A friend who cannot cover her share of the bill
- Topic
- Personal qualities
- Kind
- Practical scenario
Prompt
You are at a friend's birthday dinner with eight people, and the group has agreed to split the bill evenly, which comes to $65 each. One friend, who ordered only a salad and water, quietly tells you that she cannot afford her share and asks you not to say anything. You are on a tight budget yourself this month, and paying for both of you would mean missing your phone bill. The birthday friend chose the restaurant and has just told everyone it is the best night she has had in months. What would you do?
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After you practice: what this question tests and how to approach it
What this question tests
- Empathy and compassion
- Communication
How to approach this question
This MMI station tests whether you can protect a friend's dignity and your own limits at the same time, at a moment when everyone around you is celebrating. Name each person's stake: the friend who can't pay and wants discretion, you with your own bills, the birthday friend whose night it is, and a group that agreed on an even split. Think about options beyond covering her yourself, such as quietly suggesting people pay for what they ordered or making a private arrangement with whoever is collecting the money. Weigh a little awkwardness against missing your phone bill or exposing her. Pick an approach and explain how you'd carry it out tactfully. When a joke at her expense lands in front of the group, show how you'd draw attention away from her without starting a scene.
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