Rent-a-friend

Self-study activity:
Discuss these questions with an English-speaking friend or relative.
Have you ever needed to attend a social occasion and found you had nobody to go with?
Have you ever felt uncomfortable because you have been eating out or shopping on your own?
Have you ever had to do some menial jobs you really didn't feel like doing?
Have you ever thought about the possibility of 'renting' a person to stand by you in the above-mentioned situations?
Would you be willing to resort to that type of service?
How much would you be ready to pay a person to keep your company?
Would you be keen on working for a 'rent-a-friend' company?
What prospective problems can this type of worker face?
How much money could you make?

Now watch this Fox video clip and find out how popular this type of business is in the US. You can read a transcript here.