English Reading Practice
Story Number 3:
Watch the video at the top of the page.
Read the story "Do Not Be Promiscuous" just below it.
Do the exercises at the bottom of the page.
Do Not Be Promiscuous
is the Do
Not Be Promiscuous video.
You can watch it in your own language at The
Way to Happiness Foundation
click the word "language" at the top right corner of that page.)
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.
number 3 is "Do Not Be Promiscuous."
To be promiscuous
means to have many romantic or sexual partners.
read the short story about this important principle.
Do Not Be Promiscuous
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.
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
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.
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
And now, practice:
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
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
3. What does "hurtful" mean?
a) something that makes
b) something that does damage and makes you sad
c) something unexpected
d) something that is illegal
1. ________ Friday evening, Marian goes to a party.
2. Marian stands ________ and leaves the party.
3. She is definitely not ________ much fun.
c) to have
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?