We can make mistakes at any age. Some mistakes we make are about money. But most mistakes are about people. Did Jerry really care when I broke up with Helen? When I got that great job, did Jim really feel good about it, as a friend? Or did he envy my luck? And Paul - why didn’t pick up that he was friendly just because I had a car? When we look back, doubts like these can make us feel bad. But when we look back, it’s too late.
Why do we go wrong about our friends - or our enemies? Sometimes what people say hides their real meaning. And if we don’t really listen, we miss the feeling behind the words. Suppose someone tells you, “You’re a lucky dog.” That’s being friendly. But lucky dog? There’s a bit of envy in those words. Maybe he doesn’t see it himself. But bringing in the dog bit puts you down a little. What he may be saying is that he doesn’t think you deserve your luck.
Just think of all the things you have to be thankful for is another noise that says one thing and means another. It could mean that the speaker is trying to get you to see your problem as part of your life as a whole. But is he? Wrapped up in this phrase is the thought that your problem isn’t important. It’s telling you to think of all the starving people in the world when you haven’t got a date for Saturday night.
How can you tell the real meaning behind someone’s words? One way is to take a good look at the person talking. Do his words fit the way he looks? Does what he says agree with the tone of voice? His posture? The look in his eyes? Stop and think. The minute you spend thinking about the real meaning of what people to you may save another mistake.
1. This passage is mainly about ____________.

A．how to interpret what people say

B．what to do when you listen to others talking

C．how to avoid mistakes when you communicate with people

D．why we go wrong with people sometimes

2. According to the author, the reason why we go wrong about our friends is that ____________.

A．we fail to listen carefully when they talk

B．people tend to be annoyed when we check what they say

C．people usually state one thing but mean another

D．we tend to doubt what our friends say

3. The underlined word “it” in the second paragraph refers to ____________.

A．being friendly	B．a bit of envy
C．lucky dog	D．your luck

Farah was sitting in the kitchen going over the party list with her mother. The exams were over and Farah wanted to invite her friends for a party.

“Farah, aren't you going to invite Hafsa?” her mother asked. Hafsa had been her best friend since childhood.

“Mother, you know I am now a part of Purple Girls Club and we have some rules about people we can be friends with,” Farah answered.

“Really? And what are the rules?” her mother asked.

“Well, only very pretty girls can be part of our group. And Hafsa is so ... you know ... dark.”

“I cannot believe it,” her mother said angrily.

As Farah left the kitchen, her father called her from the living room. Farah went to her father and paled when she saw the exam report in his hands. “Farah, what has happened to your grades? You have failed in Mathematics,” her father said. Farah had no answer. The truth was that the activities of Purple Girls Club left her with very little time for studies. “Farah, it says that you can take part in supplementary exams. If your grades don't improve then, I'll cancel your trip to Spain.” Farah went to her room and called Gina, the leader of Purple Girls Club, “Gina, can you help me to complete my notes before the exams?” Gina laughed. “Exams? Who cares about exams?”

One by one, she called her friends in the club but no one seemed to care or wanted to help. Farah knew Hafsa would help her. Farah also knew Hafsa had been hurt by her, but Hafsa said, “If you need any help, just let me know. We can study together till your exams.” Next Monday, as two friends entered the school together, Gina called out. “Farah, you know our rules. You cannot be friends with those who do not belong to our club.”

“Gina, I have a new rule about friendship,” Farah replied.

4. After Farah became a member of Purple Girls Club, she chose a friend according to a person's ____.

A．looks

B．usual activities

C．grades

D．favorite colors

5. Farah became pale after going to her father because ________.

A．he didn't allow her to go to Spain	B．she didn't do well in her exams
C．she had to leave Purple Girls Club	D．he asked her to improve her grades

6. What lesson can we learn from the passage?

A．A friend in need is a friend indeed.	B．A perfect friend will never be found.
C．Be slow in choosing a friend.	D．Friendship can be developed easily.

When you choose a friend, you should be very careful. A good friend can help you study. You can have fun together and make each other happy. Sometimes you will meet fair weather friends. They will be with you as long as you have money or luck, but when you are down, they will run away. How do I know when I have found a good friend? I look for certain qualities of character, especially understanding, honesty and reliability (可靠).

Above all else, I look for understanding in a friend. A good friend tries to understand how another person is feeling. He is not quick to judge. Instead, he tries to learn from others. He puts himself in the other person’s place, and he tries to think of ways to be helpful. He is also a good listener.

At the same time, however, a good friend is honest. He does not look for faults (过错) in others. He notices their good points. In short, good friends will be honest to each other and accept each other.

Another quality of a friend is reliability. I can always depend on a good friend. If he tells me he will meet me somewhere at a certain time, I can be sure that he will be there. If I need a favor, he will do his best to help me. If I am in trouble, he will not run away from me.

There is a fourth quality that makes a friend special. A special friend is someone with whom we can have fun. We should enjoy our lives, and we would enjoy our friendship. That is why I especially like friends who are fun to be with. A good friend likes the same things I like. We share experience and learn from each other. A good friend has a good sense of humor , too. He likes to laugh with me. That is how we share in the joy of being friends. And I know that he is looking for the same quality in me.

When I meet someone who is reliable, honest, and understanding, I know I've found a friend!

7. If you have fair weather friends, ______ .

A．you will become rich

B．you can be sure that you get real friends

C．they will give you all that they have when you need help

D．you will be refused when you get into trouble

8. Which of the following qualities the writer thinks is the most important in choosing a friend?

A．honesty	B．reliability
C．understanding	D．a sense of humor

9. Good friends need to ______.

A．understand each other's feelings

B．be helped with money

C．always point out each other's mistakes

D．have money or luck

10. This passage mainly discuss ______ .

A．the qualities of a friend

B．where to choose friends

C．how to get along with friends

D．the importance of having a friend

How to Recognize a True Friend

Sometimes it can be hard to recognize a true friend. Hopefully this article will help you recognize which friends are the keepers.

Be able to trust your friends. You should be able to trust true friends and they should return this trust. Do your friends tell you secrets that no one else knows? Ask you for advice?    11     However, if your friends hide things from you and act secretly, then this is a sign that they may not trust you.

    12     Think about it. How comfortable are your friends when they are around you? Are they being themselves around you? Are they acting fake or perhaps hiding something? True friendships can take a while to develop, but if your friends are true they should feel comfortable around you, and vice versa ( You with them)

Think about loyalty(忠诚).     13     If you are in need of a helping hand, your true friends should be there to offer it to you. True friends don’t try to get one another into trouble. A true friend will always be loyal to you and will not reveal secrets.

Think about nicknames. A lot of true friends love to give each other nicknames！ If your friend is giving you nicknames, then this is a great sign. Think of the nickname your friend has given you, does it suit you well?     14    

Look at how you fight. Nearly all best friends fight.     15     True friends will find their way through a fight, no matter what the size is. True friends will remain “faithful” to each other even during a fight. They will not tell each others’ secrets, and they still care about each other.

A．Consider comfort.

B．Choose your friends carefully.

C．True friends are always there for one another.

D．Both are sure signs that your friend trusts you.

E．If so, this shows your friend must know you quite well.

F．So if you and your friend have a little argument, don’t worry!

G．An inside joke shows that you share a special connection with your friend.