Unicorn
Opening the Mind | Warm-Up Questions
Read each question carefully. Answer in complete sentences
Who is someone you deeply respect, and how did you first learn about them?
What does this person do as part of their daily occupation?
Which specific qualities explain why you hold this person in such high regard?
© 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.
Snapshot of Reality | Situational Lens
Read the situation once. Imagine you are the student. Pay attention to your instinctive reaction
You have been invited to a community event where participants are asked to introduce someone they consider an important personal or professional role model. You decide to describe a person who has influenced your thinking through their work and character. During your presentation, you must explain how you first encountered them, describe their occupation, provide examples of their personality, and explain why their behaviour has earned your lasting respect.
© 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
Integrity – the quality of being honest and guided by strong moral principles
Sentence: Her integrity earned the trust of both her colleagues and the people she served.Compassion – genuine concern for the suffering or difficulties of others
Sentence: His compassion was evident in the way he supported people during difficult circumstances.Humility – a modest attitude toward one's abilities, achievements, or importance
Sentence: Despite receiving international recognition, she continued to demonstrate considerable humility.Dedication – strong commitment to a person, activity, responsibility, or purpose
Sentence: His dedication to education has influenced hundreds of students throughout his career.Perseverance – continued effort despite difficulty, failure, or opposition
Sentence: Her perseverance enabled her to complete the project despite repeated setbacks.Credibility – the quality of being trusted or considered reliable and believable
Sentence: His professional credibility developed through years of consistent and responsible work.Influence – the capacity to affect someone's thoughts, behaviour, decisions, or development
Sentence: Her influence encouraged many young professionals to reconsider their approach to leadership.
© 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.
When Daniel began teaching at a community learning centre, he frequently heard students mention a woman named Dr. Elena Reyes. She was a physician who had worked in the local area for more than twenty years. Daniel first heard about her when one of his students described how Dr. Reyes had helped the student's family during a difficult period.
Several months later, Daniel attended a community health event where he finally met her. He expected someone with such an established professional reputation to be formal and distant. Instead, he found her remarkably approachable. She spent most of the afternoon speaking with residents, answering questions, and listening carefully to concerns that were unrelated to her immediate responsibilities.
Dr. Reyes began each weekday at the clinic, where she examined patients, reviewed medical records, and coordinated with other healthcare professionals. Outside regular appointments, she occasionally participated in community education programs that provided basic health information to families who had limited access to medical resources.
What impressed Daniel most was the consistency between her professional responsibilities and her personal character. She demonstrated compassion without treating people as helpless. She was confident in her expertise but rarely presented herself as superior to others. When faced with difficult cases, she acknowledged uncertainty and consulted colleagues rather than pretending to have every answer.
Daniel gradually understood why so many people respected her. Her reputation was not based simply on her occupation or achievements. It was based on integrity, dedication, humility, and perseverance demonstrated through ordinary decisions every day.
Years later, Daniel still considered Dr. Reyes one of his most important role models. He admired not only what she had accomplished but also the way she conducted herself while accomplishing it.
© 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.
What characteristics make someone worthy of deep respect?
Is professional achievement enough to make someone an admirable role model? Why or why not?
How can a person's everyday behaviour reveal more about their character than their major accomplishments?
Why might humility increase someone's credibility rather than weaken it?
© 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.
Who is someone you deeply respect, and when did you first encounter their story or work?
What does this person do in their daily life or occupation?
What specific action or quality most strongly explains your admiration for them?
© 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: "Not Only... But Also..." for Emphasizing Qualities
She admired Dr. Reyes not only for her professional expertise but also for her humility.
His reputation developed not only because of his achievements but also because of the way he treated others.
Why this matters:
The structure "not only... but also..." allows speakers to emphasize two connected reasons or characteristics. It is particularly useful when describing people because admiration is often based on several qualities rather than a single achievement. The structure also helps create balanced and persuasive explanations in formal discussions and presentations.
© 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.