Instructions
Do the preparation exercise first. Then do the other exercises.
Preparation
Do this exercise before you read.
Reading
Are you a good friend?
You might think you are the perfect friend, but are you really? What do your mates think of you? Take this short test to find out.
1. You are at home on a Saturday afternoon when your friend phones you and says he/she is in the town centre and has spent all his/her money and feels really ill. His/her family is away for the day. You …
a. go as quickly as you can to help your friend, even though it will take a long time on the bus to get into town.
b. tell your friend to find a taxi and come to your house. You think your parents will probably pay, but it might be very hard to find a taxi.
c. recommend that your friend walks home. The fresh air will make your friend feel better.
2. Your friend has been having lots of problems with maths, but you find it easy. In a couple of weeks you have some important maths tests and your friend has asked you for some help. You …
a. sit down with your friend and organise some times for extra maths classes together, even though this will mean you have less time to study.
b. show your friend some online videos which explain the important points and some questions with answers.
c. tell your friend that he/she can copy from you in the maths test; you'll make sure he/she can see your paper.
3. You and your friend are both interested in going out with the same person. You know your friend has really liked this person for a long time, but he/she seems to prefer you. You …
a. invite the person out with a group of people, then make sure your friend has a chance to talk a lot to him/her.
b. tell your friend that if he/she doesn't invite the person out, you will, even though you know he/she is too shy to make a move.
c. ask the person out and don't tell your friend. All's fair in love and war!
4. Your friend has just completely changed his/her image: a new hairstyle in blue and red and new clothes in terrible colours. Now he/she wants you to go with him/her to get some tattoos and piercings done. You …
a. suggest that he/she thinks carefully before having a tattoo or piercing done – tattoos are very hard to remove if you change your mind.
b. say that you'll go along with him/her for a laugh, but you don't want anything done yourself.
c. tell him/her what you think of his/her new look (that it's awful), and that he/she should get professional advice before doing anything else.
Answers
Mostly As – you are a great friend, but don't let your mates take advantage of you.
Mostly Bs – you're a pretty good friend, but not reliable in a real emergency.
Mostly Cs – with friends like you, who needs enemies? You need to treat your friends the way you'd like them to treat you.
Discussion
Are you a good friend? What was your result in the quiz?
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