Task 1. Imagine that you are preparing a project with your friend. You have found some interesting material for the presentation and you want to read this text to your friend. You have 1.5 minutes to read the text silently, then be ready to read it out aloud. You will not have more than 1.5 minutes to read it.

Being with other people is definitely a key part of happiness. There is a broad agreement among happiness researchers and scientists that social relations are essential for people’s happiness. Certainly, basic living standards are essential for well-being too. Still, after the baseline has been made, happiness varies more with quality of human relationships than income.

People have a basic need to feel connected with others, and close, caring bonds with other people play a major part in our motivation and behaviour. We are social creatures, and the importance of this is clearly seen when one compares the satisfaction people feel in relationships with their overall satisfaction with life. The most important social relationships appear to be the ones where you experience things together with others, sharing thoughts and feelings as well as giving and receiving support.