Unicorn
Opening the Mind | Warm-Up Questions
Read each question carefully. Answer in complete sentences
Why do individuals continue to perform duties even when they appear unnecessary or impractical?
How can rigid adherence to social roles affect personal judgment and flexibility?
What challenges arise when societal expectations conflict with changing circumstances or efficiency?
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Snapshot of Reality | Situational Lens
Read the situation once. Imagine you are the student. Pay attention to your instinctive reaction
An employee is responsible for completing a highly repetitive task according to a strict schedule. Even when external circumstances make the task unnecessary, the employee continues to follow the prescribed routine precisely. Supervisors observe the behavior but hesitate to intervene, fearing disruption of established procedures or social expectations. The employee’s unwavering commitment generates both admiration and concern among colleagues, highlighting tension between duty and practical efficiency.
© 2026 GreatMindsInternational online English. All Rights Reserved. GBS™ is a proprietary trademark of Giovanni L. Nerizon. Unauthorized duplication or distribution is strictly prohibited under PH and US Copyright Law.
Language of Nuance | Vocabulary & Expressions
Read each item carefully. Say it aloud once. Then write one paragraph using at least four of the expressions
Obligation – a duty or responsibility imposed by law, custom, or personal commitment.
Sentence: Employees recognized their obligation to submit monthly reports, even when workloads were high.Procedure – an established or official way of doing something.
Sentence: The laboratory maintained strict procedures to ensure accuracy and safety.Consistency – the quality of always behaving or performing in a similar manner.
Sentence: Consistency in applying regulations helped maintain fairness across all departments.Perseverance – continued effort despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.
Sentence: Her perseverance in completing the audit under tight deadlines impressed senior management.Redundancy – the state of being unnecessarily repetitive or superfluous.
Sentence: Repeating the same approval process created redundancy without improving outcomes.Accountability – the requirement to explain actions or decisions to others.
Sentence: Leaders emphasized accountability by reviewing each step of the project.Routine – a regular course of action followed habitually.
Sentence: The technician followed a daily routine to verify equipment performance.
© 2026 GreatMindsInternational online English. All Rights Reserved. GBS™ is a proprietary trademark of Giovanni L. Nerizon. Unauthorized duplication or distribution is strictly prohibited under PH and US Copyright Law.
The Core Text | Reading
Read the article slowly. Focus on the writer’s argument and examples, not on speed.
In a municipal facility, a staff member was responsible for performing a repetitive monitoring task designed to ensure safety during operational hours. Over time, the task’s original purpose became largely obsolete due to technological improvements and environmental changes. Despite this, the employee continued to follow the established procedure with unwavering consistency, performing every step precisely at the prescribed intervals.
Supervisors noticed the persistence and initially debated whether to adjust the schedule. Some staff admired the diligence, while others questioned the efficiency of maintaining redundant tasks. The employee’s adherence reflected a strong sense of obligation and accountability, as well as personal identification with the routine itself. Perseverance was evident, but practical outcomes did not improve proportionally with effort.
The situation generated organizational discussions about balancing tradition with efficiency. Maintaining the routine reinforced a perception of reliability, but repeated redundancy risked consuming unnecessary resources. Adjustments were implemented gradually, introducing modern verification methods while retaining elements of the original procedure. Staff training emphasized understanding both the historical rationale for the task and the current practical requirements. This approach minimized disruption while acknowledging the value of dedication. The case illustrates how duty and ritual, supported by social expectations, can persist long after practical necessity has diminished and how thoughtful modification can reconcile tradition with evolving operational demands.
© 2026 GreatMindsInternational online English. All Rights Reserved. GBS™ is a proprietary trademark of Giovanni L. Nerizon. Unauthorized duplication or distribution is strictly prohibited under PH and US Copyright Law.
Beneath the Surface | Discussion Questions
Choose two or three questions. Support your answers with examples, observations, or comparisons.
Why does rigid adherence to routine persist even when it becomes redundant?
How do social expectations influence individuals’ perception of their obligation?
What strategies can organizations use to balance persistence in duty with practical efficiency?
How can excessive commitment to ritual affect resource allocation and overall performance?
© 2026 GreatMindsInternational online English. All Rights Reserved. GBS™ is a proprietary trademark of Giovanni L. Nerizon. Unauthorized duplication or distribution is strictly prohibited under PH and US Copyright Law.
Turning Inward | Reflection Questions
Answer honestly. Short answers are acceptable, but aim for clarity and insight.
When you follow a habitual task, do you evaluate its current usefulness or maintain it out of obligation?
How do you respond when asked to adjust a procedure you have performed consistently for a long time?
What steps could you take to combine perseverance with critical evaluation of practicality in your own responsibilities?
© 2026 GreatMindsInternational online English. All Rights Reserved. GBS™ is a proprietary trademark of Giovanni L. Nerizon. Unauthorized duplication or distribution is strictly prohibited under PH and US Copyright Law.
Precision Matters | G-Notes
Read the structures below.
1. Advanced Grammar Focus: Present Perfect Continuous for Ongoing Actions
The employee has been performing the monitoring procedure daily for several years despite changes in operational necessity.
Supervisors have been evaluating the efficiency of the routine while acknowledging the importance of maintaining accountability.
Why this matters:
The present perfect continuous is essential at C1 level for emphasizing duration and continuity of actions. It allows learners to connect past behaviors to current conditions, highlight ongoing patterns, and analyze the relevance of persistent duties.
© 2026 GreatMindsInternational online English. All Rights Reserved. GBS™ is a proprietary trademark of Giovanni L. Nerizon. Unauthorized duplication or distribution is strictly prohibited under PH and US Copyright Law.