What is meant {{U}}(51) {{/U}} the word "friend"? The dictionary {{U}}(52) {{/U}} it as: ."one attached to {{U}}(53) {{/U}} by affection or esteem". Americans use the word freely——that is , a friend may or may not be a person {{U}}(54) {{/U}} whom there is a great attachment. A friend might be a casual acquaintance or an intimate companion. Friends may have known each other {{U}}(55) {{/U}} child- hood or they mayhave recently met. It is difficult to formulate a precise {{U}}(56) {{/U}} of this word as it is used in the United States, {{U}}(57) {{/U}} it cover many types of relationships. "My friend and I went to the show last night." "My friends gave me the name of a good doctor." "My friend consoled me when I was depressed." We hear such daily references {{U}}(58) {{/U}} the word "friend" without knowing the quality of the friendship referred to.
It is common for Americans to have different "circles of friends" such {{U}}(59) {{/U}} church friends, work friends, or sports friends. A person may choose not to involve members of different circles {{U}}(60) {{/U}} the same activity. (One's friends from the office may never meet one's friends from the sports club. ) {{U}}(61) {{/U}} such as "office mate" and "tennis partner" {{U}}(62) {{/U}} the segregation of friends. The office mate is a friend in the office and the tennis partner is a friend {{U}}(63) {{/U}} the courts. People have different types of friends: one may have many good friends and one best friend. "Best friends" are usually two people of the same sex who have known each other {{U}}(64) {{/U}} a long period of time. People usually have more casual friends than close or best friends.
Americans are geographically mobile and learn to {{U}}(65) {{/U}} friendships easily and quickly. Approximately one {{U}}(66) {{/U}} of every five American families moves every year. People relocate {{U}}(67) {{/U}} they begin new jobs, {{U}}(68) {{/U}} distant colleges, get married, have chidren or simply want a change in their lives. Perhaps as a consequence of this, people form and {{U}}(69) {{/U}} friendships quickly. Students attending two or three universities during their undergraduate and graduate years may {{U}}(70) {{/U}} their circles of friends several times.