Part E (15 marks) Reading
Read the article.
Is gossip really good for you?
That’s the question we asked some of our readers this week. Email us and tell us what you think.
Lesley Hartley, age 25
“There’s a boy in my class at the university who I really like. He’s named Tony. I was too scared to ask him out. I told my best friend Alice this secret. She said she wouldn’t tell anyone. Alice couldn’t keep the secret, though, and she gossiped to her other friends. Of course, her friends told Tony! Fortunately for me, the gossip was actually a good thing. Tony waited for me after class one day. He told me that Alice’s friends had gossiped about me. And then he invited me to go out to the movies one night. We’ve been together since then! I think people are probably programmed to gossip. We need to gossip to build connections with other people.”
James Goodman, age 35
“Unfortunately, I think gossiping is in our genes. And I don’t think it’s a positive thing. People gossip to make themselves feel more important. They don’t think about the effect it has on the people they gossip about. For example, one of my neighbors gossiped about me after I divorced my wife. She said that I had treated my wife badly. Another neighbor told my work colleagues that my wife was going to move away with the children. These are both lies. I’ve found it difficult to meet someone else because people believe the gossip, not me.”
Eric French, age 28
“We shouldn’t feel guilty about a bit of gossip. I believe that gossiping is good for you. We are people, and people enjoy sharing news – both good and bad – so that they can form and improve their social relationships. I’ll give you an example. I’m very shy and I don’t make friends easily. My girlfriend told me that I didn’t go out enough, and that I should have a better social life. She complained about this to her best friend, Susan. Then, one night, I got a phone call from Danny, Susan’s boyfriend. He asked me to go out with him to see a band. I had a great time. Since then, Danny and I have seen a band every week. He’s a good friend now, and I feel much happier.”
1.Read the article and check (✓)A, B, or C. (6 marks)
1. Lesley started----------Tony after Alice gossiped to her friends.
A) going to the movies with
B) going to class with
C) going out with
2. Tony waited for Lesley ---------- one day.
A) after class
B) after work
C) after the movie
3. James thinks people gossip because they want to ----------.
A) feel more positive
B) look more important
C) feel more important
4. James’s neighbors told ---------- about him.
A) funny stories
B) lies
C) secrets
5. Eric thinks that gossip improves---------- relationships.
A) old
B) social
C) working
6. Eric has ---------- because his girlfriend gossiped.
A) made a new friend
B) made a big mistake
C) met a new neighbor
2. Write L for Lesley, J for James, or E for Eric. (9 marks)
1. I went to see a band. ----------
2. I think people are programmed to gossip. ----------
3. I’ve found it hard to meet a new partner. ----------
4. I don’t make friends easily. ----------
5. I’m divorced. ----------
6. I was too frightened to ask someone out. ----------
7. I think gossiping is a negative thing. ----------
8. I went to the movies. ----------
9. I think people enjoy sharing gossip. ----------
آزمون AEF2D-Final به صورت دیجی فرم
