Pants on Fire: Multiple Choice Grammar Test

A commentary by Debbie Pennington

You have heard the saying: "Liar, liar, pants on fire!" So...how honest are you?

If a friend 1— your opinion on her new haircut, his sports performance, her outfit, his new girlfriend...would you tell 2—or a little white lie to avoid a 3 — uncomfortable situation?

If you chose the white lie, you're not alone. In her article "The Truth About Lying," author Julie Mehta writes that social experts are apparently in agreement that little white lies are "acceptable and even necessary for people 4 — up good relationships". Child psychiatrist Dr. Elizabeth Berger of Indianapolis, Indiana, considers the little white lie more humane than the utter truth.

Though Ms. Mehta gives 5 — on why lying in general should be avoided, her opinion on little white lies 6 — an eyebrow: "Life experience and talking to friends and family will help you figure out when telling a 'little white lie' is OK".

Yet parents and experts alike were shockedwhen the Josephson Institute revealed its 2008 Report Card 7 — “The Ethics of American Youth." In a random sampling of 30,000 high school students across the United States, 42 percent have confessed to 8 — on occasion to save money and 83 percent 9 — admitted to lying to a parent about "something significant."

Why are 10 — statistics so surprising? After all, the supposed authorities on teen behavior are telling teens that in some situations lying is acceptable. And teens as well as adults are still trying to figure that out.

And so people lie. They lie: to avoid conflicts, to justify an action, to avoid 11 — feelings, to make themselves feel better or make someone else 12 — worse, to avoid punishment, because it's easier. The list goes on and on.

Lying might save your friends’feelings in the short term, but what about in the long term after they 13 — that you have been dishonest with them?

Is that worth 14 — from pain and the breach of trust in the relationship?