This document provides guidance on describing people's appearances, characteristics, and relationships. It includes vocabulary and sample questions and answers about topics like describing friends and family, qualities of good friends, and the importance of friendship. Key details are provided on describing physical features like height, weight, hair and skin color. Characteristics like personality traits, types of people, and relationship terminology are also outlined. Sample conversation questions and responses demonstrate how to discuss topics related to relationships.

1. Unit 1 – People and relationships

2. Describe appearance
He is tall.
He is very
tall.
He is
short.
He is
normal
height.
He is quite
short.
He is
relatively
normal
height

3. Describe appearance
She is skinny. (negative)
She is fat. (negative)
She is underweight.
(negative)
She is overweight.
(negative)
She is thin. (negative)
She is plump. (neutral)
She is slim. (positive)
She is stocky. (neutral)
She is slender. (positive)
She is bonny. (positive)
if a man is fat
(especially
round the
waist) we
often say he
has a beer
belly

4. Describe appearance
She has
long,
straight,
black
hair.
She has
short,
straight,
black
hair.
She has
She has
-He is medium
medium
bald
length,
length,
(he has straight,
wavy,
no hair) blonde
red hair.
hair.
She has
short,
curly,
blonde
hair.

5. Describe appearance
Type of complexion
He is
asian.
He has
lightbrown
skin.
She is
black.
She has
dark
skin.
He is
white.
He has
fair skin.
She is
white.
She has
lightly
tanned
skin.
She is
white.
She has
very pale
skin.

6. Describe appearance
 Hair
colours
Black, brown, red, fair, dark, dyed, mousey
 Hair styles
Long, short, curly, wavy, straight, with plaits, in a bun, in
ponytail, bald
 Face
Thin, long, round, oval, square, heart-shaped, high
forehead, high cheek-bones, full lips, thin lips, long
nose, straight nose, broken nose, turned-up nose,
double chin, cleft chin, pointed chin
 Eyes
Double eyelid, bushy eyebrows, thin eyebrows, long
eyelashes, thick eyelashes
 Distinguishing features
Beard, moustache, side-burns, a scar, beauty spot, a
mole, with freckles, with wrinkles, with dimples, with
glasses, birthmark, tattoo

7. Describing characteristics
 Thoughtful
 stubborn
 Vain
sensitive
 Absent –minded
 self-confident
 Outgoing
 decisive
 Easygoing
 respectful
 Strict
 tolerant
 Cheerful
 humorous
 Modest
 brave
 loyal
 moody

8. Describing characteristics
 Tactful / polite
 childish
 Rude
 shy
 Kind (kind – hearted)
 big – headed
 Optimistic
 helpful
 Pessimistic
 selfish
 Sympathetic
honest
 Enthusiastic
 pleasant

9. Describing characteristics
Types of people
A gossip
a big - head
An extrovert
a laugh
A couch potato a snob
A coward
a liar
1. You shouldn’t believe a word he says.
He is a terrible ______

10. Describing characteristics
Types of people
A gossip
a big - head
An extrovert
a laugh
A couch potato a snob
A coward
a liar
2. Maria’s a terrible _______. She is always
talking about everybody else in the office.

11. Describing characteristics
Types of people
A gossip
a big - head
An extrovert
a laugh
A couch potato a snob
A coward
a liar
3. Bob’s quite an ______, isn’t he? He’s got
hundreds of friends!

12. Describing characteristics
Types of people
A gossip
a big - head
An extrovert
a laugh
A couch potato a snob
A coward
a liar
4. Martin’s such a _____. He never stops telling
people how wonderful he is.

13. Describing characteristics
Types of people
A gossip
a big - head
An extrovert
a laugh
A couch potato a snob
A coward
a liar
5. You can’t keep running away from your
responsibilities. You are such a _______

14. Describing characteristics
Types of people
A gossip
a big - head
An extrovert
a laugh
A couch potato a snob
A coward
a liar
6. Just because Dave didn’t go to university
Doesn’t mean he is any less intelligent than
You. Don’t be such a _______

15. Describing characteristics
Types of people
A gossip
a big - head
An extrovert
a laugh
A couch potato a snob
A coward
a liar
7. Emma’s husband is such a _____. He just sits
Around all day watching TV.

16. Describing characteristics
Types of people
A gossip
a big - head
An extrovert
a laugh
A couch potato a snob
A coward
a liar
8. Billy knows hundreds of jokes. He is such
a ______.

17. Useful vocabulary - Relationships
 Nouns:
 companion
 company
 acquaintance
 buddy (US)
 mate (UK)
 shared interests =
 sibling
 family connection
 extended family
 nuclear family
 conflict
 family reunion
similar hobbies

18. Useful vocabulary - Relationships














•


Verbs:
get together
hang out with
socialize
get acquainted with
befriend
enjoy the company of sb( like spending time with sb)
gather
get to know
make friends with
Adjectives:
intimate
distant
lifelong (frienship/relationship)
Collocations
build / develop / establish / form a relationship with sb / between
two people
a close / long-standing / successful relationship

19. Useful vocabulary - Relationships
Idioms
own flesh and blood (= family, relative)
Eg: Obviously, my siblings are my own flesh and blood so I love
them so much
 soul mate (= best friend)
Eg: I usually hang out with my soul mate
 a sounding board (= a good person to talk to)
Eg: I can use my best mate as a sounding board when I have
problems
 It’s in the blood (it’s a natural part of one’s character)
Eg: All my family are really fond of reading – I guess it’s in the
blood
 Run in the family (= be a shared family characteristic)
Eg: My brothers and I have big ears – it runs in the family


20. Useful vocabulary - Relationships
More
idiomatic expressions
to get on well with: to understand someone and
enjoy similar interests
 to get to know: to begin to know someone
 to have a lot in common: to share similar
interests
 to keep in touch with: to be in contact with
 to lose touch with: to not see or hear from
someone any longer
 to see eye to eye: to agree on a subject
 Bear a striking resemblance to sb: look very
similar to sb


21. Part 1 - sample questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
How much time do you spend with your
friends?
Do you see friends so often?
What do you usually do with your friends?
Do you prefer spending time with your family
or with your friends?
Is friendship important to you?
Tell me about your family
What kinds of things do you and your family
often do together?
Who are most similar to you in your family?

22. Part 1- sample answer
Sample answer 1
Examiner: Do you see your friends very often?
Louisa: Yes … we meet up most weekends … we all get
on really well and have a lot in common so we’re
always happy doing the same things and going to
the same places

23. Part 2- sample topic cards
1. Describe a close friend
 Who the friend is
 How you got to know each other
 What activities you do together
Explain why you feel close to him/her
2. Describe a family member
 Who the person is
 Why you like this person
 What things you do together
Whether you think you are similar to this person

24. Part 2- sample answer
Topic card 1:
Well, one of my soul mates is Jenny who is 2 years older than me and now is studying
Computer Science at university. She gives the impression of being pretty simple,
but she’s really smart and always does very well at school.
We met through a mutual friend who introduced us to each other. This friend is my
classmate and also Jenny’s cousin. One time when I was at my friend’s home,
Jenny came to visit her, so she introduced me to her.
Jenny and I both like going to the park and just walk around. We talk quite a lot
about everything and enjoy the peaceful environment of the park. I think that’s
what we like to do most. Another thing we often do together is going shopping
together because we have similar tastes.
I really like Jenny because she’s so easy to be around. She’s not demanding and pushy,
like some people I know. She tells me about what she’s going through and I
confine mine in her. Our joys are doubles and our sorrows are halved when we
can share everything with each other . I guess the best thing in our friendship is
unselfishness. We both want the very best for each other andI hope our
friendship will last forever

25. Part 3- sample questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
What are the qualities of a good friend?
Why is friendship so important?
What are the possible reasons which cause
friends break up?
Are friends more important than family?
Do you agree with the statement “a friend in
need is a friend indeed”?
In what ways have families in your country
changed in recent years?
Can you imagine what families will be like in the
future?

26. Part 3- sample answer
1. Examiner: What do you think are the most important
qualities for friends to have?
Nam: Maybe the most important things are that friends need to share
common interests and be honest with each other. (why?) Friends are people
we spend a lot of time with, so it definitely helps if they enjoy doing the
same activities or talking about the same topics as we do, and of course we
need to be able to trust our friends, so honesty is vital for a good
friendship. (alternatives / example?) I think I would struggle to become
friends with someone who didn’t have anything in common with me, or who
wasn’t reliable or trustworthy.
2. Examiner: Why do you think friendship is important?
Ngoc: I think friendship is important for all sorts of reasons. (why?) We
need friends to share experiences with, to talk to, and for support.
(example?) In my case, I like to meet up with friends at the weekend to do
something enjoyable, like see a film or go out for dinner. I like chatting with
my friends about what we've been doing during the week, or about what's
happening in the world. (alternatives?) Without friends to talk to, life would
be dull and boring; we would only have our families to talk to.