(1) Friendships are a vital part of life, offering emotional support and joy that can significantly impact

Question

our health and well-being. (2) Today, with rising rates of loneliness, particularly among young adults,
the importance of close friendships has become more evident than ever. (3) Strong friendships can
provide a sense of security and connection, functioning as "proxy families" that sometimes even
surpass the benefits of family relationships. (4) Research confirms that these bonds reduce stress,
enhance happiness, and increase self-confidence, all essential to a healthy life. (5) In this essay, I
will discuss how meaningful friendships contribute positively to our health and well-being.
(6) Friends can have a powerful influence on our mental and emotional health, often helping us
manage stress better than we could alone. (7) According to researchers, friendships offer unique
benefits that can improve both physical and emotional health, sometimes even more so than family
ties. (8) In times of stress, friends provide encouragement and comfort, which can lower anxiety
and build resilience. (9) By investing in friendships, individuals create a supportive network that
fosters happiness and a sense of belonging.
(10) Maintaining close friendships allows individuals to build resilience. (11) As studies have shown,
cultivating these connections is worth the effort, as true friends become not only companions but
essential to personal well-being

What sentences would best follow and support sentence 8?
A. Friends often listen without judgment, providing advice and encouragement during
difficult times.
B. While family members may sometimes feel obligated to help, friends offer support
voluntarily, creating a unique form of comfort.
C. Close family relationships provide the same benefits, sometimes even more so than
friendships.
D. Colleagues and family bring a sense of comfort that can alleviate stress as well.

Answer 1

The sentences that would best follow and support sentence 8 are:

A. Friends often listen without judgment, providing advice and encouragement during difficult times.

This option directly relates to the theme of providing support and comfort during stressful times and elaborates on how friends contribute to reducing anxiety and building resilience.

B. While family members may sometimes feel obligated to help, friends offer support voluntarily, creating a unique form of comfort.

This option complements sentence 8 by contrasting the voluntary nature of friendships with family obligations, further emphasizing the unique emotional support friends can provide.

Together, both options strengthen the argument made in sentence 8 about the role friends play in managing stress and building resilience.