READING TEXT
Am I in a toxic relationship?
Read first, then answer the questions. Select an underlined word to see its meaning and save it below.
Original fictional learning scenario. People, dialogue and personal experiences are created for language practice.
The word 'toxic' appeared so often in my social feed that I began applying it to every disagreement. When a friend cancelled dinner twice, I wondered whether the label explained her behaviour. A longer conversation revealed that she was caring for a relative and felt embarrassed about repeatedly changing plans. That did not erase my frustration, but it changed what I understood. We agreed on a simpler way to arrange meetings. The experience did not teach me to dismiss harmful behaviour or accept every explanation.
It taught me to describe what had happened before choosing a sweeping label. Was there a repeated pattern? Could I express a concern without being punished for it? Were agreed boundaries respected? These questions were more useful in this friendship than a quick online verdict. A vocabulary of relationships should help people notice their experience, not force different situations into the same dramatic category.
