English Reading Practice
Moral
Story Number 3:
Do Not Be Promiscuous
1.
Watch the video at the top of the page.2. Read the story "Do Not Be Promiscuous" just below it.
3. Do the exercises at the bottom of the page.
Here is the Do Not Be Promiscuous video. You can watch it in your own language at The Way to Happiness Foundation. (Simply click the word "language" at the top right corner of that page.)
The Way to Happiness is a common sense guide to better living which has been distributed to more than 100 million people in over 100 languages. It describes 21 principles to a better quality of life.
Principle number 3 is "Do Not Be Promiscuous."
To be promiscuous means to have many romantic or sexual partners.
Now read the short story about this important principle.
Do Not Be Promiscuous
Marian is a fun, bright high school student. She comes from a very nice family, and her lovely personality makes it easy for her to make friends. At home, Marian's family teaches her to behave sensibly, to respect herself, and to respect others.But at school, Marian's friends tell her that she needs to act a certain way in order to be cool. For example, her friends tell her that all the really popular and cool girls date lots of different boys. They say this is the way that cool people must act. That does not sound very natural to Marian, but she wants to feel good with her friends. She decides to give it a try.
As the weeks go by, Marian goes out with different boys from her school. To others it looks as if she laughs and enjoys herself, but she notices that the more different boys she dates, the more miserable she feels. She does not respect herself the way she did before.
On Friday evening, Marian goes to a party with her friends and her date. She does not even know him very well. He and her friends all drink and act silly, but Marian feels the silliest of all. What is she doing there? Why is she with this boy? She does not understand herself, and she is definitely not having much fun. She just wanted to be happy, but she lost sight of her values in the process.
Marian realizes that the purpose of having a partner is not to be fashionable. She needs to spend her time with people who really know and understand her. She and her partner should both feel special about their relationship, and she cannot have that if she dates so many different boys. Marian wants a partner who loves and understands her, not just someone she can "pass the time" with. This kind of behavior is not only hurtful to her, but to other people as well.
Marian stands up and leaves the party. Her date is drunk and upset, and her friends are very surprised. But Marian is happy. She knows that this is the right decision for herself. She realized who she really is and what she really wants, and she found herself again!
And now, practice:
Exercises
Vocabulary Questions
1. What does "promiscuous" mean?a) having lots of
different intimate partners
b) doing what other people tell you is cool
c) doing what you think is right
d) spending lots of time with your friends
b) doing what other people tell you is cool
c) doing what you think is right
d) spending lots of time with your friends
2. What does "values" mean?
a) things that are worth a
lot of money
b) things that everyone agrees on
c) things that you believe are important and right
d) things that you can buy
b) things that everyone agrees on
c) things that you believe are important and right
d) things that you can buy
3. What does "hurtful" mean?
a) something that makes
you happy
b) something that does damage and makes you sad
c) something unexpected
d) something that is illegal
b) something that does damage and makes you sad
c) something unexpected
d) something that is illegal
Grammar Questions
1. ________ Friday evening, Marian goes to a party.a) At
b) Of
c) On
d) In
b) Of
c) On
d) In
2. Marian stands ________ and leaves the party.
a) in
b) about
c) out
d) up
b) about
c) out
d) up
3. She is definitely not ________ much fun.
a) have
b) had
c) to have
d) having
b) had
c) to have
d) having
Comprehension Questions
1. Why does Marian start dating lots of different boys?
2. How does Marian feel about herself while she dates lots of boys?
3. In your opinion, why is it important to not be promiscuous?
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