Just My Type

Let's learn some new words before you read the passage:

Listen to the passage Just My Type and complete the sentences by dragging the correct word to each blank.

Have you ever been called a "1.1" or a "1.2"? These are examples of labels. People use labels to try to understand others. People choose labels for several reasons. It could be based on the clothes someone wears. It could be based on the way he or she looks. Most of the time, these labels are not based on facts or knowing a person. This can be 1.3.

Sometimes we even make guesses or 1.4 about people that we don't know. The guesses are called stereotypes. Anytime you hear someone say that all of these people or all of those people do this or do that, you are hearing a stereotype. It is impossible that everyone in a group is exactly the same!

For example, some people might say that all dogs are 1.5. However, the truth is that some dogs are mean and some dogs are nice. It is not fair to say that they are all exactly alike.

Some movies, television shows, and video games show people in a very simple way. They misrepresent people and don't show what they are really like. A stereotype can make us think bad things about a person that aren't true at all.

Some stereotypes are about the differences between boys and girls. A stereotype might be that girls can't play baseball as well as boys, or that boys shouldn't play dress-up. We know that isn't true at all! There are a lot of girls who are good at baseball, and it's fun to play dress-up, no matter who you are! 

Let's test some stereotypes to see if they are true.

One stereotype could be that all girls have long hair. Look around the room. Is this stereotype true? Probably not! Another stereotype is that all boys are better at sports than girls. Think about your friends and classmates. Are all the boys better at sports? Probably not! 

If we just use 1.6, then we are not getting the complete picture of a person. It is important to notice the details that make a person special. Not everyone is alike, and that's a good thing. What kind of world would this be if we all were exactly the same? It would be boring! We are all different, and that's what makes life interesting.

Read the passage and answer the questions.

Just My Type

Written by Elizabeth Baker 

Have you ever been called a "nerd" or a "jock"? These are examples of labels. People use labels to try to understand others. People choose labels for several reasons. It could be based on the clothes someone wears. It could be based on the way he or she looks. Most of the time, these labels are not based on facts or knowing a person. This can be hurtful.

Sometimes we even make guesses or assumptions about people that we don't know. The guesses are called stereotypes. Anytime you hear someone say that all of these people or all of those people do this or do that, you are hearing a stereotype. It is impossible that everyone in a group is exactly the same!

For example, some people might say that all dogs are mean. However, the truth is that some dogs are mean and some dogs are nice. It is not fair to say that they are all exactly alike.

Some movies, television shows, and video games show people in a very simple way. They misrepresent people and don't show what they are really like. A stereotype can make us think bad things about a person that aren't true at all.

Some stereotypes are about the differences between boys and girls. A stereotype might be that girls can't play baseball as well as boys, or that boys shouldn't play dress-up. We know that isn't true at all! There are a lot of girls who are good at baseball, and it's fun to play dress-up, no matter who you are! 

Let's test some stereotypes to see if they are true.

One stereotype could be that all girls have long hair. Look around the room. Is this stereotype true? Probably not! Another stereotype is that all boys are better at sports than girls. Think about your friends and classmates. Are all the boys better at sports? Probably not! 

If we just use stereotypes, then we are not getting the complete picture of a person. It is important to notice the details that make a person special. Not everyone is alike, and that's a good thing. What kind of world would this be if we all were exactly the same? It would be boring! We are all different, and that's what makes life interesting.

Source: Mobymax Reading Stories G3.0-3.3

What are stereotypes according to the article?

If we believe in a stereotype, what can happen?

Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?

What does the word "misrepresent" mean?

What is the author's attitude towards stereotypes in the last paragraph?

What is the main idea of the article?

Build your vocabulary by learning these intensive phrases/idioms

Combine the two sentences so that it has a similar meaning, using the word in a bracket. You must use between THREE and FIVE words, including the word given. Do not change the word given.

Bill lives anywhere. He always thinks of his hometown. (MATTER / WHERE)

=> Bill lives, he always thinks of his hometown.

Choose the underlined part that needs correction.

She's very good at deal with all management issues.

Her latest project is a film _____ the life of a 19th-century music hall star.