Unit Review & Progress Test

Unit review — Personal Identity & Change

Al finalizar esta unidad, deberías ser capaz de expresar opiniones complejas sobre la evolución de la personalidad y la identidad personal utilizando estructuras de énfasis avanzadas. Habrás aprendido a mover el foco de atención en tus frases para resaltar aspectos específicos de tu experiencia o de la realidad social.

Asimismo, habrás ampliado tu léxico de nivel C1 para discutir conceptos abstractos como el carácter, los cambios de vida y la autopercepción. Ahora deberías poder participar en debates académicos o profesionales sobre el desarrollo personal con un registro preciso y natural.

Grammar consolidation

Complete the following exercises to master cleft sentences (It is / What I / The thing that).

Part A: Sentence Transformation Rewrite the sentences using the prompt provided so that the meaning remains the same.

1. I only realised how much I had changed when I moved abroad. What __________.
2. The reason I decided to change careers was my desire for more autonomy. It was ______________.
3. We need a sense of purpose to feel truly fulfilled. What __________.

Part B: Error Correction Identify and correct the mistake in each sentence.

4. It is my childhood experiences that has shaped who I am today.
5. What I would like to do is to travelling around the world for a year.
6. It was in 2015 when I finally found my true calling. (Note: focus on the cleft structure)

Part C: Controlled Rewriting Rewrite the following sentences to make them more emphatic using Cleft Sentences.

7. I value honesty above all else in a friendship. (Start with: What...)
8. My passion for photography drove me to move to London. (Start with: It was...)
9. Finding a balance between work and life is our main priority. (Start with: The thing...)
10. I need a fresh start more than anything. (Start with: What...)

Vocabulary activation

Part A: C1 Collocations Complete the sentences with the correct word to form a common C1 collocation.

1. After the crisis, he underwent a profound period of self-____ (reflection/refection).
2. It is difficult to maintain a sense of stability when your identity is in constant ____ (flux/flow).
3. She has always possessed a strong sense of ____ (self/soul) esteem.
4. Moving to a new country can lead to a complete ____ (break/breakdown) in one's social identity.

Part B: Word Formation Use the word in capitals to form a word that fits in the gap.

5. CHARACTER: The protagonist undergoes a significant ____ development throughout the novel.
6. EVOLVE: The ____ of his political views surprised his former colleagues.
7. PERCEIVE: Public ____ of the brand changed after the new CEO took over.
8. IDENTITY: Many people struggle with identity ____ in a globalised world.

Part C: Register Choice Choose the most appropriate word for a formal C1 academic/professional context.

9. The transition to adulthood is often marked by ___ (changes / transformations) in social roles.
10. He decided to ___ (quit / relinquish) his old lifestyle to pursue a more meaningful path.
11. It is essential to ___ (keep / preserve) one's integrity during times of change.
12. The ___ (difference / distinction) between who we are and who we pretend to be can be painful.

Integrated skills task

Reading Text

"Identity is often perceived as a static entity, a fixed set of traits established in youth. However, psychological research suggests that identity is a fluid process, constantly reshaped by external circumstances and internal growth. Many individuals experience 'identity crises' during major life transitions—such as career changes, parenthood, or relocation. These moments of upheaval, while often stressful, serve as catalysts for profound personal evolution. While we may lose parts of our old selves, we simultaneously acquire new perspectives and values. Ultimately, the challenge of adulthood lies in reconciling our past versions with our present realities, creating a cohesive narrative of the self that can withstand the inevitable shifts of time."

Writing Task (Instrucciones en español)

Basándote en el texto anterior, escribe un ensayo de opinión (180-220 palabras). Debes responder a la siguiente pregunta:

"Is a stable identity necessary for a successful life, or is the ability to change and adapt more important?"

En tu respuesta, debes: 1. Analizar la idea de la identidad como algo fluido frente a algo estable. 2. Utilizar al menos dos estructuras de cleft sentences para dar énfasis. 3. Emplear vocabulario avanzado de la unidad.

Speaking checkpoint

Responde a estas preguntas de forma oral para practicar tu fluidez y capacidad de argumentación de nivel C1.

1. Compare: Compare the importance of maintaining one's roots versus embracing a completely new identity when moving to a different culture.
2. Speculate: How might social media influence the way young people construct their identities in the future?
3. Evaluate: To what extent do you agree that our personalities are shaped more by nature (genetics) than by nurture (environment)?
4. Justify: Some people argue that a "mid-life crisis" is a necessary stage of growth. Justify or refute this view.
5. Compare: Compare the concept of "professional identity" with "personal identity." Can one exist without the other?
6. Evaluate: Evaluate the impact of life-changing decisions (like moving abroad) on a person's sense of self.

Self-assessment rubric

Answer key

Grammar consolidation 1. What I only realised was when I moved abroad. 2. It was my desire for more autonomy that made me decide to change careers. 3. What we need is a sense of purpose to feel truly fulfilled. 4. It is my childhood experiences that have shaped who I am today. 5. What I would like to do is travel around the world for a year. 6. It was in 2015 that I finally found my true calling. 7. What I value most in a friendship is honesty. 8. It was my passion for photography that drove me to move to London. 9. The thing that is our main priority is finding a balance between work and life. 10. What I need is a fresh start.

Vocabulary activation 1. reflection 2. flux 3. self 4. break 5. character 6. evolution 7. perception 8. crisis 9. transformations 1. relinquish 11. preserve 12. distinction