Do you like being around other people? Would you prefer to stay alone or with other people? What do you and your friends do together? Do you remember a time when you needed to cooperate with others?
Vocabulary
Natter (noun) - a friendly conversation without any particular purpose, or an example of this.
Competent (adj.) - having the skills or knowledge to do something well enough to meet a basic standard.
Thrilled (adj.) - extremely happy about something.
Hold out (phrasal verb) - to continue in a situation that is dangerous or difficult.
Contingent on/upon sth - depending on something else in the future in order to happen.
To exploit (verb) - to use someone or something unfairly for your own advantage.
Head out (phrasal verb) - to go in a particular direction.
Comparatively (adj.) - as compared to something else.
To reminisce (verb) - to talk or write about past experiences that you remember with pleasure.
Anecdote (noun) - a short, often funny story, especially about something someone has done.
To cooperate (verb) - to act or work together for a particular purpose, or to be helpful by doing what someone asks you to do. (B2)
Instance (noun) - a particular situation, event, or fact, especially an example of something that happens generally.
To collaborate (verb) - to work with someone else for a special purpose. (C1)
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Questions and answers
M: Do you like talking to people?
R: I love a good natter, doesn't everyone? Especially if it's about something I'm into, or if people have lots of questions about something I can help them out with. I suppose there has to be some sort of constructive point to it. But generally, yes, I do like talking to people.
M: Do you like being around other people?
R: Usually. Particularly if they're, I don't know, competent or interesting to be around. I doubt anyone's thrilled by being with those who complain about, well, everything and don't hold out any chance of finding a solution. It's just a waste of time that sort of sucks the energy out of the room, doesn't it?
M: Would you prefer to stay alone or with other people?
R: Well, that's contingent on what I'm doing. If I have an essay to write, then I prefer to be by myself. However, I'll be the first to admit that it's better if other people are around, in general, you can share ideas and have a good time, and you probably get more done.
M: Do you like to spend time with friends?
R: Well, doesn't everyone? I don't see the point in having friends if you don't want to hang out with them? Even if it's online, you would ideally still want to be around them. I mean, I can't think of any other circumstance when you wouldn't want to have friends unless it's, I don't know, to exploit them for some sort of purpose. But then they're not really your friends, are they?
M: What do you and your friends do together?
R: Typically for Scotland, and if it's a weekend, then we pretty much head out to a bar or a club. If it's a school night, I suppose it's comparatively team and we'd sit and watch movies, and reminisce, and tell jokes and anecdotes.
M: Do you remember a time when you needed to cooperate with others?
R: Well, I have to cooperate with people all the time since we live in a society, though, if you want a specific instance, then my tutor group at university collaborates on when to have meetings and how to structure our ideas and tasks every week.