Directions Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions strictly from the passage Forget goodwill and equality when it comes to our friendship. Research has shown that when it comes to picking friends, we feel most comfortable in the company of people who we think are on the same level as us socially or even slightly below us. It doesn't matter how well you're doing as long as you believe you are better off than your friends and neighbours you find your life more fulfilling. This new research might come as a shock to many, but if we are completely honest with ourselves, we would realise that we have felt slightly threatened by a friend's success sometime or the other. Even with past friendships, the real reason could be that at some point, one of you may have felt a bit superior or inferior to the other. Even if we don't spell it out, most friendships have a lot going on below the surface. As much as we may try to deny it or pretend otherwise, most of us are easily impressed by a great job, a large bank account or rising social status when it comes to picking 4 partners, or friends. In both cases, we want people who are there for us and reinforce our own self-worth. So, more often than not, the question that is running through our heads is, how can we choose a good friend, if we were not as good ourselves? But it's not all about the outward trappings. Very often, it is the emotional bit that is relevant. For instance, a woman losing vast amounts of weight may get not very complimentary feedback from close friends, no matter how fabulous she looks. She could be accused of being too thin or even arrogant suddenly. What has happened basically is that her friendship status has gone up. She is forcing her friends to re-evaluate theirs.We feel comfortable in the company of friends who: