READING 3 The Science of Friendship

The SCIENCE of FRIENDSHIP

Read the following article. Pay special attention to the words in bold. 11.4

“I still remember the day when we met,” says Alexa Martinez of her best friend Gabby Rivero. “It was in 2014, when we were in high school. Gabby sat in front of me in math class. At first, we didn’t talk much. But later that year, when we were both in the school play, we became friends.”

Like many people, Alexa and Gabby became friends for two main reasons. One was proximity. Research shows that we make friends with people who are nearby. (The person might be in a class with you at school or in the same office where you work.) Later, Alexa and Gabby were both in the school play, and they discovered a shared interest: acting. If two people have something in common1, this also increases the possibility that they will be friends.

To become close friends with another person, though, two other factors are important. First, the two people should be able to share personal feelings and information with each other. A good friend will also be there to listen and offer help at times when the other person needs it.

Alexa recalls how she and Gabby became close friends. “Acting in the play was really hard,” she says. “There were times when I thought about quitting. I never told other people this, but I could always talk to Gabby. She was very supportive2. She said things like, ‘Acting is hard, but you’re really good at it. I get nervous, too.’”

Both Alexa and Gabby needed extra practice, so they decided to meet and study their lines together after school. “There was a café where we went every day,” Alexa recalls. “In time, we became good friends. After the school play ended, we continued to hang out3—and even now, we’re still very close.”

1 to have something in common: to have similar interests or beliefs as another person 2 supportive: helpful and kind 3 to hang out: to spend time relaxing and enjoying oneself

Many factors determine who we become friends with