Unit 5 A LIFE SKILLS: PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY


Governments, schools and health services are responsible for many aspects of our lives, but it is still vital that each adult in society takes responsibility for their own well-being. Taking personal responsibility includes admitting your mistakes instead of blaming other people for them, planning ahead, and choosing how you react to events when things go badly.


1


Read the quotes below from six people who are not taking personal responsibility. How would people who do take responsibility for themselves act in each case?


a It’s not my fault I failed the test. I was sick and off school the day the teacher told us about it, so I didn’t revise.


b How was I to know you can’t hold your husband’s hand in the street? That’s not the law in my country. c Sorry I’m late – I ran out of petrol. My wife forgot to fill the tank up, as usual.


d With my allergy I could easily have died in that restaurant! They should have told me there were peanuts in that dish.


e Both my parents were heavy smokers, so it’s not surprising that I smoke.


f Oh no! I’ve spilled my coffee all over some important papers again! That always happens when the boss is in a bad mood – she makes me really nervous.


B CREATIVITY: GENERATING IDEAS


Many situations, from writing an essay to designing a new product, require creativity. Generating ideas on demand is not always easy, especially if you have an urgent deadline for a task.


1 Look at the photos. What do they show? How do they relate to generating ideas? c


C21 skills


d b


e a


English for the 21st Century • Unit 5 83


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