Sunday, April 20, 2008

TOEFL practice essay Week 2 ~ Irene Y11

15. Neighbors are the people who live near us. In your opinion, what are the qualities of a good neighbor? Use specific details and examples in your answer.

Neighbours are some people that you cannot really avoid having unless you live in the middle of the countryside or on a desert island. You cannot choose them and of course you have to have a good relationship with them, because one day you may be alone and need someones help. The can be there for you, just because they are very close to you. If your neighbours are good, you are very lucky, but if the do not you may suffer.

Most neighbours are very annoying, because they have nothing else to do than gossip and judge everything you do and have, especially if they are old ladies that do not have any other interesting activities. For example in my case, my neighbour is a lady who always sees and examines us from head to toe. She knows our schedule and if one day we don't follow it she starts asking us different strange questions that most of the times frustrate us and drive us crazy, but we try to be calm because we have to keep good relations with our neighbours and every malignant person.

Sometimes bad neighbours cause you a lot of trouble without even thinking about the consequences of their actions. In my previous apartment in Greece, I used to have the best neighbours anyone can have and I strongly believe and support them. They were the most benign people I have ever met. They were a family with two children, a boy my brother's age and a girl my age. We were very close to them, exactly like we were siblings. Every single hour we were together. The doors of our houses were never closed so that we could enter each other's homes very quickly and without ringing the bell.

We used to share everything, our toys, our clothes, our food, everything from the smallest thing to the most important one. Nora, my neighbour, was definitely my best friend, but I actually felt like was my sister. We have grown up together and as a result we have the same style, the same haircut, the same tastes. We will never forget each other no matter where we live or with whom, we will always be a part of each other's life.

As a conclusion, we can say that our neighbours may become part of our lives. But they have to fulfill some qualities, like offering love, and help. By this you can both be happy and not afraid of the people living next door.