Color Predicts Personality

Lower-Intermediate
the ARTICLE (for teachers)

Color Predicts Personality

What color do you prefer? According to a recently developed test, this simple question may
predict your personality. The new test takes about one minute to complete, and asks test-
takers to order colored squares from most liked to least liked. For example, which color do
you like the most, black, grey, or white? This test can help you choose jobs that match your
personality profile. However, this test is unique because it doesn't have written questions,
and it can easily be used all over the world as a result.

The test has already been taken by more than 750,000 people, and this figure includes
many famous CEOs. Unsurprisingly, the test suggested that these CEOs would do well in
upper-management positions. However, perhaps surprisingly, the test also suggested these
CEOs would do well as social workers, artists, and teachers. They greatly preferred the
colors magenta, red, and yellow. According to the test, these colors mean the person is less
emotionally stable than others.

As more people take the test, the results will become more and more accurate. No one
knows how or why color can show someone's personality, but the answer lies somewhere
deep in the brain. In addition, the test may be helpful to find diseases of the brain like
dementia, or even to help marketers and advertisers more accurately target their customers.

Expect to see more about colors in the near future.

Teacher's Notes:

* Underlined words in red typeface are the recommended vocabulary for this lesson.

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 Color Predicts Personality
Lower-Intermediate
WARM-UPS
Select one or all of the following warm-up activities.

1: Define: What does "personality" mean? Can you use it in a sentence? Can you give
examples?

2: Brainstorm: Brainstorm with a partner words and ideas for "personality" for two minutes.
Next, talk about the words and ideas for five minutes.

3: Title: Today's article is: "Color Predicts Personality." What will you read about?

4: Do you agree or disagree? Why?

a. A test can accurately predict personality.
b. Personality tests are very important for employers.
c. Personality tests are very important for people because it tells them the perfect job.
d. CEOs and other leaders need to have strong personalities.
e. I want to change my personality!

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 Color Predicts Personality
Lower-Intermediate
VOCABULARY
Select one of the following vocabulary acquisition activities.

1: Vocabulary match: Individually or in pairs/groups, match the words in column A (from

the article) with the best choice in column B.
a. simple u. description
b. profile v. correct
c. greatly w. easy
d. stable x. plan
e. accurate y. well balanced
f. expect z. very much

2: Fill in the Blanks: Fill in the blank with the correct word.
accurate profile expect
simple stable greatly
a. This ( ) question may predict your personality.
b. This test can help you choose jobs that match your personality ( ).
c. CEOs ( ) preferred the colors magenta, red, and yellow.
d. These colors mean the person is less emotionally ( ) than others.
e. The results will become more and more ( ).
f. ( ) to see more about colors in the near future.

3: Define: Look in your dictionary for each word. Write the definition, correctly pronounce
the word, and give an example sentence to the class.

a. simple:

b. profile:

c. greatly:

d. stable:

e. accurate:

f. expect:

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 Color Predicts Personality
Lower-Intermediate
WORD RECOGNITION
These activities are optional. They reinforce vocabulary and increase reading speed.

1: Word Search: Find only the target words (in bold). Time yourself, and see how long it
takes to find all the words.
accurate profile expect
simple stable greatly

Y E G R E A T L Y B E H E A T
L E T J U U E K C X Q P C M C
P H L A Y R Z L P D A G X A T
M S W B R H T E Q U U P P C O
I D R E A R C X K B S O E I Y
S S W T M T U H B P E X C T P
M P Z A X Q S C B C M M T C N
U B V R D Z T N C Y X G J E S
X F S U I G M V G A T E L W A
A A V C V R R Z K Y D I S F V
V P R C M A Y A H S F G Q C U
V V H A J V V H T O O Y Q V L
B E M O O J J Y R E L U C E C
F W T Y C C V P T E L P M I S
D A Z Q P R M Y F B P Y Z D Q

2: Target Word Pool: Find only the target words (in bold) with their exact match. Time
yourself, and see how long it takes to find all the words.
accurate profile expect
simple stable greatly

profiling great
simply pimples
expectations
stability stable accurately
profile ungrateful
greatly profiled
grateful unexpected accurateness
simple stabilize
expectant
inaccurately sample
expect
accurate profiles
greatness
unstably inaccurate
simplicity
profitable unstable
expectorant

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 Color Predicts Personality
Lower-Intermediate
pre- or post-COMPREHENSION
Select one or more activity to direct students before the article is read, or to check
understanding after the article is read.

1: Brainstorm Questions: Brainstorm questions that you would like to ask about today's
topic. Answer a partner the questions. He shouldn't look at the article when he answers.

2: True or False?: Guess (before the article) or answer (after the article) if the sentence is
true or false. If false, correct the sentence.
a. The test checks only your preference for black, white, and grey. T/F
b. The test works only with native English speakers. T/F
c. CEOs who took the test would also make good artists and teachers. T/F
d. CEOs who took the test had strong characters, but were stable. T/F
e. The test may also be used to catch problems with the brain in the future. T/F

3: Questions: Answer the questions to check comprehension.

a. How does the new personality test work?
b. Why is this test better than other personality tests?
c. What colors did CEOs prefer?
d. What personality traits did the CEOs have?
e. What does the article say about marketing and advertising?

4: Fragments: Remember how the fragments were used, and complete the sentence.

a. According to a recently developed test, this simple question may...

b. Unsurprisingly, the test suggested that these CEOs would...

c. As more people take the test, the results will...

d. Expect to see more about...

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 Color Predicts Personality
Lower-Intermediate
post-COMPREHENSION
Select one or more activity to discuss the contents of the article.

1: Vocabulary: Circle any other unknown words/phrases in the article. In pairs/groups, use
your dictionaries to understand these words. Write an example sentence for each one.

2: Class Questions: Read through the article once more, and write down any questions
that you would like to talk about in pairs/groups or as a class. Answer the questions.

3: Summarize: Work with a partner to summarize the article in your own words.

4: Discuss: Talk about the following questions in pairs/groups. Remember to support your
answers and ask more questions with your partner.
a. Did you like this article? Why/not?
b. What do you think about personality tests in general? Please explain.
c. What do you think about this personality test? Does it really work? Please explain.
d. Have you ever taken a personality test? If yes, what were the results?
e. How would you describe your personality?
f. What sort of careers would suit your personality? Why do you think so?

5: Discuss: Discuss these careers. What sort of personalities do you expect people in
these professions to have? Why do you think so? Discuss with a partner.

doctor:

computer programmer:

artist:

your job/career:

6: Google Search: Type "personality test" into Google news and read additional articles on
this topic. Discuss or write an essay about your findings.

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 Color Predicts Personality
Lower-Intermediate
STUDENT HANDOUT (the article)

Color Predicts Personality

What color do you prefer? According to a recently developed test, this simple question may
predict your personality. The new test takes about one minute to complete, and asks test-
takers to order colored squares from most liked to least liked. For example, which color do
you like the most, black, grey, or white? This test can help you choose jobs that match your
personality profile. However, this test is unique because it doesn't have written questions,
and it can easily be used all over the world as a result.

The test has already been taken by more than 750,000 people, and this figure includes
many famous CEOs. Unsurprisingly, the test suggested that these CEOs would do well in
upper-management positions. However, perhaps surprisingly, the test also suggested these
CEOs would do well as social workers, artists, and teachers. They greatly preferred the
colors magenta, red, and yellow. According to the test, these colors mean the person is less
emotionally stable than others.

As more people take the test, the results will become more and more accurate. No one
knows how or why color can show someone's personality, but the answer lies somewhere
deep in the brain. In addition, the test may be helpful to find diseases of the brain like
dementia, or even to help marketers and advertisers more accurately target their customers.

Expect to see more about colors in the near future.

Notes:

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 Color Predicts Personality
Lower-Intermediate
STUDENT HANDOUT (fill in the blank)
Fill in the blank with the correct word.
stable greatly surprisingly expect profile
simple target accurate recently already
Color Predicts Personality
What color do you prefer? According to a (a. _______________) developed test, this
(b. _______________) question may predict your personality. The new test takes about
one minute to complete, and asks test-takers to order colored squares from most liked
to least liked. For example, which color do you like the most, black, grey, or white? This
test can help you choose jobs that match your personality (c. _______________).
However, this test is unique because it doesn't have written questions, and it can easily
be used all over the world as a result.

The test has (d. _______________) been taken by more than 750,000 people, and this
figure includes many famous CEOs. Unsurprisingly, the test suggested that these CEOs
would do well in upper-management positions. However, perhaps
(e. _______________), the test also suggested these CEOs would do well as social
workers, artists, and teachers. They (f. _______________) preferred the colors
magenta, red, and yellow. According to the test, these colors mean the person is less
emotionally (g. _______________) than others.

As more people take the test, the results will become more and more
(h. _______________). No one knows how or why color can show someone's
personality, but the answer lies somewhere deep in the brain. In addition, the test may
be helpful to find diseases of the brain like dementia, or even to help marketers and
advertisers more accurately (i. _______________) their customers.

(j. _______________) to see more about colors in the near future.

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 Color Predicts Personality
Lower-Intermediate
STUDENT HANDOUT (extended listening)
Listen and fill in the missing sentences. Compare your answers with a partner, and
then listen once more.

Color Predicts Personality

What color do you prefer? According to a recently developed test, this simple question may
predict your personality. The new test takes about one minute to complete, and
a) _______________________________________________________. For example,
which color do you like the most, black, grey, or white? This test can help you choose jobs
that match your personality profile. However, this test is unique because it doesn't have
written questions, and it can easily be used all over the world as a result.

The test has already been taken by more than 750,000 people, and this figure includes
many famous CEOs. Unsurprisingly, the test suggested that these CEOs would do well in
upper-management positions. However, perhaps surprisingly, the test also suggested these
CEOs would do well as social workers, artists, and teachers. They greatly preferred the
colors magenta, red, and yellow. According to the test, these colors mean the person is less
emotionally stable than others.

As more people take the test, the results will become more and more accurate.
b) _______________________________________________________, but the answer
lies somewhere deep in the brain. In addition, c) __________________________________
______________________, or even to help marketers and advertisers more accurately
target their customers.

Expect to see more about colors in the near future.

Sentence #1:

Sentence #2:

Sentence #3:

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 Color Predicts Personality
Lower-Intermediate
ANSWER KEY

Vocabulary
1: Vocabulary Match: 2: Fill in the Blanks:
a. w a. simple
b. u b. profile
c. z c. greatly
d. y d. stable
e. v e. accurate
f. x f. expect

pre- or post-Comprehension
1. True or False: 2. Fragments:
a. F a. predict your personality.
b. F b. do well in upper-management positions.
c. T c. become more and more accurate.
d. F d. colors in the near future.
e. T

Student Handout
1: Fill in the Blanks:
a. recently f. greatly
b. simple g. stable
c. profile h. accurate
d. already i. target
e. surprisingly j. expect

2: Extended Listening:
a. asks test-takers to order colored squares from most liked to least liked
b. No one knows how or why color can show someone's personality
c. the test may be helpful to find diseases of the brain like dementia

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