Everyone has many different relationships. Some relationships are with family members, some are with friends and some are love relationships. Each relationship is different, and all relationships change over time as the people within them grow and develop. Most relationships contain a combination of healthy and unhealthy characteristics.

Healthy relationships have certain characteristics. Each partner feels whole without the other even though the two people enjoy being together. They communicate effectively and honestly. In a healthy relationship, both partners accept the other as he or she is. There are no unrealistic expectations or attempts to control the other person. In healthy relationships, changes on both sides are recognized and appreciated. Both partners have established healthy, comfortable limits based on their own standards. There is a balance between togetherness and separate lives of each partner.

Some relationships may contain unhealthy characteristics. One person may expect his or her partner to fulfill all their needs. One or both partners may be jealous and demand complete devotion. The desire to control others is another unhealthy characteristic. There may be a tendency to dominate the other person and the relationship. Selfishness may be a part of an unhealthy relationship. Those who are selfish only take care of their own comfort, pleasure and interest excessively but without regard for others. The last characteristic that may exist in unhealthy relationships is abuse, which involves emotional and physical mistreatment.

When unhealthy characteristics exist within a relationship, partners may choose to work toward making the relationship healthier. However, both partners must be willing to make efforts to overcome the negative characteristics of the relationship. Counseling services within schools and communities help families and couples strengthen their relationships. When problems within a relationship are not surmounted, one or both partners may decide to end the relationship.

1.From the first paragraph we can conclude that ______.

A. people live among many kinds of relationships

B. some relationships remain the same over time

C. there are various definitions of relationships

D. there are some similarities and differences between different relationships

2.All of the following are the characteristics of healthy relationships EXCEPT _________.

A. a balance between togetherness and separate lives of each partner

B. proper limits based on standards of both partners

C. attempts to control the other person if possible

D. a kind of honest and effective communication

3.The underlined word “surmounted” in the last paragraph probably means “________”.

A. discovered               B. caused 

C. valued                     D. overcome

4.From the passage, which of the followings is most likely to make the relationships end?

A  Being jealous and selfish  

B  Demanding complete devotion

C  The existence of the unhealthy and unbalanced relationships

D  Unwilling to make efforts to overcome the unhealthy relationships

5.The best title for this passage is “________”.

A. How Unhealthy Characteristics Influence Relationships  

B. What Healthy Relationships and Unhealthy Relationships Are

C. How People Benefit from Healthy Relationships

D. What Makes a Relationship Healthy