Workpaper on the film The Pursuit of Happyness

The world of work

1- Correct the wrong information in the text.

Based on a true story about a man named Christopher Gardner. Gardner has
invested heavily in a device known as a "Phone Density scanner". He has
difficulty in selling those scanners and when he tries to figure out how to sell
them, his mother leaves him, he loses his house, his bank account, and credit
cards. Forced to live out in the streets with his brother, Gardner is now
desperate to find a steady job. He takes on a job as a mechanic, but before he
can receive pay, he needs to go through 6 months of holiday, and he needs to
sell his devices.

2- Order the following parts of a famous quote from the film to complete the dialogue.

You can’t do something. Not even me. Tell you… Something, go get it

If you want All right? Don’t ever let somebody Hey.

Christopher Gardner: __________________________________________________________________________

Christopher: All right.
Christopher Gardner: You got a dream... You gotta protect it. People can't do somethin' themselves, they wanna
tell you you can't do it.
______________________________________________________________________________. Period.

3- Who is Chris Gardner telling these encouraging words to? ________________________

4- Why?__________________________________
5- Do you have a motto to cheer you up?__________________________________

6- Complete the table with Nouns and Adjectives showing personal qualities needed at work and in
dealing with people. Tick (√) the adjectives that best show Chris Gardner’s personality.
 Adjectives Nouns
happiness
persistent
polite
witty Sense of humour
Intelligent/smart
Open to learn new Ability to learn
things
Hard working work
diligence
Responsibility
dutiful Sense of duty
Fast learner Learning abilities
Adaptation
Adjectives Nouns
kindness
trustful Trust
confident
hopeful
optimistic
Determination
Caring (father) Care
loving Love
conscientious Conscience
reliable
committed
trustful
respectful

7- Complete the text using the vocabulary in the box.

In The Pursuit of Happyness, Chris Gardner (Will Smith) is a (1)_____________________ but

marginally employed (2)_____________________. Struggling to (3) _____________________,
Gardner finds himself and his five-year-old son (4) _____________________ from their San
Francisco apartment with nowhere to go. When Gardner gets an (5) _____________________
at a prestigious (6) ____________________________________ firm, he and his son endure
many (7)_____________________, including living in shelters, in pursuit of his dream of a
better life for the two of them.

Chris Gardner (Will Smith) is a family man struggling to make ends meet. Despite his attempts
to help the family, the mother (Thandie Newton) of his five-year-old son Christopher (Jaden
Christopher Syre Smith) is living in constant (8) _____________________ pressure. No longer
able to cope, she reluctantly decides to (9)_____________________.

Chris, now a single father, continues to (10) _____________________ a better-paying job using
every sales (11) _____________________ he knows. He gets an internship at a prestigious stock
brokerage firm, and although there is no (12)_____________________, he accepts, hopeful he
will end the program with a job and a (13) _____________________ future. Without financial
means, Chris and his son are soon evicted from their apartment and forced to sleep in (14)
_____________________, bus stations, bathrooms, or wherever they can find refuge for the
night.

Despite his troubles, Chris continues to honor his (15) _____________________ as a loving and
caring father, using the affection and trust his son has placed in him as an impetus to
(16)_____________________ the obstacles he faces.

bright and talented salesman leave evicted internship

promising skill salary pursue

stock brokerage

hardships financial overcome

commitment
make ends meet shelters,