Methodology Life Dialogues Test - the question form
Questions: 21 · 4 minutes
1. At school. Teacher: Children, who do you think a “scapegoat” is, and who is called that and why? Student A: “A scapegoat” is our classmate Gosha, because he is the poorest in the class. His clothes are old and worn. Student B:
a) and no one would want to share a desk with him in class;
b) maybe his parents are poor too;
c) Gosha is a good person: he is kind and smart.
2. In the family. Dad: Can children really make responsible decisions on their own? They do not understand anything about life yet! Son: But I can. I have already decided that I will not continue studying music. I prefer staying at home and watching TV. Mom:
a) What, do you want to disgrace your father completely?
b) In time, you will understand it yourself—and you will thank us later.
c) If that is your responsible decision, then let’s talk about how promising it is.
3. In the student cafeteria. Student S: The dean’s office said that a group of Americans will be coming to us soon. They will be studying with us for the whole semester. Student D: Great. Since they’re coming, they can teach us English. They should be useful for something! Student E:
a) Exactly—I need to take an interpreting exam soon.
b) We should think about what the benefit would be.
c) I think that once they arrive here, they themselves will decide what language to speak with us—in English or in Russian.
4. Job application. Secretary: Please leave your details and we will call you. Just be sure to indicate your nationality and place of birth. That is very important to us. Employee: You see, we care about the company’s image, so we have to refuse people of certain unpopular nationalities right away. Applicant:
a) I can see you are a serious company; I like your approach to business.
b) May I ask which nationalities you consider unpopular?
c) I don’t understand—are you serious?
5. At an electronics store. Customer: Please explain to me how this appliance works. Sales assistant: Read the instructions; everything is clearly written there. If, of course, women are even capable of reading something all the way through. Customer:
Exactly—read, read, read.
Let me read it and explain it to you.
But there are people who prefer to have things explained to them.
6. At the polls. Voter J: "Could you tell me where I can find complete information about the candidates and their platforms?" Voter Z: "Don’t even try! They write one thing and do another. You can’t trust any of them!" Voter I:
a) if you go to vote at all, it should be to vote "against everyone"!
b) we choose them ourselves—so we reap what we sow;
c) they do what they can—it’s not as simple as we would like.
7. Watching TV. Viewer K: I do not understand what these politicians are thinking. They talk about raising pensions, but all they can do is raise prices. Eggs have gone up in price again at the store. Viewer L:
a) It is surprising it is only eggs.
b) That is what politicians are for: making promises.
c) These are temporary difficulties; politics is complicated.
8. At the summer house. Summer resident M: "Yesterday that preacher was on TV again. He spoke beautifully. And everything he said was right. Some kind of missionary." Summer resident N:
a) you should go to an Orthodox church, not listen to missionaries;
b) exactly—"some kind," indeed.
c) everyone has their own truth.
9. On a commuter train. Passenger O: This is outrageous! Where is the police? The seats have all been slashed, and there is a swastika drawn on the wall in the vestibule! Passenger P: It is all skinheads. Like outright fascists. And no one can do anything about them. Passenger R:
a) If it were up to me, I would put them all behind bars.
b) You are right; the police are doing a poor job.
c) You cannot eradicate violence with violence.
10. At the Hermitage. Visitor S: Yes, the theme of love and betrayal concerns many artists. Visitor T: Unfortunately, in real life there is much more betrayal than love. Visitor U:
a) that is because not all traitors get what they deserve, and they should;
b) traitors and scoundrels are pathetic, worthless people;
c) do not judge, so that you may not be judged.
11. On the subway. An elderly woman: “Young man, don’t you know that you’re supposed to take your backpack off on the subway? It gets in other passengers’ way—especially during rush hour.” Young man:
a) At least you seem to know everything and tell everyone what to do when nobody asked.
b) Ma’am, during rush hour you get in the way no less than my backpack does.
c) This backpack gets in my way too—where am I supposed to put it?
12. At the hairdresser’s. Ms F.: “I’m running so late! My husband is at home and hasn’t been fed! After all, he’s a man.” Ms X.:
a) Serves him right; being hungry only toughens a man’s character.
b) It’s strange that you are not thinking about the children first.
c) If he’s hungry, he has probably made himself something to eat by now.
13. In a session with a psychologist. Patient: I am worried about my relationships with other people. I am starting to stop understanding them. Psychologist: Let us first try to discuss your views about the principles that underlie human relationships. Can you name the most important of these principles right now? Patient:
a) Everyone for themselves; man is a wolf to man.
b) You scratch my back, I will scratch yours.
c) Do not spit in the well—you may need its water to drink.
14. At the housing office. Tenant C: “Please, get rid of these awful migrant neighbors. It’s not a family, it’s a whole camp. They constantly have relatives coming and staying. You can’t count the children. Noise, commotion, they talk loudly, and they’re always cooking in the kitchen.” Official: “But they received this housing legally. And they are not disturbing public order.” Tenant Ch:
a) They should all be driven out of our city.
b) Our laws are far too lenient.
c) These people were forced to move from their home region and have the right to live as they are used to, as long as they do not disturb public order.
15. Abroad. Tourist: "Have you noticed how polite and attentive people are in this country?" Tourist (female):
a) Put them in our conditions—they’d all die out.
b) I don’t know—yesterday at the local market someone was rude to me; it was obvious without words.
c) I really want to learn more about the country and its people.
16. Parents' meeting. Teacher: Our school has been offered a new subject—Orthodoxy. We would like to consult with you about what to do. Parent:
a) That is the right decision; we used to have "God's Law" in schools, and it was good for everyone.
b) Better not Orthodoxy, but something broader—Christianity, since we have Catholics.
c) It is good that the school is willing to consult with us on such important issues.
17. At a career guidance center. Psychologist: We will do some testing now and find out which professions you are suited to. Student:
a) Please rule out all non-prestigious professions right away.
b) I hope I will still have a choice.
c) That is why I came here.
18. After a staff meeting. Employee Sh.: "Well, we got through it. The boss seems to be in a softer, more playful mood today." Employee Shch.:
a) Everyone has been on edge for a long time because of his moods.
b) He talks softly now, but it will be hard later.
c) You just have to understand that he is under certain constraints too.
19. At a kindergarten. Child E: "When I grow up, I’ll be a hitman." Other children: "And I’ll be a businessperson, a banker, a president, a member of parliament, a fashion designer, an inspector, a dog breeder." A parent who happens to walk in says:
a) Well, look at that—so young, and they think pretty well;
b) I wouldn’t recommend being a hitman, but all the rest are fine;
c) There are plenty of professions—enough for everyone.
20. Layoffs. Director: We are planning a staff reduction. We need to let several employees go. HR manager:
a) Do we have any "dead weight"—employees with no prospects, who we would not mind letting go?
b) How should we phrase the reason for termination?
c) People need to be given a chance; otherwise they will stop trusting us.
21. In a traffic jam. Minibus driver: “These ‘new Russians’ in their SUVs don’t let anyone through. They park wherever they want and drive by their own rules.” Passenger:
a) never mind—people have already started going after the oligarchs; soon it will be their turn.
b) they have money, their licenses were bought—who’s going to say anything to them?
c) who knows—maybe they really are in more of a hurry than anyone else.