创新英语3 unit3 友谊的价值.doc

The Value of FriendshipFriendship is both source of pleasure and a component of good health. People who have close friends naturally enjoy their company. Of equal importance are the concrete emotional benefits they derive. When something wonderful happens to us, sharing the happiness with friends intensifies our joy. On the contrary, in times of trouble and tension, when our spirits are low, sharing our worries and fears with our friends eases the stress. Moreover, we may even get some practical suggestions for solving a particular problem.Adolescence and old age are the two stages in our lives when the need for friendship is most crucial. In the former stage, teens are troubled by uncertainty and mixed feelings. In the latter stage, older people are upset by feeling of uselessness and unimportance. In both instances, friends can make a great difference. With close friends in their lives, people develop courage and positive attitude. Teenagers have the moral support to assert their individuality; the elderly approach their advanced years with optimism and interest in life. These positive outlooks are vital to cope successfully with the crises in these two stages.Throughout life, we rely on small groups of people for love, admiration, respect, moral support, and help. Almost everyone has a “network” of friends: co-workers, neighbors, and schoolmates. While both men and women have such friends, evidence is accumulating that indicates men rarely make close friends. Men are sociable and frequently have numerous business acquaintances, golf buddies, and so on. However, friendship does not merely involve a sharing of activities; it is a sharing of self on a very personal level. Men usually avoid close relationships. By bottling up their emotions, they deprive themselves of a healthy outlet for their negative feelings.People choose some friends because they are fun to be with; they “make things happen”. Likewise, common interests appear to be a significant factor in selecting friends. Families with children, for instance, tend to gravitate toward families with children. It is normal to befriend people who have similar lifestyles, and organizations such as Parents without Partners have appeared on the scene as natural outgrowth of this tendency. These groups provide an opportunity to socialize, make new acquaintances and friends, and obtain helpful advice in adapting smoothly to a new lifestyle. Other groups focus on specific interests such as camping or politics. It is perfectly acceptable to select friends for special qualities as long as there is a balanced give and take that is mutually satisfying. Very close and trust friends share confidences. They feel secure that they will not be laughed at, and their confidence will be honored. Betraying a trust is a very quick and painful way to end a friendship.As friendships solidify, ties strengthen. Close relationships enrich peoples lives. Some components of a thriving friendship are honesty, naturalness, thoughtfulness, and some common interests. Circumstances and people are constantly changing. Some friendships last “forever”; others do not. However, friendship is an essential element in the making of a healthy, rewarding life. 友谊既是快乐的源泉，又是健康的要素。有至交的人自然可享有友人的陪伴。同样重要的是，他们也获得了情感上实实在在的满足。时逢喜事，与友分享，更添喜悦。反之，在遭遇麻烦或压力，情绪低落之时，与朋友分担自己的忧虑和恐惧，则能减轻压力。而且，我们还可能获得一些切实可行的建议去解决待定的问题。一生中，最依赖友谊的是青少年和老年两个阶段。青春时期，无常和纷乱的思绪常常困扰着年轻人。老年时期，则为感觉自己无所作为和无足轻重而不安。这两种情况下，朋友都能带来莫大变化。有了知己，人们会鼓起勇气，积极向上。青少年有了精神上的支柱，能展露个性；老年人则能乐观地步入晚年，并葆有生活的情趣。对于克服这两个人生阶段的危机，这些积极态度起着至关重要的作用。一生中，我们都有赖一些小群体给予我们爱、赞赏、尊敬、精神支持和帮助。几乎人人都有个“友情网”：同事、邻居、同学。尽管男人和女人都有这样的朋友，但越来越多的事实表明，男人很少有知心朋友。他们善于交际，经常有很多生意上的伙伴、高尔夫球友等等。但是，友谊并不意味着一起参加活动，也包括对自我私密的分享。通常，男性不愿意与他人建立亲密的关系。由于封闭自己的情感，他们失去了一种释放自己消极情绪的健康途径。人们选择某些朋友，因为他们有趣，他们总能“有所成就”。同样，志趣相投似乎也是择优的重要因素。比如，有孩子的家庭容易彼此来往；生活方式相似的人自然会成为朋友。“离异父母协会”之类组织的出现，就是这一趋势的必然结果。这些团体提供了一个交际、结识新朋友的机会，人们由此获得有益的建议，以顺利适应新生活。另外一些团体因特殊的兴趣爱好而组建，如野营