Table of Contents
Communicating Conflict
Passage
Section A
As far back as Hippocrates’ time (460-370 B.c.) people have tried to understand other people by characterizing them according to personality type or temperament. Hippocrates believed there woe four different body Quids that influenced four basic types of temperament. His work was further developed 500 years later by Galem. These days there are any number of self-assessment tools that relate to die basic descriptions developed by Galen, although we no longer believe the source to be the types of body fluid that dominate our systems.
Section B
The values in self-assessments that help determine personality style. Learning styles, communication styles, conflict-handling styles, or other aspects of individuals is that they help depersonalize conflict in interpersonal relationships. The depersonalization occurs when you realize that others aren’t trying to be difficult, but they need different or more information than you do. They’re not intending to be rude: they are so focused on the task they forget about greeting people. They would like to work faster but not at the risk of damaging the relationships needed to get the job done. They understand there is a job to do. But it can only be done right with the appropriate information, which takes time to collect When used appropriately, understanding communication styles can help resolve conflict on teams. Very rarely are conflicts true personality issues. Usually they are issues of style, information needs, or focus.
Section C
Hippocrates and later Galen determined there woe four basic temperaments: sanguine, phlegmatic, melancholic and choleric. These descriptions were developed centuries ago and are still somewhat apt, although you could update the wording, in today’s world, they translate into the four fairly common communication styles described below:
Section D
The sanguine person would be the expressive or spirited style of communication. These people speak in pictures. They invest a lot of emotion and energy in their communication and often speak quickly. Putting their whole body into it. They are easily sidetracked onto a story that may or may not illustrate the point they arc trying to make. Because of their enthusiasm, they are great team motivators. They are concerned about people and relationships. Their high levels of energy can come on strong at times and their focus is usually on the bigger picture, which means they sometimes miss the details or the proper order of things. These people find conflict or differences of opinion invigorating and love to engage in a spirited discussion. They love change and arc constantly looking for new and exciting adventures.
Section E
Tile phlegmatic person – cool and persevering – translates into the technical or systematic communication style. This style of communication is focused on facts and technical details. Phlegmatic people have an orderly, methodical way of approaching tasks, and their focus is very much on the task, not on the people, emotions, or concerns that the task may evoke. The focus is also more on the details necessary to accomplish a task. Sometimes the details overwhelm the big picture and focus needs to be brought back to the context of the task. People with this style think the facts should speak for themselves, and they are not as comfortable with conflict. They need time to adapt to change and need to understand both the logic of it and the steps involved.
Section F
Tile melancholic person who is softhearted and oriented toward doing things for others translates into the considerate or sympathetic communication style. A person with this communication style is focused on people and relationships. They are good listeners and do things for other people- sometimes to the detriment of getting things done for themselves. They want to solicit everyone’s opinion and make sure everyone is comfortable with whatever is required to get the job done. At times this focus on others can distract from the task at hand. Because they are so concerned with the needs of others and smoothing over issues, they do not like conflict. They believe that change threatens the status quo and tends to make people feel uneasy, so people with this communication style, like phlegmatic, people need time to consider the changes in order to adapt to them.
Section G
The choleric temperament translates into the bold or direct style of communication. People with this style are brief in their communication – the fewer words the better. They are big picture thinkers and love to be involved in many things at once. They are focused on tasks and outcomes and often forget that the people involved in carrying out the tasks have needs. They don’t do detail work easily and as a result can often underestimate how much time it takes to achieve the task. Because they are so direct, they often seem forceful and can be very intimidating to others. They usually would welcome someone challenging them. But most other styles are afraid to do so. They also thrive on change, the more the better.
Section H
A well-functioning team should have all of these communication styles for true effectiveness. All teams need to focus on the task, and they need to take care of relationships in order to achieve those tasks. They need the big picture perspective or the context of their work, and they need the details to be identified and taken care of for success. We all have aspects of each style within us. Some of us can easily move from one style to another and adapt our style to the needs of the situation at hand-whether the focus is on tasks or relationships. For others, a dominant style is very evident, and it is more challenging to see the situation from the perspective of another style. The work environment can influence communication styles either by the type of work that is required or by the predominance of one style reflected in that environment. Some people use one style at work and another at home. The good news about communication styles is that we ah have the ability to develop flexibility in our styles. The greater the flexibility we have, the more skilled we usually are at handling possible and actual conflicts. Usually it has to be relevant to US to do so, either because we think it is important or because there are incentives in our environment to encourage it. The key is that we have to want to become flexible with our communication style. As Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right!”
Questions
Questions 27-34
Reading Passage 3 has eight sections A-H.
Choose the correct heading for each section from the list of headings below. Write the correct number I-X in boxes 27-34 on your answer sheet.
List of Headings
i. Different personality types mentioned
ii. recommendation of combined styles for group
iii. Historical explanation of understanding personality
iv. A lively and positive attitude person depicted
V. A personality likes challenge and direct communication
vi. different characters illustrated
vii. Functions of understanding communication styles
viii. Cautious and considerable person cited
ix. Calm and Factual personality illustrated
x. Self-assessment determines one’s temperament
———————-
27. Section A
28. Section B
29. Section C
30. Section D
31. Section E
32. Section F
33. Section G
34. Section H
Questions 35-39
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 3 In boxes 35-39 on your answer sheet, write
35. it is believed that sanguine people do not like variety
36. Melancholic and phlegmatic people have similar characteristics
37. It is the sanguine personality that needed most in the workplace.
38. It is possible for someone to change type of personality.
39. work surrounding can affect which communication style is the most effective.
Question 40
Choose the correct letter A, B, c or D.
Write your answers in box 40 on your answer sheet.
The author thinks self-assessment tools can be able to
A. assist to develop one’s personality in a certain scenario.
B. help to understand colleagues and resolve problems
C. improve relationship with boss of company
D. change others behaviour and personality
Answers
Below are the answers, key words, synonyms and full explanations for the IELTS Reading passage Communicating Conflict (Passage 3, Questions 27–40).
Questions 27–34: Matching Headings (Sections A–H)
i. Different personality types mentioned ii. Recommendation of combined styles for group iii. Historical explanation of understanding personality iv. A lively and positive attitude person depicted v. A personality likes challenge and direct communication vi. Different characters illustrated vii. Functions of understanding communication styles viii. Cautious and considerable person cited ix. Calm and Factual personality illustrated x. Self-assessment determines one’s temperament
27. Section A
Answer: iii (Historical explanation of understanding personality)
Key words: As far back as Hippocrates’ time … Galen … we no longer believe the source to be the types of body fluid
Explanation: Section A traces the history from Hippocrates to Galen → iii.
28. Section B
Answer: vii (Functions of understanding communication styles)
Key words: they help depersonalize conflict … understanding communication styles can help resolve conflict on teams
Explanation: Section B explains what understanding styles does for us → vii.
29. Section C
Answer: i (Different personality types mentioned)
Key words: four basic temperaments: sanguine, phlegmatic, melancholic and choleric
Explanation: Section C names the four temperament types → i.
30. Section D
Answer: iv (A lively and positive attitude person depicted)
Key words: The sanguine person … expressive or spirited … great team motivators … love change
Explanation: Section D describes the lively, enthusiastic sanguine person → iv.
31. Section E
Answer: ix (Calm and Factual personality illustrated)
Key words: The phlegmatic person – cool and persevering … focused on facts and technical details
Explanation: Section E covers the calm, fact-focused phlegmatic → ix.
32. Section F
Answer: viii (Cautious and considerable person cited)
Key words: The melancholic person who is softhearted and oriented toward doing things for others … considerate or sympathetic
Explanation: Section F describes the caring, cautious melancholic → viii.
33. Section G
Answer: v (A personality likes challenge and direct communication)
Key words: The choleric temperament … bold or direct style … would welcome someone challenging them … thrive on change
Explanation: Section G portrays the direct, challenge-loving choleric → v.
34. Section H
Answer: ii (Recommendation of combined styles for group)
Key words: A well-functioning team should have all of these communication styles for true effectiveness
Explanation: Section H recommends a mix of all styles in a team → ii.
Questions 35–39: True / False / Not Given
35. It is believed that sanguine people do not like variety.
Answer: FALSE
Key words: They love change and are constantly looking for new and exciting adventures
Synonyms: do not like variety (contradicted) = sanguine people love change and new adventures = “They love change and are constantly looking for new and exciting adventures”
Explanation: Sanguine people love change, so “do not like variety” is false → FALSE.
36. Melancholic and phlegmatic people have similar characteristics.
Answer: TRUE
Key words: people with this communication style, like phlegmatic, people need time to consider the changes in order to adapt to them
Synonyms: similar characteristics = melancholic, like phlegmatic, need time to adapt to change = “like phlegmatic … need time to consider the changes”
Explanation: The text explicitly likens melancholic to phlegmatic → TRUE.
37. It is the sanguine personality that is needed most in the workplace.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
Key words: A well-functioning team should have all of these communication styles (no style is ranked as “needed most”)
Explanation: The passage says all styles are needed, but never singles out sanguine as most needed → NOT GIVEN.
38. It is possible for someone to change type of personality.
Answer: TRUE
Key words: we all have the ability to develop flexibility in our styles … we have to want to become flexible with our communication style
Synonyms: possible to change personality type = we can develop flexibility in our styles = “we have the ability to develop flexibility in our styles”
Explanation: People can develop flexibility and shift styles → TRUE.
39. Work surrounding can affect which communication style is the most effective.
Answer: TRUE
Key words: The work environment can influence communication styles either by the type of work that is required or by the predominance of one style
Synonyms: work surrounding affects the effective style = the work environment influences communication styles = “The work environment can influence communication styles”
Explanation: The work environment shapes communication styles → TRUE.
Question 40: Multiple Choice
40. The author thinks self-assessment tools can
Answer: B (help to understand colleagues and resolve problems)
Key words: they help depersonalize conflict in interpersonal relationships … understanding communication styles can help resolve conflict on teams
Synonyms: understand colleagues and resolve problems = depersonalize conflict / help resolve conflict on teams = “understanding communication styles can help resolve conflict on teams”
Explanation: The tools help us understand others and defuse conflict → B.
Answer Key (Quick Reference)
| Q | Answer | Q | Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | iii | 34 | ii |
| 28 | vii | 35 | FALSE |
| 29 | i | 36 | TRUE |
| 30 | iv | 37 | NOT GIVEN |
| 31 | ix | 38 | TRUE |
| 32 | viii | 39 | TRUE |
| 33 | v | 40 | B |
