People tend to become more personal and hide less of themselves when using email. Researchers from Open University in Britain have found in a recent study that there are good reasons for this.
The team of researchers asked 83 pairs of students, all strangers to each other, to solve a problem. They had to discuss this question: If only five people in the world could be saved from a world disaster, who should they be? The pairs of students had to talk over the problem either face to face or by computers. Dr. Johnson said, “They told their partners four times as much about themselves when they talked over the Internet as when they talked face to face. When the computers were fitted with cameras so that students could see each other, this limited the personal side of the conversation.”
Generally the information was not extremely personal. It was mainly about things such as where they went to school, or where they used to live. But some students discussed their love stories, and personal childhood experiences.
Dr Johnson believes that emailing encourages people to focus on themselves. And when they do this, they become more open, especially if there are no cameras. “If you cannot see the other person, it becomes easier to talk about yourself. This is because you are not thinking what the other person is thinking of you. So emailing has become the modern way of talking,” said Dr. Johnson. However, this style of talking is not entirely new. “In the 19th century people started to use the ‘telegraph’ to communicate. Now the same kind of thing has happened and people ended up speaking more freely.”
Dr. Johnson thinks that emailers need to know about these effects of emailing, especially when they start work in a company. “ If you don’t know about it, you could find yourself saying more about yourself than you wanted to.”
1. The subject discussed in this passage is _______.
A. how people open up when emailing B. how people do research studies
C. how to communicate at work D. how to discuss and solve a problem
2.The reason that some couples talked freely about themselves is that _______.
A. they didn’t talk about very personal things B. they couldn’t see each other
C. the cameras on the computers were turned on D. they had to discuss a question
3.What does the underlined sentence refer to?
A. The telegraph. B. The computer. C. Emailing. D. Face-to-face talk.
4.In the writer’s opinion, one should ______.
A. focus on oneself when emailing B. talk more freely in emails than usual
C. discuss any subject that one wants to D. consider how one uses email at work
If you want to teach your children how to say sorry, you must be good at saying it yourself, especially to your own children. But how you say it can be quite tricky.
If you say to your children “I’m sorry I got angry with you, but…”, what follows that “but” can make the apology ineffective: “I had a bad day” or “You noise was giving me a headache” leaves the child who has been injured feeling that he should be apologizing for this bad behavior.
Another method by which people appear to apologize without actually doing so is to say “I’m sorry you’re upset”; this suggests that you are somehow at fault for allowing yourself to get upset by what the other person has done.
These pseudo(虚假的) apologies are used by people who believe saying sorry shows weakness. Parents who wish to teach their children to apologize should see it as a sign of strength, and therefore not turn to these pseudo apologies.
But even when presented with examples of true regret, children still need help to become aware of how difficult it is to say sorry. A three-year-old child might need help in understanding that other children feel pain just as he does, and that hitting a playmate over the head with a heavy toy requires an apology. A six-year-old child might need reminding that spoiling other children’s expectations can require an apology. A 12-year-old child might need to be shown that taking away the biscuit tin without asking permission is acceptable, but that borrowing a parent’s clothes without permission is not.
1.If a mother adds “but” to an apology, ________.
A. the child may find the apology easier to accept
B. the child may feel that he should apologize to his mother
C. she does not realize that the child has been hurt
D. she doesn’t feel that she should have apologized
2. According to the author, saying “I’m sorry you’re upset.” most probably means “_____”
A. You have good reason to get upset B. I apologize for hurting your feelings
C. I’m wrong for making you upset D. I know you’re upset, but I’m not to blame
3. We learn from the last paragraph that in teaching children to say sorry ____.
A. their ages should be taken into consideration
B. parents should be patient and tolerant(宽容的)
C. parents need to set them a good example
D. the difficulties involved should be taken no notice of
4. It can be inferred from the text that apologizing properly is ________.
A. not necessary among family members B. a sign of social progress
C. not as simple as it seems D. a matter calling for immediate attention
Elizabeth Clay decided to go home and spend the holiday with her parents. The next day she drove her old car home along the road. 21 she found she got a flat. The 22-year-old student 22 to stop her car by the side of the road in the winter night and opened the trunk. No 23 tire.
At this time, a car 24 . Paul and Diane told Clay to 25 them to a service station near their 26 .They arrived to see that it had no suitable tires to 27 with her car. “Follow us home,” said Paul. The couple called around to find a tire. No 28 . They decided to let her use their own car. “Here,” Paul said, handing Clay a 29 of keys, “Take our car. We 30 be using it over the holiday.”
Clay was 31 .“But I’m going all the way to South Carolina, and I’ll be gone for two weeks,” she 32 them.
“We know,” Paul said. “We’ll be 33 when you get back. Here’s our number if you need to 34 us.”
Unable to believe her eyes, Clay watched as the 35 put her luggage into their car and then 36 her off. Two weeks later she 37 to find her old car cleaned inside and outside with three new tires and the radio 38 .
“Thank you so much,” she said. “How much do I 39 you?” “Oh, no,” Paul said, “we don’t want any money. It’s our 40 . ” Clay realized that while it might have been their pleasure, it was now her duty to help others who need help.
1.A. Suddenly B. Finally C. Immediately D. Fortunately
2.A. afforded B. wanted C. allowed D. managed
3.A. spare B. free C. full D. empty
4.A. passed B. stopped C. paused D. started
5.A. help B. push C. take D. follow
6.A. garage B. house C. shop D. hotel
7.A. agree B. match C. go D. deal
8.A. way B. message C. success D. luck
9.A. set B. number C. pair D. chain
10.A. can’t B. shouldn’t C. mustn’t D. won’t
11.A. satisfied B. worried C. astonished D. disturbed
12.A. persuaded B. advised C. reminded D. promised
13.A. happy B. here C. away D. busy
14.A. get in touch with B. keep in touch with
C. be in touch with D. put in touch with
15.A. repairmen B. cleaners C. friends D. couple
16.A. sent B. shook C. watched D. drove
17.A. shocked B. happened C. returned D. came
18.A. loaded B. fixed C. tied D. rebuilt
19.A. owe B. lend C. give D. offer
20.A. wish B. job C. duty D. pleasure
You ‘d better not phone the manager between 7 and 8 tomorrow evening; he _____ an important meeting then.
A. will have B.would have C. will be having D. will have had
---Where will you start your work after graduation?
---Mmm, it’s not been decided yet. I ______ continue my study for a higher degree.
A. need B. must C. would D. might
---Mum, have you seen my mobile phone?
---_______ you bought last week? I’m afraid I haven’t seen _______.
A. The one; it B. The one; one C. One; it D. One; one
