B1 – Intermediate
We have all heard of the expression “walk tall” to signify confidence and pride. Or how you can “feel ten feet tall” when you feel extremely good, like right after getting a promotion.
This light-hearted article shows a very interesting study of how our actual height can play a role in our success.
Read the article below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.
A recent study discovered that short people are more likely to feel jealous. The research questioned more than 500 men and women from Denmark to Spain. They then used the data to discover which characteristics made people feel uncomfortable. Men and women were intimidated by money, strength, looks, and charm. However, shorter people felt more nervous than taller people.
In regards to evolution, this conclusion makes sense. Women who are average height or taller have the best health, popularity, and fertility with men. In addition, the study said taller men often have more success with women.
Other similar studies about height and modern culture agree. For example, tall men are more successful in business. In another study, a look at Fortune 500 companies showed that 58% of the CEOs were taller than six feet (169 centimeters), but only 14.5% of the US population was six feet. Moreover, taller people received better salaries than shorter people. One inch adds more than $750 to a person’s salary each year.
The study finished by stating that prejudice towards shorter people isn’t conscious.
Source: headsupenglish.com
Discussion Questions:
1. Would you consider yourself a jealous person? Why/not?
2. Do you agree or disagree? Taller people enjoy more success in life.
3. If people from other countries were interviewed, would the results be the same?
4. Do you have any prejudices? Please explain.
18 replies on “Jealousy, Prejudice, and Short People”
1. Would you consider yourself a jealous person? Why/not?
No, I don’t think so. Although sometimes I find qualities in other people that I admire and I would like to have, I think that this feeling does not make me envy them negatively.
2. Do you agree or disagree? Taller people enjoy more success in life.
I believe that it is possible that a bias about short people may make taller people to enjoy more success.
3. If people from other countries were interviewed, would the results be the same?
I’m not very sure about that. I think that although the médium height in every country may differ, the results of the study in general terms could be same: People that are over the médium heigh are more successful than the ones that are below it.
4. Do you have any prejudices? Please explain.
I try not to have prejudices and not to make any assumption before knowing a person. However, I’m afraid that there are some bias in society that are difficult tos cape from.
Good work in your writing practice so far!
Here are a few sentences you can revise to make them a bit better:
Keep going with this exercise to enhance your skills more.
1. Would you consider yourself a jealous person? Why/not?
I don´t consider myself a jealous person because I usually became happy the succesful of another persons, I work wel lin team, and I like that all the people recibe the merit that they deserves
2. Do you agree or disagree? Taller people enjoy more success in life.
The physical appearance is very important for the success, but I think that it´s more relacionated with be interesting for the people than be smaller or taller.
3. If people from other countries were interviewed, would the results be the same?
I don´t think so, different cultures have another interests
4. Do you have any prejudices? Please explain.
All the people have prejudices, the questions is that, we have to want the skills for superate them and we must respect and make good relations withothers.
It’s great that you remain consistent in practicing your writing. So far, so good!
See how you can better write this answer:
Keep working on improving your skills through this exercise.
1. Would you consider yourself a jealous person? Why/not?
I don’t consider myself a jealous person because I’m feel really happy with myself and my life, and I only have admiration for people have more than me.
2. Do you agree or disagree? Taller people enjoy more success in life.
I don’t agree. I meet short people who have a lot of success in their life and business.
I think that this study was done with not representative population, in quantity and quality point of view.
3. If people from other countries were interviewed, would the results be the same?
I do not think so because it depends on the other factor as geography, gender, money, etc so the study should be done with more representative people from different countries.
4. Do you have any prejudices? Please explain.
I think not, at least consciously. I try not to do any prejudices before I meet someone.
It’s great that you keep doing your best to improve your writing.
Here is how you can write this sentence better:
Keep writing!
1. Would you consider yourself a jealous person? Why/not?
Absolutely not. I am satisfied with my life, wanting nothing that others have that I do not have
2. Do you agree or disagree? Taller people enjoy more success in life.
It is the headline of a statistical conclusion, limited to only 500 European people, not including people from other areas. I think it is a limited study with a low level of confidence. 500 people interviewed from a population in Europe of more than 200 million people, is not very significant. The same happens with the CEO study of the Fortune 500 companies. They especially represent very specific areas and 500 companies is not representative of the global business.
3. If people from other countries were interviewed, would the results be the same?
Most likely not. I think the result is highly influenced by the level of coverage of basic needs that a society has. It is true that the average height of a specific society varies with its level of nutrition, and it is also true that the higher the purchasing power, the higher the level of satisfaction of basic needs.
4. Do you have any prejudices? Please explain.
Not consciously, I consider myself very tolerant and respectful of others.
You always give your best efforts in doing this exercise. Good job!
Take a look at this sentence and see how it can be revised:
Your skills are developing. Keep writing!
1. Would you consider yourself a jealous person?
In the plane professional, No, I not consider a jealous person. I like teach to other peoples about the job and also learn of them. Never I have been a competitive person.
And in the personal, when I was young sometimes i felt jealous in some specific situation, but i remember that i felt sad for this situation. I don´t like feel jealous, it’s a very strange feeling and I hope I never feel it again.
2. Do you agree or disagree?
The true is that think that people taller enjoy more success in life, I find it ridiculous; but for prejudices installed in the society, can be.
Because, if we star this base, the oportunities wouldn´t sames for all.
If we based in this idea of the prejudice. A person tall probably have more oportunities that a short person.
3. If people from other countries were interviewed, would the results be the same?
I think so. I think that this type of ideas are installs to world lavel.
4. Do you have any prejudices? Please explain.
Yes, I admit; and I am not proud of it.
This I happens to me with the american culture. I find that American culture is a culture with idea that all is disposable and I don´t like. I find that is a society very competitive.
I have a imagen from them muy bad, i feel that they are the navel of the world, and I disagree with them.
It is great to see you staying consistent with your writing practice. Keep up the good work!
Here is one sentence that can be revised with a bit better word choice:
Keep working on your writing skills. You can do it!
1. Would you consider yourself a jealous person? Why/not?
I think that in general I am not a jealous person but I admit that in some situations I can feel in a bad way even I know that is not correct but they are my feelings and it is difficult to control them. I any case this happened more when I was young.
2. Do you agree or disagree? Taller people enjoy more success in life.
I think otherwise , People who are not very tall are more success
and sometimes have a malefic point than taller people
3. If people from other countries were interviewed, would the results be the same?
I suppose so because humanity is the same in most of the countries except in remote sites
4. Do you have any prejudices? Please explain
I would like to think not but probably yes ,I think the , for instance , most of the people can create an idea of one person depending on its clothes.On the other in my subconscious probably there are prejudices that I am not aware
Thanks for sharing your answers to the discussion questions of this lesson. Good job!
Here is one sentence you can revise and write better:
We encourage you to go on with your writing practice.
1. Would you consider yourself a jealous person? Why/not?
No, I don’t think so. I wouldn’t consider myself a jealous person.
2. Do you agree or disagree? Taller people enjoy more success in life.
I disagree. But this study is very interesting. This is the first time that I think about this information.
3. If people from other countries were interviewed, would the results be the same?
I think the results are different in another countries.
4. Do you have any prejudices? Please explain.
No, I don’t have a lot of prejudices. One prejudice is for example my English. People who speak English perfectly. I have been studying g for many years, but my English does not improve much.
Or people who think they know everything.
Many thanks for always answering the discussion questions on your every lesson. You’re doing a great job!
See how this sentence can be written a bit better:
Keep being patient when it comes to your progress and do not forget to enjoy the process!
1. No, of course not. I am happy if I see happy people, but on the other hand I do not like injustices.
2. I don’t believe in this. I think that the success of a person is not in size, it is in self-confidence, it can be related to height. But not always
3. Yes, people are the same in all countries.
4. I don´t have prejudices, but I hate people who believe themselves above others and lack of education and respect for others
We appreciate your efforts in writing the answers to this lesson’s discussion questions:
Please note how you can write this sentence in a better way:
Keep doing this exercise to continue improving your writing skills.
1. Would you consider yourself a jealous person? Maybe jeaolus of some material things that I see out there,
but I am aware of my situation and if I can afford it or not.
2. Do you agree or disagree? Taller people enjoy more success in life. It may be true, although I have met successful people of all sizes.
3. If people from other countries were interviewed, would the results be the same? I think so.
4. Do you have any prejudices? Please explain.
Yes, with people who talk a lot and think they know everything. I’m very lazy talking to them
Thank you for making time in writing your responses to your lesson’s discussions questions. You are doing a good job so far.
Please note how this sentence can be revised:
Happy writing!