Acts of Kindness
This term refers to doing something good for someone without expecting anything in return. (the title :))
Paying it forward
The boy who returned the phone showed this quality, impressing the phone’s owner.
Honesty
Studies show that doing kind acts for others can lead to this emotional benefit.
feeling happier or more fulfilled
Explain why the boy in the story refused the reward.
He wanted to promote kindness by encouraging the owner to pay it forward.
This word describes a person who lives without a home, as seen in the sandwich shop story.
Homeless
The boy who found a phone didn’t ask for a reward but requested this instead.
He asked the owner to do something nice for someone else.
The woman running a sandwich bar left a note offering food to someone who had been doing this.
taking food from her rubbish bins
Helping others can reduce stress, which in turn can help prevent this type of health issue, as shown by the thirty-year study.
major illness or heart disease
Why might the homeless person feel hesitant to accept the restaurant owner’s offer?
fear of being judged or mistrust of unexpected kindness
The word for a medical operation, used to describe a large act of kindness that could save someone’s life.
Surgery
According to the text, this kind of behaviour can help lower stress and may even protect against diseases like heart disease.
helping others / volunteering
The restaurant owner promised not to do this if the homeless person accepted her offer.
Ask any questions
The author says this is one of the main benefits of giving to others, providing a sense of purpose in life.
feeling more connected to others
Why do you think people in the coffee shop were suspicious of the free coffee offer?
People are not used to random acts of kindness and often expect a trick or ulterior motive.
This adjective means showing a lack of trust in others, as mentioned about how people react to kindness.
Suspicious
The writer of the article says this could be a basic human trait, according to a Harvard Business School study.
The desire to give and share
The woman running the sandwich bar described this person as being worth more than a meal from the trash.
"A human being"
A Harvard study found that spending money on others, rather than on yourself, leads to this outcome.
greater fulfillment
How does the phrase ‘paying it forward’ help create a kinder society?
It encourages a chain reaction of kindness, leading to more good deeds being done.
The opposite of ‘kindness’ and often associated with selfishness, pain or coldness.
Cruelty
A coffee shop experiment showed that people react this way to unexpected kindness.
"suspicious" or "unsure"
The gesture of the restaurant owner in offering a free meal reflects this type of societal value.
Compassion or empathy
Volunteering or giving to others can help combat this negative feeling about life.
"cynicism" or "the ‘me-first’ mentality"
What does the restaurant owner’s offer teach us about human dignity and social responsibility.
Everyone deserves kindness and support, regardless of their situation.
This word refers to doing something without expecting anything in return.
paying it forward = selfless