Distinguishing an Author’s Position in Informational Text

Question

Respond Open-Mindedly to Different Ideas
What does it mean to be an open-minded ? It doesn’t mean just accepting . It does not mean accepting ideas that are not based on sound reasoning and credible evidence. Instead, being open-minded means distinguishing your position from another position and then trying to understand the other position before accepting or rejecting it.

Read this conversation between Ben and his Learning Coach.

BEN: I went to a new friend’s house yesterday, and it was kind of strange. My friend’s dad asked me to take off my shoes as I walked inside, but I always wear shoes inside my own house. What do you think?
LEARNING COACH: I see your position, Ben. But in some cultures people take off their shoes as a sign of respect. Also, they don’t want to bring dirt and germs into their host’s home. In some homes, people have allergies or illnesses, and socks are just cleaner than shoes.
BEN: But I felt self-conscious, and I had a hole in my sock. Plus, my socks weren’t the cleanest.
LEARNING COACH: Still, you can understand the thinking behind this custom or practice, right? It’s about cleanliness and hygiene. Also, no matter the reasoning, it’s polite to follow the customs of your host.
BEN: That makes sense. I guess it’s not totally strange to take off your shoes in someone’s home. I’ll still wear shoes in my home—but the next time I go see my friend, I will wear my best socks.

Answer 1

Being open-minded means being willing to consider and understand different ideas or perspectives before accepting or rejecting them. In the conversation between Ben and his Learning Coach, Ben initially finds it strange that his friend's dad asked him to take off his shoes when entering their house. However, the Learning Coach explains that in some cultures, this is a sign of respect and cleanliness. They also mention that some people have allergies or illnesses, and socks are cleaner than shoes. Even though Ben initially feels self-conscious and has concerns about his socks, he is able to understand the reasoning behind the custom and acknowledges that it's polite to follow the host's customs. This shows that Ben is open-minded and willing to consider and understand different ideas before making a decision.