Question

close read
work with a partner

1. determine the meanings of your underlined words and phrases.
2. discuss the question:

why are people mean?
apply the strategy: paraphrase
discuss the meaning of the lines from the text with a partner. then paraphrase them.
text

1. (lines 25 - 29) those who have been hurt, hurt others. understanding this does not immediately solve the problem if someone is being nasty to you - but it can help a little. it can help you to remember that you dont deserve to be treated badly. its not something youve done. there isnt anything wrong with you.
2. (lines 49 - 50) realizing why you might not be very nice to other people can help you see how someone else could be not very nice to you.
3. (lines 51 - 54) understanding doesnt make everything suddenly perfect. if someone is being mean to you, the problem will not go away just because you understand that they may be unhappy inside. but when you understand things, they often stop being so frightening.

understand
do the sentences restate a main idea from the text? check (✓) yes or no. then discuss your answers with a partner.

1. people are often mean because they are suffering.
2. unhappy people dont want to make others miserable.
3. most people are frightened at some point in their life.
4. pay attention to when you say unkind things. then you can better understand why you and others say mean things.
5. understanding why someone says something mean can help you feel less scared.

36 unit 1 empathy

Explanation:

1. The text implies that those who are mean may be suffering inside, so "People are often mean because they are suffering" restates a main - idea.
2. There is no indication in the text that unhappy people don't want to make others miserable.
3. The text doesn't focus on most people being frightened at some point in life.
4. The text doesn't mention paying attention to when one says unkind things to understand mean - saying.
5. Lines 51 - 54 state that understanding things makes them less frightening, so "Understanding why someone says something mean can help you feel less scared" restates a main - idea.

Answer:

1. Yes
2. No
3. No
4. No
5. Yes