A Level Sociology OCR Practice Exam

How did the girls test Blackman's loyalty in the context of their friendship?

1. By asking him to study together

2. By inviting him to skip school

3. By sharing personal secrets

4. By introducing him to their families

The correct answer is: By inviting him to skip school

The correct choice highlights a significant aspect of interpersonal relationships, particularly in a school setting. When the girls invited Blackman to skip school, it served as a test of his loyalty because it required him to prioritize his connection with them over his responsibilities. This action symbolizes a deeper bond and a level of trust, indicating that they valued his companionship enough to engage in risky behavior. It also reflects the dynamics of peer pressure and loyalty where members of a friend group often seek to reinforce their ties through shared experiences, even those that challenge societal norms, like skipping school. The other options, while potentially meaningful in the context of friendship, do not have the same implications regarding loyalty. Studying together represents collaboration but not an inherent test of loyalty. Sharing personal secrets could indicate trust but does not necessarily gauge loyalty in the same direct manner that skipping school does. Introducing him to their families may signify acceptance, but it lacks the same immediate weight as the act of skipping school together, which involves a clear choice between personal relationships and external responsibilities.