These scenarios are designed to help you practise the LEAP IN model.
Each example explores a real issue that can provoke strong opinions and emotional reactions. To make these exercises meaningful, the examples include well-reasoned and clearly expressed versions of opposing viewpoints. In some cases, these arguments may sound more balanced or articulate than you might encounter in real life — that’s intentional. The goal is to give you the chance to engage with a strong version of a perspective you might disagree with, while practising how to stay calm, curious, and connected in conversation
LEAP IN is designed to be used in a wide range of real-world situations — including when people are being blunt, defensive, or emotionally charged. The skills you’re learning here — listening, empathising, asking questions, and responding from shared values — can help keep dialogue open and respectful, even when conversations become challenging.
An important note: In this quiz, we are looking for the best of the alternatives given. Some responses might be reasonable things to say, but one choice is usually the most skillful option for that moment in the conversation. Focus on whether the response reflects good LEAP IN communication skills — rather than whether you personally agree with it. For example, if an answer begins with “I can see that we both value…” remember it’s attempting to use a communication skill (naming shared values), even if you don’t personally share that view.
Context:
At a family gathering, the TV is on in the background playing a live debate show. A guest on the panel argues that more needs to be done to stop migrants crossing the English Channel illegally in small boats, describing the situation as “out of control.” Your cousin, who is very sympathetic to refugees, frowns at the mention of stricter border enforcement and says:
“This is just so cruel. These people are risking everything to find safety, and we’re treating them like criminals. Most are fleeing war or persecution, not looking for handouts. Instead of helping, we’re spending millions trying to push them away. I just don’t understand how anyone can see families in those boats and think punishment is the answer. What frustrates me most is how politicians and the media keep blowing this up like it’s the country’s biggest problem. It’s not — and going on and on about it like this is just fuelling fear and division, and it ends up hurting minority communities who already face prejudice. It feels like compassion has completely gone out of fashion.”
Your cousin is upset at the mention of stricter border enforcement given the impact this will have on migrants. What is the best listening/empathetic response to start?
Not quite. Answer B is best.
Response B paraphrases and empathises by reflecting not just your cousin’s feelings but the deeper concerns behind them. This kind of response shows that you’ve truly listened and understood what matters most to her. In LEAP IN, the first step is Listen/Empathise — to build trust and emotional safety, not to correct or counter. By choosing B, you show genuine curiosity and care, creating the foundation for an open, values-based conversation across difference.
Correct - Answer B is best.
Response B paraphrases and empathises by reflecting not just your cousin’s feelings but the deeper concerns behind them. This kind of response shows that you’ve truly listened and understood what matters most to her. In LEAP IN, the first step is Listen/Empathise — to build trust and emotional safety, not to correct or counter. By choosing B, you show genuine curiosity and care, creating the foundation for an open, values-based conversation across difference.
Not quite. Answer B is best.
Response B paraphrases and empathises by reflecting not just your cousin’s feelings but the deeper concerns behind them. This kind of response shows that you’ve truly listened and understood what matters most to her. In LEAP IN, the first step is Listen/Empathise — to build trust and emotional safety, not to correct or counter. By choosing B, you show genuine curiosity and care, creating the foundation for an open, values-based conversation across difference.
Not quite. Answer B is best.
Response B paraphrases and empathises by reflecting not just your cousin’s feelings but the deeper concerns behind them. This kind of response shows that you’ve truly listened and understood what matters most to her. In LEAP IN, the first step is Listen/Empathise — to build trust and emotional safety, not to correct or counter. By choosing B, you show genuine curiosity and care, creating the foundation for an open, values-based conversation across difference.
Your cousin nods and continues passionately: “Exactly. These people risk everything to come here, and instead of showing compassion, we treat them like a threat. It’s dangerous and irresponsible the way the media keeps focusing on this issue — they play on people’s fears and make communities turn against each other. You can already see how it’s fuelling the far right and giving extremists something to feed on. Politicians know this, but they keep doing it because it wins them votes. It’s not just unfair, it’s reckless. Every time the headlines scream about ‘small boats’ or an ‘invasion’, it makes ordinary people more fearful and angry, and that just pushes the country further apart. I honestly think the way we talk about this issue is doing more damage than the issue itself.”
You’ve listened. What is your best open question now?
Correct - Answer A is best.
A is best. It asks an open, non-judgmental question that shows genuine curiosity about your cousin’s deeper worries and values. By saying, “What concerns you most…”, you invite her to explain what drives her feelings, without interrupting or arguing. This reflects the Ask step in LEAP IN: staying open to understanding before sharing your own view. Options B, C, and D, while all factually grounded, move too quickly into advocacy or argument. By choosing A, you stay in a position of curiosity and connection, keeping your cousin open to deeper dialogue rather than defensiveness.
Not quite. Answer A is best.
A is best. It asks an open, non-judgmental question that shows genuine curiosity about your cousin’s deeper worries and values. By saying, “What concerns you most…”, you invite her to explain what drives her feelings, without interrupting or arguing. This reflects the Ask step in LEAP IN: staying open to understanding before sharing your own view. Options B, C, and D, while all factually grounded, move too quickly into advocacy or argument. By choosing A, you stay in a position of curiosity and connection, keeping your cousin open to deeper dialogue rather than defensiveness.
Not quite. Answer A is best.
A is best. It asks an open, non-judgmental question that shows genuine curiosity about your cousin’s deeper worries and values. By saying, “What concerns you most…”, you invite her to explain what drives her feelings, without interrupting or arguing. This reflects the Ask step in LEAP IN: staying open to understanding before sharing your own view. Options B, C, and D, while all factually grounded, move too quickly into advocacy or argument. By choosing A, you stay in a position of curiosity and connection, keeping your cousin open to deeper dialogue rather than defensiveness.
Not quite. Answer A is best.
A is best. It asks an open, non-judgmental question that shows genuine curiosity about your cousin’s deeper worries and values. By saying, “What concerns you most…”, you invite her to explain what drives her feelings, without interrupting or arguing. This reflects the Ask step in LEAP IN: staying open to understanding before sharing your own view. Options B, C, and D, while all factually grounded, move too quickly into advocacy or argument. By choosing A, you stay in a position of curiosity and connection, keeping your cousin open to deeper dialogue rather than defensiveness.
You’ve listened, empathised, asked, and paraphrased — now it’s time to practice offering your input, making sure you use I-statements and name your shared values.
You start to respond. Which of these is the best first statement to name where you agree?
Not quite. Answer D is best.
This statement begins by naming shared values — fairness, safety, humanity, and wanting the best for everyone. This reflects the Name step of LEAP IN which focuses on connection before perspective. By highlighting mutual concerns (“fair” and “humane”), you show your cousin that you’re not dismissing her compassion, and that you care about decency too. This establishes trust and openness before you share your own view. Options A–C all present legitimate, fact-based arguments. However, all three skip the crucial LEAP IN step of finding connection first. They assert positions instead of acknowledging shared values or emotions, which risks closing down the dialogue. By choosing D, you build rapport and keep the focus on shared humanity — the foundation for a constructive, values-based conversation.
Not quite. Answer D is best.
This statement begins by naming shared values — fairness, safety, humanity, and wanting the best for everyone. This reflects the Name step of LEAP IN which focuses on connection before perspective. By highlighting mutual concerns (“fair” and “humane”), you show your cousin that you’re not dismissing her compassion, and that you care about decency too. This establishes trust and openness before you share your own view. Options A–C all present legitimate, fact-based arguments. However, all three skip the crucial LEAP IN step of finding connection first. They assert positions instead of acknowledging shared values or emotions, which risks closing down the dialogue. By choosing D, you build rapport and keep the focus on shared humanity — the foundation for a constructive, values-based conversation.
Not quite. Answer D is best.
This statement begins by naming shared values — fairness, safety, humanity, and wanting the best for everyone. This reflects the Name step of LEAP IN which focuses on connection before perspective. By highlighting mutual concerns (“fair” and “humane”), you show your cousin that you’re not dismissing her compassion, and that you care about decency too. This establishes trust and openness before you share your own view. Options A–C all present legitimate, fact-based arguments. However, all three skip the crucial LEAP IN step of finding connection first. They assert positions instead of acknowledging shared values or emotions, which risks closing down the dialogue. By choosing D, you build rapport and keep the focus on shared humanity — the foundation for a constructive, values-based conversation.
Correct - Answer D is best.
This statement begins by naming shared values — fairness, safety, humanity, and wanting the best for everyone. This reflects the Name step of LEAP IN which focuses on connection before perspective. By highlighting mutual concerns (“fair” and “humane”), you show your cousin that you’re not dismissing her compassion, and that you care about decency too. This establishes trust and openness before you share your own view. Options A–C all present legitimate, fact-based arguments. However, all three skip the crucial LEAP IN step of finding connection first. They assert positions instead of acknowledging shared values or emotions, which risks closing down the dialogue. By choosing D, you build rapport and keep the focus on shared humanity — the foundation for a constructive, values-based conversation.
Having named your shared values, now it’s time to offer your input, making sure you use I-statements and that you ground what you say in the shared values you have identified. Which is the best way to do that respectfully?
Not quite - Answer C is best.
Response C uses I-statements (“I agree…”, “I want…”, “I think…”) to express a personal, thoughtful viewpoint rather than an argument. It recognises your cousin’s concerns about compassion and safety while also naming the pressures that can arise when systems are overstretched. By grounding your view in shared values like fairness, safety, and care for everyone in the country, you show genuine empathy for both asylum seekers and local communities. This is a strong example of the Input and Name steps in LEAP IN: you offer your perspective honestly, link it to mutual values, and model a more balanced, humane way of talking about a polarising issue.
Not quite. Answer C is best.
Response C uses I-statements (“I agree…”, “I want…”, “I think…”) to express a personal, thoughtful viewpoint rather than an argument. It recognises your cousin’s concerns about compassion and safety while also naming the pressures that can arise when systems are overstretched. By grounding your view in shared values like fairness, safety, and care for everyone in the country, you show genuine empathy for both asylum seekers and local communities. This is a strong example of the Input and Name steps in LEAP IN: you offer your perspective honestly, link it to mutual values, and model a more balanced, humane way of talking about a polarising issue.
Correct - Answer C is best.
Response C uses I-statements (“I agree…”, “I want…”, “I think…”) to express a personal, thoughtful viewpoint rather than an argument. It recognises your cousin’s concerns about compassion and safety while also naming the pressures that can arise when systems are overstretched. By grounding your view in shared values like fairness, safety, and care for everyone in the country, you show genuine empathy for both asylum seekers and local communities. This is a strong example of the Input and Name steps in LEAP IN: you offer your perspective honestly, link it to mutual values, and model a more balanced, humane way of talking about a polarising issue.
Not quite. Answer C is best.
Response C uses I-statements (“I agree…”, “I want…”, “I think…”) to express a personal, thoughtful viewpoint rather than an argument. It recognises your cousin’s concerns about compassion and safety while also naming the pressures that can arise when systems are overstretched. By grounding your view in shared values like fairness, safety, and care for everyone in the country, you show genuine empathy for both asylum seekers and local communities. This is a strong example of the Input and Name steps in LEAP IN: you offer your perspective honestly, link it to mutual values, and model a more balanced, humane way of talking about a polarising issue.
Your cousin responds: “I get what you’re saying, but I don’t think the problem is the people arriving; it’s the way the system is managed and how the issue’s been framed. The numbers are actually manageable compared to other countries, but we keep hearing that it’s ‘out of control,’ and that language just feeds panic. Honestly, I think the fear and hostility are doing more harm than migration itself. Most of these people just want to work, contribute, and live safely. If we invested properly in processing claims and integration instead of treating them like a threat, we’d reduce tension and make communities feel safer, not the other way around.”
Not quite. Answer B is best.
B begins by naming shared values — humanity and safety for everyone. By acknowledging that compassion must extend both to those seeking refuge and to people already living here, it builds trust and balance. The response then moves beyond blame to explore what’s really driving public fear: rapid change, overstretched services, and communities feeling ignored. This approach recognises legitimate anxieties without endorsing hostility. It’s a clear example of a LEAP IN— listening first, finding shared moral ground, and speaking with calm honesty rather than opposition.
Correct - Answer B is best.
B begins by naming shared values — humanity and safety for everyone. By acknowledging that compassion must extend both to those seeking refuge and to people already living here, it builds trust and balance. The response then moves beyond blame to explore what’s really driving public fear: rapid change, overstretched services, and communities feeling ignored. This approach recognises legitimate anxieties without endorsing hostility. It’s a clear example of a LEAP IN— listening first, finding shared moral ground, and speaking with calm honesty rather than opposition.
Not quite. Answer B is best.
B begins by naming shared values — humanity and safety for everyone. By acknowledging that compassion must extend both to those seeking refuge and to people already living here, it builds trust and balance. The response then moves beyond blame to explore what’s really driving public fear: rapid change, overstretched services, and communities feeling ignored. This approach recognises legitimate anxieties without endorsing hostility. It’s a clear example of a LEAP IN— listening first, finding shared moral ground, and speaking with calm honesty rather than opposition.
Not quite. Answer B is best.
B begins by naming shared values — humanity and safety for everyone. By acknowledging that compassion must extend both to those seeking refuge and to people already living here, it builds trust and balance. The response then moves beyond blame to explore what’s really driving public fear: rapid change, overstretched services, and communities feeling ignored. This approach recognises legitimate anxieties without endorsing hostility. It’s a clear example of a LEAP IN— listening first, finding shared moral ground, and speaking with calm honesty rather than opposition.
Give the speaker your full, undivided attention. Don’t interrupt or jump in with counter-arguments.
Acknowledge the other person’s feelings or point of view, even if you don’t agree. Say something that shows you understand how they feel.
Invite the other person to explain more. Use open-ended questions to learn what’s really on their mind.
After they speak, repeat back in your own words what you heard, to check understanding.
When it’s your turn to speak, frame your thoughts in terms of your own experience and feelings, not as a judgment on the other person.
Find and state something you both agree on. This might be a shared value, a mutual concern, or a common goal.