After a very busy afternoon, as I walked into my house, I heard the phone ringing. It was my friend Lydia, upset over an argument with her husband. My usual approach is to offer advice, but this time, extremely tired from chores, I simply pulled off my coat, sat down in a chair and listened to my friend's frustration and sadness. Without the disturbance of judgment or the desire to comfort her, I stayed totally quiet while she talked. Eventually Lydia's depression eased and we said our goodbyes. The next day she phoned to thank me. "I'm so grateful for the way you helped me through this," she said.

At first I was surprised. After all, I had done nothing except be there for her. But after I had my own venting(發(fā)泄的) experience with another friend later that evening, I realized that my focused silence had some value. In fact, most relationship experts agree that talk is cheap; it's listening that's rare and valuable. It allows you not only to hear what the other person is saying, but also to have a clear understanding of her thoughts and feelings. And for the speaker, that level of understanding translates into concern and respect.

Unfortunately, listening isn't as easy as it sounds. Thanks to schedules filled with family and work, multitasking has become the barrier(障礙) to listening. My tiredness may have been the only thing stopping me from folding laundry or checking my e-mail while Lydia talked that afternoon.

Another barrier to listening is our listening system: Most of us take in only about half of what's being said during a conversation, according to the International Listening Association. Research shows that we speak at 125 to 150 words per minute, yet think at 500 words a minute. Therefore, because we think much more quickly than we speak, it is easy for us to lose our concentration when listening to speakers.

While it can be hard to focus at times, it's a skill worth developing. With a little practice — employing some techniques— you can become a better listener.

1. In Paragraph 2, the author mainly talks about ____.

  A. the importance of listening         B. the importance of venting anger

  C. her own listening experience       D. her own venting experience

2.The author uses the result of the research in Paragraph 4 to mainly show that ____.

  A. we think much more quickly than we speak

  B. we can only understand about half of what we hear

  C. there is not much thinking time available while we are listening

  D. we lose our concentration easily while we are listening

3. What will be discussed following the passage?

  A. Why listening is valuable.        B. What we should do while listening

C. How to become a good listener    D. How to stop drifting off while listening.

 

【答案】

 

1.A

2.D

3.C

【解析】略

 

練習(xí)冊系列答案
相關(guān)習(xí)題

科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

In the US and Britain, the slogan around colleges was “Save water. Shower with a friend.” Now, Wuhan University has come up with another system for the campus bathhouse. It charges students for the amount of time in a shower. Before entering the bathhouse, students pay for the amount of time they want in the shower with cash or their student ID card. The clock starts ticking the minute the tape is turned on. It pauses when a button is pressed for soap. An integrated circuit (IC) card reader at each tap shows the time. No money, no water. The benefits of the new system can be seen with the old system which charged 1 yuan for each person regardless of time in the shower. The university used about 320 tons of water daily under the old system, but only 160 tons now.

 Many students use the new system but opinions on it are divided. Some students say it is uncomfortable, because bathing had become a sort of race. Many people using it for the first time are not sure how long they need to shower. Some might be embarrassed if their time is up and they’re still covered in soap. They have to ask the bathhouse worker to help them buy extra time.

“It’s a flaw in the system that you can not buy extra time on the ID card,” said Ren, a freshman in Wuhan University. The University is also considering some student’s suggestions that they be allowed to pay after they’ve finished the shower. Not surprisingly, some are complaining about losing the hour shower. But many students say the move helps them develop a water-saving sense.

Without the time limit, most students tended to shower for half to an hour in the bathhouse.

Some even used the hot water to wash their clothes. “In my experience, 10-20 minutes is enough,” said Dai Zhihua, a third-year student who usually takes 8 minutes.

A similar system has been installed in other universities. Shanghai Normal University introduced it at its Fengxiang Campus in September. The bathing fee there is 0.2 yuan per minute. One male student responded by setting a record with a two- minute shower.

According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?

A. Students pay for the amount of time they want in the shower.

B. The clock times all through while the student is bathing except when the bather pauses for soap.

C. If money runs out, there will be no water.

D. Having finished bathing, the student has to pay for it.

The author’s attitude toward the students’ move is ________.

   A. critical    B. serious     C. appreciative    D. not mentioned

Since the new system has performed, ____ of water can be saved.

   A. a quarter    B. one third    C. one half   D. two thirds

It can be inferred from the passage that _____.

A. the new operation can solve the water crisis 

B. the new operation can raise students’ environmental awareness

C. a similar operation will be set in other universities

D. Most students spend less than half an hour showing in the bathroom.

In which column can you find this passage?

  A. People.   B. Society.    C. Campus Life   D. Lifestyle   

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：2012-2013學(xué)年廣東省云浮市新興一中高二第二次月考英語試卷（帶解析） 題型：閱讀理解

Children start out as natural scientists, eager to look into the world around them. Helping them enjoy science can be easy; there is no need for a lot of scientific terms or expensive lab equipment. You only have to share your children’s curiosity. Firstly, listen to their questions. I once visited a classroom of seven –year- olds to talk about science as a job. The children asked me “textbook questions” about schooling, salary and whether I liked my job. When I finished answering, we sat facing one another in science. Finally I said,” Now that we’ve finished with your lists, do you have questions of your own about science?”
After a long pause, a boy raised his hand, “have you ever seen a grasshopper eat? When I try eating leaves like that, I get a stomachache. Why?”
This began a set of questions that lasted nearly two hours.
Secondly, give them time to think. Studies over the past 30 years have shown that. After asking a question, adults typically wait only one second or less for an answer, no time for a child to think. When adults increase their “wait time” to three seconds or more, children give more logical, complete and creative answers.
Thirdly, watch your language. Once you have a child involved in a science discussion, don’t jump in with “That’s right” or “very good”. These words work well when it comes to encouraging good behavior. But in talking about science, quick praise can signal that discussion is over. Instead, keep things going by saying, “That’s interesting” or “I’d never thought of it that way before’, or coming up with more questions or ideas.
Never push a child to “think”. It doesn’t make sense; children are always thinking, without your telling them to. What’s more, this can turn a conversation into a performance. The child will try to find the answer you want, in as few words as possible, so that he will be a small target for your disagreement.
Lastly, show; don’t tell. Real-life impressions of nature are far more impressive than any lesson children can learn from a book or a television program. Let children look at their fingertips through a magnifying glass, and they’ll understand why you want them to wash before dinner. Rather than saying that water evaporates, set a pot of water to boil and let them watch the water level drop.
【小題1】According to the passage, children are natural scientist, and to raise their interest, the most important thing for adults to do is______________.

A．to let them see the world around
B．to share the children’s curiosity
C．to explain difficult phrases about science
D．to supply the children with lab equipment
【小題2】In the last sentence of the first paragraph, the word “l(fā)ist” could best be replaced by ______________.
A．a(chǎn)ny questionsB．a(chǎn)ny problems
C．questions from the textbooksD．a(chǎn)ny number of questions
【小題3】According to the passage, children can answer questions in a more logical, complete and creative way if adults______________________.
A．a(chǎn)sk them to answer quickly
B．wait for one or two seconds after a question
C．tell them to answer the next day
D．wait at least for three seconds after a question
【小題4】In which of the following paragraph (s) does the author tell us what to say to encourage children in a science discussion?
A．The 2nd and 3rd B．The 4th and 5thC．The 5th and 6thD．The 7th
【小題5】The author mentions all of the following techniques for adults to share with their children’s curiosity except that adults should_____________.
A．tell their children stories instead of reciting facts
B．offer their children chances to see things for themselves
C．be patient enough when their children answer questions
D．encourage their children to ask questions of their own

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：2013屆天津市天津一中高三第二次月考英語試卷（帶待解） 題型：閱讀理解

Lots of folks don't think about what they eat over the holiday season until January, when they stare sadly at the number on the scale and then hurry off to hit the gym, join Weight Watchers or pick up the latest diet book.
It doesn't have to be that way. Health experts say you can still enjoy the holidays.
"It's OK to indulge（沉溺）, but it doesn't mean you have to gain weight," said Karen Ansel, a New York-based registered dietitian and a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association (ADA). Jessica Crandall, a registered dietitian from Denver who's also an ADA spokeswoman, added that gaining weight during the holidays and then working hard to lose it again is not good for a person's body.
For starters, people interested in maintaining their weight during the holidays should keep eating on a regular schedule, the two dietitians said. Research has shown that people who skip meals -- particularly breakfast -- end up eating more throughout the day. "Try and stick to consistent meal times so you can avoid being overly hungry," Crandall said. "When you're overly hungry, you can make some bad decisions regarding what you eat. Don't starve yourself during the day waiting for that party at night -- because you'll eat too much or overeat."
Ansel suggests that you think now about the foods you really enjoy and plan to focus on those while eating less of more common fare.
Be careful, too, about alcohol intake, for a couple of reasons. Alcoholic drinks, particularly the fancy ones handed out at holiday time, tend to come loaded with calories. "It's usually what you're adding to a drink that contains the calories," Crandall said. Also, if you're drunk, you might forget to watch what you're eating. "It totally lowers your inhibitions（壓抑）," Ansel said.
Other holiday eating tips, suggested by Crandall and Ansel, include:
?Eat lots of vegetables, and eat them first before moving on to the other items on your plate.
?Recognize that many holiday extras, like cheese or cranberry sauce, come loaded with calories. "If those aren't your favorite foods, don't put them on your plate," Crandall said.
?If your favorite food has a lot of calories, be sure to minimize your portion. "Two bites cure the craving," Crandall said. "After that, you're just really feeding your old habits.
?After a big holiday meal, don't sink into a chair or couch. Go for a walk outdoors or participate in some other activities that help burn off some of the calories you've just eaten.
【小題1】Both Karen Ansel and Jessica Crandall ________.

A．think highly of the latest popular diet book
B．like going to the gym often
C．think trying to lose weight isn’t good for a person’s body
D．a(chǎn)re registered dietitians and work for ADA
【小題2】Ansel asks people wishing to keep slim not to skip meals because _________.
A．it will do harm to their stomachs.
B．being overly hungry will make them feel not well
C．it may make them eat more
D．it might let them make bad decisions on important occasion
【小題3】Why does Crandall advise people wanting to lose weight not to drink wine?
A．Because if they’re drunk, they can watch what they eat.
B．Because it will make it hard for their body to burn calories.
C．Because wine itself contains many calories.
D．Because it will make them feel more stressed.
【小題4】Which of the following is the proper way to keep slim according to the passage?
A．Eating more vegetables than rice and other food.
B．Eating more cheese or cranberry sauce.
C．Never eat food with a lot of calories.
D．Sitting less and walking more after meals.
【小題5】The passage mainly talks about __________.
A．some advice on holiday eatingB．how to keep slim
C．the problems of fat peopleD．what to do in holidays

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：2010年海南省高二上學(xué)期教學(xué)質(zhì)量檢測（三）英語卷 題型：閱讀理解

It’s you and I who are to blame for the state of the earth. No question about it. It’s our life-style that is threatening life on Earth, so we must make the changes. The good news is that many of those changes are really quite simple, even enjoyable, but for every careful step we take as individuals , we must press government and industry to take a big step on our benefit . And we must start now. Tomorrow’s too late.

My aim this year is to persuade as many of my friends and colleagues as possible to choose the train, and leave their cars behind too. My gardens have been pesticide(殺蟲劑)–free zones for years and I enjoy seeing more wildlife on my doorstep as a result; I’ve tried to reduce my contribution to water pollution too, by using environment-friendly, phosphate(磷)–free washing powder , and by no longer thinking of the toilet as a suitable waste-disposal(處理) point .

I ran after a young lady through town recently to give her back the piece of paper she had carelessly thrown away. She disappeared into a shop, and when I followed her inside and made my presentation, she was doubly embarrassed--she worked there, and the boss gave her a ticking–off too. I’ve started asking fellow drivers at gas stations why they aren’t using unleaded (無鉛的) petrol . These are small things, but we have to start somewhere, and every little does help .

 

1.To help the environment, the author is trying to do everything mentioned below EXCEPT        .

       A．taking the train instead of a car    

B．throwing away the old cars

       C．a(chǎn)voiding the use of pesticides       

D．running after those who throw articles carelessly

2.The author ran after a woman through town because he wanted         .

A．to find out where she worked

B．to give her back the piece of paper she had lost

C．to tell her not to throw away pieces of paper carelessly

D．to ask her to pay him for picking up the piece of paper.

3.The word “ticking-off ” in the last paragraph probably means         .

A．blaming    B. a piece of paper      C．prize      D. ticket

4.The purpose of this passage is to         .

A. persuade his friends to take the train

B. inform us of the good news

C. make clear who is responsible for the environment

D. try to advise us all to protect our environment

 

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：2013屆山東省高一下學(xué)期期末考試英語題 題型：其他題

Getting your children to study can be a little like getting them to eat their vegetables.

__1.__ Make a study time and have it at the same time every day. This will help your kids to learn to schedule their day and will give them a sense of control over how they spend their time.

Allow them to study in blocks of time，such as for half an hour with a five-minute break in the middle.__2._ Ideal (理想的) study times are after dinner or right after school before dinner.

Never allow your children to study in front of the television，as that will encourage passive activity.__3.__

You’ll also need to help your kids find the right place to study. After you’ve set up a good study time for little learners，set up a good place where they can get those creative juices flowing.

_4.__ Make sure there is a table or a desk and a comfortable chair.

__5.__ This includes helping them out with their homework sometimes and being there for them with the answers to any questions. The input you give your children during study periods will help form a bond and help make studying enjoyable.

A．Pick a place where your children can study properly.

B．Hold them to the schedule (時間表) they create for themselves.

C．Finally, spend time with your kids when they're studying.

D．Keep the atmosphere light and offer lots of encouragement，too.

E. Instead，use TV as a treat or a reward when the homework is completed.

F. Try to stop this bad habit by offering some sort of reward.

G. One of the best ways to form good study habits for your kids is to design a schedule that they keep to.

 

查看答案和解析>>

同步練習(xí)冊答案