Kỳ Thi Thử Tốt Nghiệp THPT Tiếng Anh 2024 Liên Trường THPT Nghệ An - Lần 2

Is intimate friendship a relationship that is dying out in modern society? In our busy lives, we have many acquaintances and friends - the people we work with, our neighbours, the people we chat to at the local shop and so on. But how many really close friendships can we count? The truth for most of us is probably not many. Some psychologists say that while we still value strong family bonds, in recent times, friendships have lost the strength and importance that they had in the past.
According to a study published recently in the USA, friendships in America have been declining in quality and quantity since at least 1985. It claims that 25% of Americans don't have anyone they could call a close friend. Yet, on the surface, Americans seem extremely friendly people. If you have ever visited the USA, you will be familiar with the warmth and hospitality that they show to complete strangers. Everyone can be treated as a 'buddy', even if they are just a casual acquaintance.
But in other cultures, acquaintances and friendships have different qualities. In France, for example, when you are trying to get to know a person, they may seem rather unfriendly and the length of time it takes to form a strong friendship seems greater than in other countries. This is because for the French there is still a clear distinction between a casual acquaintance and a true friend. Although France is changing and perhaps becoming more like America, there is no doubt that French people are still more private in their friendships and that they reserve real intimacy for their closest friends. This intimacy can be found in many other non-western cultures too, where great importance is attached to the quality of friendships. It is something that many of us in the West have forgotten and need to rediscover.

The fact that studies show that women's job satisfaction generally is not lower than men's has been (26)_______as a paradox, given that women's jobs often are inferior with respect to pay autonomy and promotional opportunities. (27)_______ the results from this study indicate that job satisfaction has more to do with the level of education than of gender. However, this does not have to contradict previous findings demonstrating that women are more prone to be intrinsically motivated while men have a tendency to be extrinsically motivated. When considering job satisfaction, the most (28)_______factor was creativity in women and compensation in men. This might indicate that women are more intrinsically oriented, having a higher public service motivation and more focused on serving citizens and community. For women, these kinds of jobs may lead to a sense of work accomplishment. Earlier research indicates that females are more likely to subscribe to statements (29)_______reflect compassion for (30)_______and a commitment to finding meaning of life.

Everybody feels irritated by their siblings from time to time. Maybe your younger brother shows off and behaves in an immature way when you invite your friends to your house. Or perhaps your hardworking older sister gets a lot of praise from your parents, making you feel like you are not trying hard enough. At times, your brother or sister can feel like your worst enemy. But your relationship can improve greatly with a bit of effort and understanding.
Sibling relationships can be especially difficult for teenagers, who are experiencing many changes to their preferences and personality. For example, you may now find some of the activities that you used to enjoy doing with your younger brother childish or a waste of time. At times, the age difference can feel bigger than it really is, and this can have a negative effect on your relationship. One way to solve this problem is to make sure you continue to include your brother or sister in your day-to-day life. This can take some time, so it is important to be patient and enthusiastic.
Of course, it is perfectly normal for brothers and sisters to fall out with one another over small things. But you should not try to let incidents like these have too big an effect on your relationship. It is important to learn to forgive your siblings for this kind of behaviour, just as you would forgive your close friends. In situations like these, it is really important to let your sibling know how you feel. Rather than insulting your sister when she takes your things, tell her that it makes you feel angry, and that you would feel much happier if she asked you first. It's also crucial that you are sensitive to the feelings of your siblings too.
Finally, it is important to learn how to compromise. It is understandable that you may not want to lend your favourite jumper to your unreliable sister, but maybe you could offer her a less valuable alternative item of clothing. Or if your brother likes to spend all his free time watching football and you find it boring, you could suggest a different sport that you follow regularly together. And if you make the effort to make your sibling happy, he or she will do the same for you.