Question

每空限填1个单词。

How to be a good listener

Everyone loves a good listener. But there are more reasons to develop the skill of listening than to win hearts or popularity contests.

Listening heals hurts and builds bridges. It gives us the ability to understand and empathize, to view the world from our own point. It can bring us wisdom over and above mere intelligence. But most importantly, it allows us to give the people around us the gifts they crave (渴望) most—a sense of worth.

As it turns out, there’s more to good listening than just keeping quiet and allowing someone to speak. Effective listening is actually a combination of two key communication skills: listening and verifying (确认).

Even when we’ve managed to hear a person’s entire message, we often interpret it wrong—according to our own understanding, experience, or prejudice. As an effective listener, your goal is to hear and absorb what another has to say……in exactly the way they mean it to be understood. Only then can you respond properly. This is much easier read than done, so here are a few helpful tips:

1. Give the speaker your full attention.

Stop talking and remove all distractions. Turn off the TV, your phone, or computer. Watch your body language. The way you look at the speaker, or the way you stand or sit, makes a huge difference. The right listening body language communicates that we are listening openly and attentively, and puts the other person at ease.

2. Be patient.

Not everyone is a gifted speaker. Some people take longer to find the right word to make a point. Others are too worried to get their message across properly. If necessary, ask the speaker to explain further. It will help him / her speak more exactly and it will help you hear and understand better.

3. Keep your emotions in check.

If what someone is saying creates an emotional response in you, make an extra effort to listen carefully. When we’re angry, frightened or upset, we often miss key parts of what is being said.

4. Hold your fire.

Don’t jump to conclusions immediately. A good listener doesn’t react until comprehension is complete. If you respond in a way that makes the other person defensive, even if you “win” the argument, you may lose something far more valuable.

5. Even if you think you understand. VERIFY.

Never assume you got the message right. Pause, think about what was said, and then ask “Is this what you meant?” or “Am I understanding this right?”

6. Empathize

Take a moment to stand in the other person’s shoes, to look at the situation from his / her point of view……especially when you’re being told something personal or painful, or something you strongly disagree with. The more shoes you are able to successfully stand in within your life time, the less puzzled you’ll find your life and relationships to be.

(1)__________ of good listening	● (2)__________ hurts. ● Building (3)___________. ● Allowing us to (4)___________ and empathize, and viewing the world in an all-round way. ● Bringing us wisdom over and above mere intelligence. ● (5)_________ the people around us feel worthy.
Components of effective listening	● Good listening consists of two key communication skills: (6)__________ and verifying.
(7)__________ to be a good listener	● Listening to the speaker (8)_________. ● Trying to be a (9) _______ listener. ● Avoiding being affected by your emotions. ● Waiting before you take (10)_________. ● Verifying. ● Empathizing

Answer

 Effects/Advantages/ Benefits 

 Healing  

  bridges 

  understand 

 Making  

 listening   

 Ways/Tips   

 attentively 

  patient   

 actions

【解析】

试题分析：

 Effects/Advantages/ Benefits 总结归纳题。本行后面的内容都是关于倾听的好处。

 Healing  词形变化。根据第二段第一句Listening heals hurts。该列都用动名词的形式。

 bridges 原词再现。根据第二段第一句builds bridges.

 understand 原词再现。根据第二段第一行the ability to understand。

 Making 意义转换。根据第二段最后一句it allows us to give the people around us the gifts they crave (渴望) most—a sense of worth.倾听让周围的人有认同感，故使用making the people around us feel worthy.

 listening  原词再现。根据第三段最后listening and verifying (确认).

 Ways/Tips   原词再现。根据第四段段最后一句so here are a few helpful tips:

 attentively 原词再现。根据倒数第六段第三行The right listening body language communicates that we are listening openly and attentively。

 patient   原词再现。根据第2个建议Be patient.就是要做一个耐心的倾听者。

 actions   词形转换。根据第4个建议的第二句A good listener doesn’t react until comprehension is complete.说明在完全理解了以后才采取行动。本句作为动词take的宾语使用take action替换react。

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