Many people believe a common idea: To get a great job and make the most money, you must go to a famous, top college. People think these schools are best because they have the best teachers. But studies show that something else is more important than great teachers. It is the type of friends and classmates that we have.

In one study, researchers looked at students with high grades. They found that these students had roommates and friends who studied a lot. In fact, when new students got new roommates, they changed each other’s habits very quickly. Students with roommates who liked to party and drink alcohol started to party more, too. But students with serious roommates became more serious students themselves.

Another famous study asked a different question: Does a famous college really help students more in life?….(See complete article below.)

(This posting includes a handout LINK AT THE END OF THIS POST which you are welcome to use with your students.) *

For background information about these articles and for suggestions for how to use them with your students, see  • Introducing “Short, High-Interest Readings”  Also, I’ll be adding more of these articles in the right-hand column: ESL Reading> Short, High Interest Articles for Extensive Readings

Here is the 20th article. You can download the article for your students by clicking on the link at the end. Also included are three optional exercises: True-False Questions; Paraphrasing Exercise; Reflection Exercise.

You are on a bus at a bus stop watching passengers get on. A middle-aged woman gets on and sits near you. You notice that she looks just like a normal woman about her age. Two bus stops later, an elderly man who is slowly walking with a cane gets on. Immediately, the middle-aged woman jumps up, smiles and gives the man her seat. As you observe the woman now standing, you notice that she is actually quite attractive.

Researchers have found that your experience is common. When a person does something kind and helpful, they will look more physically attractive to us  ….(See complete article below.)

(This posting includes a handout LINK AT THE END OF THIS POST which you are welcome to use with your students.) *

For background information about these articles and for suggestions for how to use them with your students, see  • Introducing “Short, High-Interest Readings”  Also, I’ll be adding more of these articles in the right-hand column: ESL Reading> Short, High Interest Articles for Extensive Readings

Here is the 19th article. You can download the article for your students by clicking on the link at the end. Also included are three optional exercises: True-False Questions; Paraphrasing Exercise; Reflection Exercise.

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(This posting includes a handout which you are welcome to use with your students.) *

Imagine you see a wallet on the sidewalk. You are the only person who sees it. Inside, there is some money and a business card with an email address. Now, you have to decide: do you keep it or return it?

Many people and experts thought most finders would keep the money. However, a large study in 40 countries showed this was not true.

To see if people are honest, researchers left 17,300 wallets in 355 cities around the world. Some wallets had no money, but others contained about $13 of that country’s money ….(See complete article below.)

(This posting includes a handout LINK AT THE END OF THIS POST which you are welcome to use with your students.) *

For background information about these articles and for suggestions for how to use them with your students, see  • Introducing “Short, High-Interest Readings”  Also, I’ll be adding more of these articles in the right-hand column: ESL Reading> Short, High Interest Articles for Extensive Readings

Here is the 18th article. You can download the article for your students by clicking on the link at the end. Also included are three optional exercises: True-False Questions; Paraphrasing Exercise; Reflection Exercise.

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