共用题干 Friendship

Friends play an important part in our lives,and although we may take the fact of
friendship for granted,we often don"t clearly understand how we make friends.While we
get on well with a number of people,we are usually friends with only a very few一for
example,the average among students is about 6 per person.
Moreover,a great many relationships come under the blanket term"friendship".In all
cases,two people like each other and enjoy being together,but beyond that,the degree
of intimacy between them and the reasons for their mutual interest vary enormously.
Initially,much depends on how people meet,and on favourable first impressions.As
we get to know people,we take into account things like age,race,physical
attractiveness,economic and social status,and intelligence.Although these factors are
not of prime importance,it is more difficult to relate to people when there is a marked
difference in age and background.
On a more immediate level,we are sensitive to actual behaviour,facial expression,
and tone of voice.Friends will stand closer together and will spend more time looking at
each other than mere acquaintances.Smiles and soft voices also express friendliness,and
it is because they may transmit the wrong signals that shy people often have difficulty in
making friends.A friendly gaze with the wrong facial expression can turn into an aggressive
stare,and nervousness may be misread as hostility.People who do not look one in the eye
are mistrusted when,in fact,they simply lack confidence.
Some relationships thrive on argument and discussion,but it is usual for close friends
to have similar ideas and beliefs,to have attitudes and interests in common一they often talk
about"being on the same wavelength".It generally takes time to reach this point;
sometimes people"click"immediately.The more intimately involved people become, the
more they rely on one another.People want to do friends favours and hate to let them
down.Equally,friends have to learn to make allowances for each other,to put up with
irritating habits,and to tolerate differences of opinion.Imagine going camping with
someone you occasionally meet for a drink!
In contrast with marriage,there are no friendship ceremonies,no rituals to strengthen
the association between two people.But the mutual support and understanding that results
from shared experiences and emotions does seem to create a powerful bond,which can
overcome differences in background,and break down barriers of age,class or race. The degree of intimacy between friends is largely determined by their social status.