Notice what was planned and what arose naturally
Read for meaning first. Select a highlighted word if you want a closer look.
When a guest missed the beginning of the college radio workshop, Tessa gave an impromptu introduction with only a moment to gather her thoughts. A spontaneous laugh followed when she noticed that both speakers had brought the same unusual notebook. During playback, she also heard a mannerism: she began nearly every answer with the same small throat-clearing sound. The tutor separated the lack of preparation, the naturally arising reaction, and the habitual feature of her delivery so she could discuss each accurately.
The introduction was impromptu because Tessa had little advance preparation, even though she deliberately chose to give it. Her spontaneous laugh arose without planning or prompting, and it was not a recurring part of every interview. The throat-clearing mannerism, by contrast, appeared across several recordings and had become a recognizable habit. Tessa decided to practice a quiet pause before answering while preserving the ease that made the unexpected introduction enjoyable to hear.
Before you move on
Look away from the passage. Can you explain each focus word in your own words?
Original fictional passages for vocabulary practice.