The Power of Friendships

Question

Retrieved from HISD Secondary Curriculum
(1) Friendships are a vital part of life, offering emotional support and joy that can significantly impact
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.
[...]
1. What is the most effective transition to add to the beginning of sentence 6?
A. However
B. Firstly,
C. As a result,
D. To conclude,
2 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.
3. Which of the following details would be most effective for the writer to include, in order
to support their body paragraph?
A. This is often exemplified by the idea that many people experience stress related to work.
B. For example, when an individual experiences daily conflict, they may often reach out to
friends to process their emotions.
C. Many people’s first response to stressful scenarios is to call upon family members to
offer assistance or guidance.
D. For instance, someone might feel pressured to meet social expectations which can
cause anxiety.
4. Add a sentence to the concluding paragraph that restates the thesis using your own
words.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
5. Which of the following statements represents a call to action that can be used to
enhance the conclusion paragraph?
A. Reach out to friends regularly to deepen your bonds and experience the positive effects.
B. Think of friendship as a nice-to-have aspect of your social life rather than a necessity.
C. Friends are important, but they do not require the same effort as family.
D. Friendships are beneficial but often secondary to family in importance.

Answer 1

1. What is the most effective transition to add to the beginning of sentence 6? A. However

2. What sentences would best follow and support sentence 8? B. While family members may sometimes feel obligated to help, friends offer support voluntarily, creating a unique form of comfort.

3. Which of the following details would be most effective for the writer to include, in order to support their body paragraph? B. For example, when an individual experiences daily conflict, they may often reach out to friends to process their emotions.

4. Add a sentence to the concluding paragraph that restates the thesis using your own words. Meaningful friendships play a crucial role in promoting overall health and well-being by providing emotional support, reducing stress, and fostering resilience.

5. Which of the following statements represents a call to action that can be used to enhance the conclusion paragraph? A. Reach out to friends regularly to deepen your bonds and experience the positive effects.