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(发泄的) 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(障碍) 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.
I will never forget the two impressive things that happened last winter. One of my classmates and I were 36 our project work late at night on my university's campus far from home. Since there was 37 in the forecast, I had worn a winter 38 to school that day with a raincoat in my bag.
Throughout our work on the project, I could 39 that my friend was tired from a very long day working. As we stepped outside to begin the 40 walk home, I 41 she was shivering(颤抖). The temperature had dropped to the low thirties (Fahrenheit) and she 42 had a sweater on. I 43 offered her my warm jacket. She accepted it and asked me what I 44 wear then. I told her I had another one and pretended that my 45 was a jacket. She said later that she 46 the next morning and the first thing on her mind was feeling moved about my 47 of the jacket.
Coincidentally(碰巧), the next day I went to an open-air play and I was freezing 48 I didn’t expect it to be so 49 . A person who I hardly 50 insisted that I wear his jacket. I was 51 touched by this warm gesture. He was so matter-of-fact(讲究实际的) about me 52 his coat, too: he simply took it off and handed it to me telling me that I should 53 it. I used to think that this vast universe was a cold 54 . It turns out that even when the temperature drops low, the people never 55 to warm each other's hearts.
1.A. starting B. destroying C. showing D. doing
2.A. rain B. fog C. snow D. cloud
3.A. suit B. jacket C. cap D. coat
4.A. think B. guess C. see D. check
5.A. easy B. short C. safe D. long
6.A. heard B. believed C. noticed D. expected
7.A. bravely B. nearly C. only D. usually
8.A. suddenly B. immediately C. madly D. calmly
9.A. would B. could C. should D. might
10.A. blouse B. sweater C. dress D. raincoat
11.A. ran away B. woke up C. fell ill D. got hurt
12.A. sale B. size C. color D. offer
13.A. though B. until C. since D. if
14.A. warm B. cold C. sunny D. dark
15.A. knew B. mattered C. loved D. blamed
16.A. deeply B. wrongly C. finally D. firmly
17.A. envying B. watching C. holding D. wearing
18.A. keep B. buy C. borrow D. throw
19.A. environment B. place C. wind D. situation
20.A. deny B. agree C. help D. stop
—We’ve finally found the solution with the help of Hans! It’s really great!
—____, you know.
A. Two heads are better than one B. Birds of a feather flock together
C. The early bird catches the worm D. Great minds think alike
The clean towels are in the drawer—if you need ____.
A. that B. one C. it D. so
Time _____ , we are going to visit the famous military museum before we leave this city.
A. permits B. to permit C. permitting D. being permitted
You will be easily _____ by the company if you are expert at the computer and you can drive a car as well.
A. taken to B. taken on C. taken in D. taken up
