（贵州省丰都中学2010届高三10月月考）

E

Growing up across the street from each other in Twin Falls, Idaho, Lisa Fry and Paula Turner never doubted their friendship would last forever. But after Fry married, moved to New York City and had a baby, her letters to Turner suddenly went unanswered. “Do you think I’ve somehow offended（冒犯）her?” Fry asked her husband.

Turner, meanwhile, had convinced（使信服）herself she was no longer important to Fry.  “She’s got a family now,” she told herself. “We’re just too different to be close like before. ”

Finally, Fry picked up the courage to call her old friend. At first, the conversation was awkward, yet soon they both accepted that they missed each other. A month later, they got together and quickly fell into their old habit of laughing and sharing confidences.

“Thank goodness I finally took action,” Fry says. “We both realized we were as important to each other as ever. ”

There are good reasons to treasure our friendships. Some years ago a public-opinion research firm, Roper Starch Worldwide, asked 2007 people to identify one or two things that said the most about themselves. Friends far outranked homes, jobs, clothes and cars.

“A well-established friendship carries a long history of experience and interaction that defines who we are and keeps us connected,” says Donald Pannen, executive officer of the Western Psychological Association. “It is a heritage we should protect. ”

Ironically（具有讽刺意味）says Brant R. Burleson, professor of communication at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. “the better friends you are, the more likely you’ll face conflicts. ” And the outcome can be exactly what you don’t want--- an end to the friendship.

The good news is that most troubled friendships can be mended.

52. The passage is mainly about ____.

A. a broken friendship B. treasuring friendship

C. what is good friendship                         D. how to make friendship last long

53. The underlined word “awkward” in Paragraph 3 probably means____.

A. embarrassing        B. exciting                C. convenient            D. relaxed

54. According to the passage which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. Lisa Fry and Paula Turner believed their friendship wouldn’t last forever.

B. Turner didn’t reply to Fry’s letters because she was too busy.

C. People all think friends are far more important than homes, jobs, clothes and cars.

D. Lisa Fry and Paula Turner misunderstood each other at first.

55. What do you think the author will talk about next?

A. Suggestions on how to mend the troubled friendships.

B. Some more examples of good friends.

C. Functions of Friendship.

D. How to cherish friendship.