10 B2 | 7. Klasse | READING | Living spaces and domestic environments Now read the first paragraph again and the multiple choice question below. Choose the best answer. Are any of the options similar to your answer? In the first paragraph, Zahra makes the point that people should A feel grateful to have lots of neighbours. B be prepared to speak up if they have rude neighbours. C consider themselves lucky to have well-behaved neighbours. D complain to their neighbours when they feel unhappy with them. Read the rest of the article. Choose the best answer (A, B, C or D) for questions 1–6. Put a cross ( ) in the correct box. The first one (0) has been done for you. 6 7 Good neighbours – are you one? Zahra Ahmed examines the importance of being and having a good neighbour. Neighbours – we’ve all got them. If you’re lucky, you have good ones, but if you’re unlucky, you have unpleasant ones who make your life miserable. If you have good neighbours, consider yourself blessed because that’s priceless. Neighbours play an important role in our community and our lives, and remember, you are someone’s neighbour too. By definition, a neighbour is someone who lives near to you, but obviously ‘near’ is a relative term. For the city-dweller, a neighbour is probably someone in the next apartment, but for the suburban family, a neighbour is a bit further away but still within the residential area. And for those who live in peaceful, rural areas, neighbours may live a kilometre or two away. But what makes a good neighbour? Good neighbours are welcoming and considerate. They have empathy. They wave at you, stop to pet your dog and chat. Although they live close and reach out to connect to you, they also respect your space and privacy. Good neighbours’ actions support community, an idea illustrated in many parts of the world by neighbourhood watch systems, where the goal is to keep watch on each other’s homes, so if, for instance, there are concerns about safety or crime, the appropriate authorities can be alerted to investigate the situation. Good neighbours are important. According to an African proverb, ‘it takes a village to raise a child’. My neighbours are my village. My son’s had the opportunity to learn from the older ladies in our neighbourhood, and, as far as I’m concerned, being around these older women has enriched his life. They, in turn, have got a lot of joy from associating with my son. He’s also played and done activities with others in the neighbourhood, and through neighbours, he’s come to appreciate the idea that we have something in common with everyone and that we’re more alike than different. I recently read about some research on neighbours that was carried out by psychologists. It provided an insight into how and why relationships with our neighbours can be so good for us. Results showed that contact with nuclear family members – even participants’ own children – had little impact on sense of well-being or morale. Meanwhile, friendships, especially those with neighbours, predicted lower levels of loneliness and worry, feelings of ‘usefulness’, and self-perceived respect within the community. The study suggests that acquaintance and friendship with neighbours are more effective at increasing well-being since they are based on physical proximity, common interests and lifestyle choice. The friendships and neighbourhood relationships are also developed voluntarily. Family ties, on the other hand, are often characterised by a sense of obligation, physical distance, and personal conflicts. Another study carried out around the same time confirmed the importance of close friendships over family relationships for the over-65s, highlighting the importance of frequent contact. Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv
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