Think before you choose: a decision and its result
A smart choice needs thinking. Read the text on page 60 of your book about a decision, and then our own text about Mostafa. When you meet a new word, look at the sentences around it for clues. In our text, āhe evaluated each choiceā and then comes a positive side and a negative side, so evaluate means to think about the good and bad sides. A responsible person thinks before choosing. A careless person does not think about the result. To decide, ask three questions: What are my options? What is good about each? What is bad about each? Then choose, and be ready to talk about the result. We also ask a grown-up for advice.
| Option | Positive side | Negative side |
|---|---|---|
| Buy the ball | play every day | costs 120 pounds |
| Go on the trip | a special day with friends | costs 80 pounds |
Mostafa had 150 pounds from his uncle. He wanted a new football for 120 pounds, but his class was also collecting 80 pounds for a trip to a museum. He could not have both, so he had to make a decision. First he evaluated each choice. The ball had a positive side: he could play with his friends every day. It also had a negative side, because buying it meant missing the trip, and the trip came only once a year. He asked his mum for advice, and she said, āThink about the result.ā Mostafa was responsible, and he did not buy the ball in a hurry. A careless boy does that. In the end he chose the trip and saved the other 70 pounds.
| Choice | Cost | Money left from 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Ball | 120 pounds | 30 pounds |
| Trip | 80 pounds | 70 pounds |
Choice chart. Think of a choice you must make (what to do on Friday, where to go). Draw a table with two options. Write one positive and one negative side for each. Show it to a grown-up and say your decision.