Prompt
You are the manager of a public library branch. A man in his fifties who is homeless spends almost every day there. He reads newspapers quietly, sometimes falls asleep in a chair, and washes at the bathroom sink. Over the past month, several patrons have complained about his strong body odor. Some of them are parents who bring their young children to story time in the room next to where he usually sits. Library policy allows staff to ask anyone to leave whose hygiene "disrupts other patrons' use of the library." It is January, temperatures are well below freezing, and the library is the only heated public building in the neighborhood that is open during the day. 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
- Critical thinking
How to approach this question
This MMI station tests whether you can balance a homeless man's need for warmth and dignity against the comfort of other patrons, including young children, in a public space that belongs to everyone. A strong answer names each party: the man himself, the parents, the staff who must apply the hygiene policy, and a neighborhood with no other heated building open during the day. Say aloud what you'd want to know, such as whether anyone has spoken with him privately and whether local services offer showers or laundry. Weigh asking him to leave in freezing weather against changes that let him stay, like a respectful private conversation and practical help, then commit to a plan. When a follow-up adds money or pressure from a powerful group, acknowledge the real cost and explain whether it changes your decision and why.
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