Friendships
1.
Think about your best friend. How did you meet? In class? Through another person? By chance? Perhaps fate brought you together. What was the force that brought you together and is the open double quoteglueclose double quote that holds you together? If you compare your relationships with your closest friends, you will probably recognize that honest communication, self-disclosure, and trust are paramount in these relationships. You can't choose your family, but you can, and do, choose your friends.
2.
Sometimes, when your situation changes, your friendships do too. When you move to another area of the country, embark upon a new endeavor, or begin meeting new people, old friendships may fade. This is just another example of how life is full of constant change. Recently, a friend stated that he was having conflicts with his open double quotebestclose double quote friend. As he discussed the situation in more depth, he began to realize that this person was not really his open double quotebestclose double quote friend anymore, but rather his open double quoteoldestclose double quote friend. There is a huge difference between the two situations. While time is important in establishing friendships, time does not guarantee that friendships will last forever or that they will always be as strong and comfortable as they are right now.
3.
So, why are friendships important? Friendships can bring a plethora of joys including comfort, understanding, a loyal confidant, and a listening ear. They give you someone to talk to about happiness and sorrow and someone to laugh with when things are funny. You can share your hopes and dreams and fears with good friends. Take a moment to list the qualities that you like in your close friends. Consider the emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and physical aspects of friendship.
open double quoteThe worst solitude is to be destitute of sincere friendship.close double quote long dashFrancis Bacon
4.
As a new college student, you are in the process of building a community of friends and associates. When making new friends, consider adding people to your life who:
treat you well and equally
bring new and different ideas and experiences to your life
may be very different from friends you have had in the past
have ambition and courage
have healthy work habits and a strong work ethic
have pride in his or her character
enjoy college and learning new things
are outgoing and adventurous
have found their goals and mission in life
Who is the primary audience for this selection?
A.
members of a family
B.
close friends
C.
new college students
D.
people with old friendships
Why do the authors include the example of the person who was having conflicts with his open double quotebestclose double quote friend?
A.
They want to point out the importance of having a best friend.
B.
They want to show the qualities of a best friend.
C.
They want to point out that friendships may change over time.
D.
They want to show how a best friend can also be your oldest friend.
What is the authors' tone in this selection?
A.
critical
B.
instructive
C.
sentimental
D.
compassionate
In this selection, the authors show a positive bias toward
A.
making new friends who are similar to your old friends.
B.
always having a best friend.
C.
choosing and making new friends.
D.
keeping old friends.
What is the authors' overall purpose for writing this selection?
A.
to criticize
B.
to entertain
C.
to inform
D.
to persuade