Text B. A True friend

Socrates "A part of you has grown in me. And so you see, it's you and me together forever and never apart, maybe in distance, but never in heart."

Read, translate the text.

In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem. One day one fellow met the great philosopher and said, "Do you know what I just heard about your friend? "Hold on a minute," Socrates replied. "Before telling me anything I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Triple Filter Test.". "Triple filter?" "That's right," Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you're going to say. That's why I call it the triple filter test. The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?" "No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it and..." "All right," said Socrates. "So you don't know if it's true or not. Now let's try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?" "No, on the contrary...". "So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him, but you're not certain it's true. You may still pass the test though, because there's one filter left: the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?" "No, not really." "Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?"

Lesson: Well we can always participate in loose talks to curb our boredom. But when it comes to youк friends it’s not worth it. Always avoid talking behind the back about your near and dear friends.

Vocabulary

to be reputed	считать, полагать
to hold smth in high esteem	питать большое уважение
Hold on a minute.	зд. подожди минутку.
to reply	отвечать
to pass a test	пройти испытание
triple	тройной
truth	правда
true	верный, истинный. правдивый
on the contrary	наоборот
actually	в/на самом деле, собственно (говоря)
to be certain	быть уверенным
on the contrary	наоборот
goodness.	доброта
though	Зд. однако
usefulness	бесполезность
at all	вообще, совсем
to participate in(take part in)	участвовать
loose talks	досужие разговоры
to curb smb’s boredom	развеять скуку
to be worth	стоить
to avoid	избегать
to talk behind the back	сплетничать

2. Answer the questions:

1. Who was Socrates?

2. What did the fellow the great philosopher met one day say?

3. Why would Socrates like the fellow to pass a test?

4. What kind of test was it?

5. What was the first filter of the test?

6. What was the kea word of the second filter of the test?

7. What was the kea word of the third filter of the test?

8. Do you agree with the lesson of this story?

9. Do you participate in loose talks to curb your boredom?

10. Do you talk behind the back about your near and dear friends?

3. Develop the idea about true friendship, using following “words of wisdom”:

1. A friend in need is a friend indeed. 2. Kindness gives birth to kindness (Sophocles). 3. A man is known by the company he keeps. 4. It is never too late to mend (исправиться). 5. The friends you choose help you win or lose. 6. Friendship doubles your joys, and divides your sorrows.

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