Many of us mistakenly believe that it’s wrong to think we have any good qualities. We may spend a lot of time blaming ourselves for our negative qualities, thinking that self-criticism is the key to improving our performance. However, a constant focus on our supposed shortcomings can stop our efforts to make friends with other people. How can we believe that others could like us if we believe our inner being is flawed(有缺陷)?

If someone seems to dislike you, the reason for that dislike might have little or nothing to do with you. The person who doesn’t like you might be fearful, or shallow, or busy or shy. Perhaps you and that person are simply a mismatch for each other at this particular time.

Don’t take yourself out of the game by deciding that your flaws are bigger than your good qualities. In fact, some of the very qualities you consider to be flaws may be irresistible to someone else. For all the factors that might cause one person to reject you, there are at least as many factors that will work in your favor with someone else.

You might be thirty pounds over your ideal weight, but you may have a wonderful laugh and a real enthusiasm for life. There are many people who don’t mind your extra pounds. You may drive a shabby car, but you might be a great dancer and a loyal friend. There are people out there looking for loyalty, or fun, or sweetness, or wisdom, and the package it comes in is not important. If you are worried that you are not beautiful enough to attract friends, keep in mind that not everyone is looking for physical beauty in their friends. You can decide to feel inferior(自卑) because you don’t have much money and you don’t drive a nice car. You can believe that this is the reason that you don’t have many friends in your life. On the other hand, if you are very wealthy you may be suspicious that everyone is after your money and that nobody really likes you as a person.

The point is that you can focus on just about anything and believe it’s the reason why you do not have friends and cannot make any.

【小题1】According to the author, ________ plays an important role in making friends.

A．possessing good qualities	B．confidence
C．admitting your shortcomings	D．self-criticism

【小题2】If you are not liked by a person, ________.

A．you may not be the one to be blamed

B．you and that person misunderstand each other

C．you should find the reason in yourself

D．you’d better talk with the person face to face

【小题3】We can learn from the third paragraph that ________.

A．your good qualities may turn out to be your flaws

B．your negative qualities cause a person to reject you

C．your weaknesses may also be your strengths in some way

D．you’ll have few friends if your flaws are bigger than your good qualities

【小题4】What do you think the author is most likely to suggest if he continues to write?

A．How to lose weight.	B．How to make friends.
C．How to make self-criticism.	D．How to find your good qualities.