C Read the podcast script about how Simon’s personality changed and match each cause with its effect.
Welcome to today’s episode of Mood and Mind, the podcast that explores all things about personality. Some people think personality is something that never changes. If you are shy, you will always be shy; if you are confident, you will always stay that way. But is that really true? Sometimes, a new environment and the support of others can help us discover a different side of ourselves. That is exactly what happened to Simon.
Simon always thought of himself as a shy and quiet person. But that slowly changed after he started a new job in a large company. At first, he felt uncomfortable and found it hard to speak up at meetings. However, his teammates were kind and often asked for his opinions. Simon gradually realized that they wanted to hear his ideas, so he became more confident. He began speaking more often at work and even started going to lunch with his colleagues. Then came a bigger challenge.
Every year, Simon’s company holds an annual dinner, and all new staff members are asked to perform at the event. When Simon found out about this, he was very nervous about performing in front of lots of people. He told some of his teammates how he felt, and they told him not to worry. His teammates helped him prepare for his performance and build up his confidence. At the dinner, Simon sang a beautiful song, and it was a great success. Everyone in the audience had a great time. His team cheered for him loudly and Simon felt very good about himself.
Thanks to his own efforts and the support from people around him, Simon slowly became less shy and grew into a confident and brave person. And Simon’s story raises a great question: can personality really change? Later in today’s episode, we’ll sit down with personality expert Dr Wu to learn more. Stay with us.
Cause
1 Simon worked in a large company.
2 His teammates often asked for his opinions.
3 His teammates helped him prepare for the performance.
4 His performance was a success at the dinner.
Effect
a He felt proud of himself.
b He felt uncomfortable at first.
c He became more confident at meetings.
d He felt less nervous about performing.
D The podcast host is discussing Simon’s story with a personality expert. Read their conversation and choose the best answer for each question.
Host: Dr Wu, is it surprising to see someone’s personality change so much?
Dr Wu: Not really. Simon did change a lot, but it didn’t happen overnight. It required time and effort. Most importantly, he received the support from people around him.
Host: Tell us more about that.
Dr Wu: Simon’s teammates made him feel safe and included. They asked for his opinions, and this gave him the courage to step outside his comfort zone. With their support, Simon began to push himself to try new things. Experiences shape us and allow different sides of our personalities to develop. Each time we overcome a fear or experience success in a difficult situation, this can change us.
Host: That makes sense. The first time I gave a public speech, my hands were shaking. But it went well, and suddenly I saw myself differently.
Dr Wu: That’s a perfect example. And that brings me to another factor—habits. One breakthrough is only the start. The more Simon pushed himself, the more natural it became. Research suggests that when new behaviours are repeated over time, they can slowly change the way we think, feel and act.
Host: So, change is not just about one big moment. It is also about what we keep doing afterwards.
Dr Wu: That’s right. Our experiences, environment and habits can all shape us. Personality is not as fixed as many people think.
Host: Thank you so much, Dr Wu. That is very interesting.
1 What does Dr Wu say about Simon’s personality change?
a It happened after one successful performance.
b It required time, effort and support from others.
c It was mainly caused by his teammates’ opinions.
2 How did Simon’s teammates help him change?
a They gave him advice on how to speak in public.
b They pushed him to speak every day without a break.
c They made him feel safe and included by asking for his opinions.
3 Why does the host mention his first public speech?
a To show that he is braver than Simon.
b To prove that public speaking is the only way to build up confidence.
c To give an example of how success in a difficult situation can change a person.
4 According to Dr Wu, what role do habits play in personality change?
a Habits are useful when people already feel confident.
b Habits can slowly change how we think, feel and act.
c Habits are less important than the environment and experiences.