Page 13 - American English File Student Book 3B

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Yes appearance matters.

most stereotypes are linked to judging whether a person
W hen Susan Boyle first walked onto the stage important to stay away from people who looked aggressive
looks dangerous or not. “In prehistoric times, it was
of the Britain's Got Talent TV show, people
immediately thought that she looked like a
47-year-old single woman who lived alone with
her cat (which in fact she was). Nobody thought for a minute and dominant,” she said.
that she had a chance of doing well on the show, or could One reason why our brains persist in using stereotypes,
experts say, is that often they give us generally accurate
ever become a star. But when she opened her mouth and
started singing I Dreamed a Dream, information, even if all the details aren’t right.
from the musical Les Miserables, Ms. Boyle’s appearance, for example,
everybody was amazed. After the accurately told us a lot about her,
video of her performance went including her socioeconomic level
viral, journalists started talking and lack of worldly experience.
about how wrong it is to stereotype
People’s enthusiasm for Susan
people into categories, and how we
Boyle, and for other underdogs who
should learn, once and for all, “not to
end up winning, is unlikely to
judge a book by its cover.”
stop us from stereotyping
But social scientists say that people. This may be one
there are reasons why we of the reasons why,
judge people based on how although Ms. Boyle
they look. On a very basic expressed the
level, judging people by hope that
their appearance means “maybe this
putting them quickly into could teach
them a
categories. In the past,
being able to do this was lesson, or set
vitally important, and an example,”
humans developed the she did begin
ability to judge other to change
people in seconds. her appearance,
Susan Fiske, a professor wearing makeup,
of psychology and dying her gray hair,
neuroscience at and appearing in more
Princeton University, stylish clothing.
said that traditionally, Adapted from The New York Times

g Find a word or phrase in the article for the definitions. h Talk to a partner.
Paragraph 1 1 Do you think people in your country tend to judge
1 _______________________ was sent all over the Internet other people by their appearance? In what way?
2 ____________a ____________ b y ________________________ 2 How important do you think appearance is for the
judge a person by his / her appearance following people?
• politicians
Paragraph 2
• TV hosts
3 ________________________absolutely essential
• business people
Paragraph 3 • singers
4 ________________________what social class she is and • doctors
how much money she has D o you think it is right that their appearance matters?

Paragraph 4 3 On what occasions mightjyoH judge someone by their
5 ___________ people who are not expected to succeed appearance?

Online Practice 6B 61