Appearance and Career

M: How was the job interview?

W: She did well but she is so unattractive. I don't think we should hire her, certainly not for a sales position.

M: Do you really think so? That seems so unfair. Why should looks have anything to do with it?

W: It's just a basic fact of life. Tall, beautiful people have an advantage.

M: Maybe so, but we don't have to support that way of thinking.

W: Look, we have a business to run. You want me to increase sales, right?

Question:

— What is it that they disagree about?

— whether or not looks should affect their hiring decision

Fill inthe blanks:

The candidate did well but she is so unattractive. I don't think we should hire her, certainly not for a sales position.

M: Have you ever heard of Jack Ma?

W: Sure, he is the founder of a huge company in China. I believe he is one of the richest people in the world.

M: He's not good looking at all, but look how successful he is.

W: Yes, but he is an exception.

M: He faced all kinds of prejudice, but he overcame it. I really admire him.

Question:

— What kind of prejudice did he overcome?

— the prejudice against unattractive people

Repeat & Read Sentences:

1. Why should looks have anything to do with it?

2. You want me to increase sales, right?

3. He's not good looking at all, but look how successful he is.

4. They disagree about whether or not looks should affect their hiring decision.

5. He faced all kinds of prejudice, but he overcame it.

M: Perhaps having to overcome obstacles like that made him stronger. Maybe he wouldn't have been so successful if he were good looking. Have you thought of that?

W: That may have been a factor, sure. But what about advertising? Look at all the money companies pay for models in advertising.

M: You mean the use of beautiful or strange-looking people?

W: Exactly, it's all around us because it works. People notice it.

M: As far as I'm concerned, it's just a way of fooling people into buying things that they may not need. It's all based on appearance, and I don't like it.

Question:

1.— What might have made him stronger?

   — The fact that he wasn't good looking.

2.— According to him, what do many advertisements try to do?

   — fool people into buying things that they don't need

W: I don't disagree with you. But people don't buy something because it's good or bad. They buy something because it makes them feel good. Their decisions are based on emotion, not reason.

M: Is that why you buy things?

W: Well, it depends on the product, but yes, I guess I do. What about you?

M: I try to find out about a product before I buy it. But in some cases I'm no different from other people. I'm attracted to advertisements that get my attention.

W: That's my point. We want our salespeople to attract attention, and make people feel good.

Question:

— According to her, how do people decide to buy things?

— Their decisions are based on emotion more than facts.

Repeat & Read Sentences:

1. Perhaps having to overcome obstacles like that made him stronger.

2. You mean the use of beautiful or strange-looking people?

3. I'm attracted to advertisements that get my attention.

4. As far as I'm concerned, it's just a way of fooling people into buying things that they may not need.

5. We want our salespeople to attract attention, and make people feel good.

M: OK, but I'd like our company to do better. Let's be creative and do something better.

W: I hear you, but I think you're being naive.

M: If you think that woman was good, then let's give her a chance.

W: OK, I'll give her a chance, and I respect, but completely disagree with your decision.

M: I know, and I thank you for your honest opinion.

Question:

— What does she disagree with?

— His decision to hire the woman

To be naive menas to not berealistic or practical.

Repeat & Read Sentences:

1. Let's be creative and do something better.

2. She disagrees with his decision to hire the woman.

3. If you think that woman was good, then let's give her a chance.

4. She respects his decision to give the woman a chance, but she doesn't think the woman will succeed.

5. According to him, many advertisements try to fool people into buying things they don't need.