Silent Listening

　　If something bad just happened (happen) to your friend, what wouldyou do? Would you mention it to him and say you feel sorry about it? Would youoffer support or advice? According to Ruth Clark, such____41____ (treat) couldmean well, but it might not be what he____42____ (real) wants or needs.

　　Clark asked some college students to imagine some____43____(pleasant) situations, e.g., a low exam grade or the dad’s____44____ (lose) ofhis job. The students were then____45____ (ask) how they would like to betreated by a friend who learned of the bad situation from someone else. Theresults were a little____46____ (surprise).Some said they would want and expecttheir friend to mention the____47____ (annoy) situation, but most of thestudents in the study____48____ (respond) that they would like the friend notto do it. The students made the____49____ (decide) for themselves whether todiscuss their problem with a friend. So, there is value in being asilent____50____ (listen) around a troubled friend.