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1. a) Read the text, then read the descriptions of some people and decide

which of them you would call a friend? Which one do you think many North Americans would call a friend? How do you call these people in Russian?

b) Do the assignment after the text.

In English?

ho is a Friend?

Some have a lot of friends and some have just a few. Some meet and talk with their friends almost every day. Others see them just once a month. There are friendships that end because a person moves away, and there are friendships that last across long distances and over many years until the end of life.

And who is your friend? Americans and Canadians have special relationship with people they consider their good friends. But they often use the simple word friend loosely. (That is why some visitors sometimes get the false impression that North Americans do not have deep friendships.) North Americans call many people their friends – even people they’ve known for a short time or people they see once in a blue moon (=very rarely, not frequently). In fact, they sometimes refer to any person they get along with (do not fight with) as a friend.

Which of the following people would you call a friend?

1. Someone you met about five years ago. The two of you get along well. You spend time together whenever you can. You talk a lot about different things: work, studies, hopes, and problems.

2. Someone you met about three months ago. You work in the same office, and once or twice a month you play badminton (or some other sport) together. You usually talk about work and activities.

3. Someone you’ve known from childhood. You went to school together, but you rarely see each other. You send each other a card on birthdays or at Christmas. When you do see each other, you usually talk about the past.

a

3.2. Besides friends, there are many other forms of people’s relationships.

Match the words describing such relationships a-e with the definitions 1-5.

. acquaintances b. classmates c. co-workers

d. colleagues e. neighbours

1. Mary and Kate live in the same block of flats. They are both married and have children who play together.

2. Mary and Bruce often see each other at political meetings. They were introduced at a meeting about two months ago, and they usually talk for a few minutes before or after the meetings.

3. Bruce and Lang both work part-time at the same store. Sometimes they have the same work schedule.

4. Lang is taking an evening class at the university. In his class, he often talks to Kate, who is also taking the class.

5. Kate goes to school at night, but during the day she runs a medical lab. Right now she is working closely with Barb (who works at a different lab) on an important new project.

3.3. A) Explain the meaning of each word in the box in English. Consult a

dictionary if necessary.

b) Complete the sentences with the words from the box. Some words must

be used more than once.

c) For each word from the list find an example from among your friends

and the people you know.

acquaintance compatriot confidant colleague foe partner mate

rival associate bosom pal companion old flame pen pal

fair weather friend

1. She comes from the same country as me. She’s my ... .

2. We carried on our friendship through letters. He was my ... .

3. I’d rather not make the journey alone. I need a traveling ... .

4. He and I own this business together. He is my ... .

5. She didn’t know what the homework was, so she asked her class-... .

6. I’ve known George for ages. We are really good old friends who spend a lot of time together. He is my ... .

7. Henry wants the manager’s job and so do I. He is my ... .

8. Wanted: sensible, well-mannered girl to act as an old lady’s ... .

9. She used to be John’s girl-friend. She is his ... .

10. The assistant to a plumber, electrician or lorry driver is known as his ... .

11. In the darkness the soldier couldn’t see whether the approaching figure was a friend or ... .

12. She teaches in the same school as I do. She is my ... .

13. He seems a good friend when things are going well, but when I’m in trouble he’s nowhere to be seen. I’m afraid he’s a ... .

14. He’s the person to whom I tell my most personal thoughts, problems and fears. He’s my ... .

15. If you can’t afford to live on your own, you’ll have to find a flat ... .

16. I don’t really know him very well. He’s just my ... .

17. I just meet him occasionally when his firm and my firm work together. He’s just a business ... .