Hi everyone! Thank you for tuning in to Time for English.

Just imagine: There's half a glass of water in front of you. Now, do you see it as half full, or half empty?

It's a common question used as a psychological litmus test to determine whether someone is an optimist or a pessimist. If you focus on the full side of the glass, obviously you're an optimist. If you're more prone to look at the empty side of it, then you're pessimistic.

Let's say, your company is in trouble. Many of your co-workers are being laid off. You've managed to stay on the payroll but you've got to take a pay cut.

Now, if you see the glass as half empty, then you're likely to feel sad about having a smaller paycheck. Contrarily, if you see the glass as hall full, you're likely to say, "Oh well. It's not the end of the world. At least I've still got my job".

Now, would you like to practice together? Please repeat after me:

Is the glass half full, or half empty?