1 “I cannot tell a lie,” George Washington reportedly stated when he was a boy. If it was true, he was a more remarkable human being than we give him
credit for. Almost nobody always tells the truth, the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth. In fact, a group of Cornell University students admitted to lying
more than a quarter of the time. That means that one of every four statements
they made wasn’t true! So, if everyone lies at least once in a while, it’s
important to be able to identify those times. There’s no way to tell with 100
percent accuracy when someone is lying, but here are some guidelines for
spotting and dealing with a possible liar.

Pay attention to their body positions and movements.
2 People who are telling lies often try to take up as little space as possible so that they’re not noticed and caught. Liars also often

· fail to make eye contact
· turn their heads or bodies away
· keep their arms or hands fairly still or move them unnaturally
· direct their movements in toward their bodies instead of outward
· touch their mouths, throats, or faces, or scratch their noses or ears
· point to their hearts or chests with closed hands.

Evaluate what they say and how they say it .
3 Both what people say and how they say it can provide clues to how truthful
they are. Liars often

· provide inconsistent information
· say too much, disclosing more than expected or adding unnecessary details
· use a monotonous tone of voice, speak too softly, or fail to enunciate
· repeat all or part of a question in their answers (example: Q: “Did you finish your homework?” A: “Yes, I did finish my homework.”)
· fail to use contractions when it would be natural to do so (example: “I do not know what you are talking about.”)

Notice whether emotions, words, and expressions match.
4 Lying can throw off the timing of the liar’s facial expressions or show up in
body language that contradicts what the person is saying. Liars may

· seem emotionless or express emotions only with their mouths, not with their
entire faces
· maintain expressions too long, and then turn them off abruptly
· frown when voicing delight or smile inappropriately when saying something
serious

Focus on behavior.
5 Although some people can control their words, expressions, and gestures,
many aren’t aware that how they conduct themselves can give them away.
Liars may

· act defensively and refuse to answer questions
· hold objects such as books between themselves and you
· accuse you of lying
· make jokes and sarcastic remarks to avoid talking about a subject
· appear relieved when you change the subject

But don’t jump to conclusions.
6 No matter how many of these signs a person exhibits, don’t conclude that he or
she is lying until you consider how the person normally speaks and acts when
telling the truth. Someone who is naturally shy, uncertain, or awkward may
show many of the signs of lying when he or she is actually telling the truth.
Also, think about what a particular culture considers to be appropriate behavior.
Some cultures teach children to avoid making eye contact with adults as a sign
of respect (not to be confused with liars, who also may avoid eye contact). So,
if an individual or his or her family is from that culture, he or she may have
been taught to do likewise.

Use details from the selections to support your answer. (a)Why might George Washington have lied when he said “I cannot tell a lie”? (b) Explain how the guidelines for spotting and dealing with a possible liar help in revealing author’s purpose? (c) Do you find the guidelines reliable in detecting a possible liar? Justify your answer. Write three reasons.