• touch

Multiple Choice

In some cultures, it's considered very rude to ________ your mind.

• say

• speak

• talk

Multiple Choice

It's good to _______ others first, but not at the expense of your own well-being.

• get

• put

• set

Multiple Choice

Most people who work as comedians have very _______ personalities.

• outgoing

• tendency

• upcoming

Multiple Select

My brother is _______ shy, but I'm trying to encourage him to come out of his ________.

• brutally

• shell

• painfully

• case

• skin

Multiple Choice

My daughter gets along with her classmates, but she has a competitive _________ when it comes to academics.

• spot

• streak

• strip

Multiple Choice

My husband forgives other people very easily; he's not one to _______ a grudge.

• bear

• hurt

• swallow

Multiple Choice

She would never cheat on her husband; she's _______ loyal to him.

• angrily

• brutally

• fiercely

Multiple Choice

The kids were suspended for playing a ______ on the teacher - they put a live snake inside her desk.

• grudge

• prank

• streak

Multiple Choice

Working with a therapist has helped me overcome my problems with _________ self esteem.

• deep

• low

• small

Multiple Choice

You need to develop a _______ skin; you can't let every little comment upset you.

• fatter

• harder

• thicker