Describe a time you do not tell your friend the truth

You should say:

• What happened
• Why you did not tell the truth
• Who you did not tell the truth to
• And explain how you feel about it

(What happened): Well, I have to say that I am not used to telling lies. I’m not perfect, and indeed, no one is. During my high school days, sitting exams was nerve-wracking, which drove me crazy. However, there was a time I fell behind with my studies and got a D in Chemistry test. Therefore, I was left with no choice but to make up a story.

(Why you did not tell the truth): I had always been a little boy to my parents, especially to my mom, who spoilt me a lot. To live up to my parent’s expectations, I had to study under a lot of pressure to make them proud. I still remember sitting the chemistry exam, and I felt that I was going to fail the test. The moment I received the test result from my teacher, I was anxious. Therefore, I had to lie to my parents so that I could avoid getting punished and letting my parents down. (Who you did not tell the truth to): My parents were pissed off about the lie. Seeing how they reacted to my test result, I wished that I had not lied.

Part 3:

1. Do people in your country judge people when they lie?

Yes, I do think that people will be judged when they lie to someone. Vietnamese people usually say
“Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me”, and I believe it is true. For example, if a company fails to make their promises to their counterparts, they are less likely to be chosen for the forthcoming projects.

2. How should we tell if it’s a white lie or not?

Well, there are some ways to find out if a person is telling a white lie. We can focus on their facial
expressions. For example, if a person is telling a white lie, their eyes will dart back and forth, which
indicates that they are feeling uncomfortable.

3. Is it acceptable to tell white lies?

I think there are times when it is suitable to tell white lies to other people. It is the time when they
are asking about something that they like, like their haircut or maybe their makeup. When they think
that they are glowing with a new skincare product or are proud of their achievements, we may not
be necessarily impressed by it. But we can tell a white lie in those situations.

4. When do people often lie?

There are various reasons why people often lie. However, I think the key reason why they may lie
regularly is that they don’t want to disappoint other people. For example, I lied to my friend about
her haircut, which was not great because I was worried that the truth might worsen our relationship.

5. Why do some people keep telling lies?

Maybe because some people consider telling lies an inconsequential issue; therefore, it gradually
becomes a habit, and they cannot give up on it. For example, my friend had to lie to her parents
about her test results, and day by day, she was accustomed to lying to other people.