Question

Suppose you’re in a rush, feeling tired, not paying attention to your screen, and you send an email that could get you in trouble.

Realisation will probably set in seconds after you’ve clicked “send”. You freeze in horror and burn with shame.

What to do? Here are four common email accidents, and how to handle.

Clicking “send” too soon

Don’t waste your time trying to find out if the receivers has read it yet. Write another email as swiftly as you can and send it with a brief explaining that this is the correct version and the previous version should be ignored.

Writing the wrong time

The sooner you notice, the better. Respond quickly and briefly, apologizing for your mistake. Keep the tone measured: don’t handle it too lightly, as people can be offered, especially if your error suggests a misunderstanding of their culture(I.e. incorrect ordering of Chinese names).

Clicking “reply all” unintentionally

You accidentally reveal(透露)to entire company what menu choices you would prefer at the staff Christmas dinner, or what holiday you’d like to take. In this instance, the best solution is to send a quick, light-hearted apology to explain your awkwardness. But it can quickly rise to something worse, when everyone starts hitting “reply all” to join in a long and unpleasant conversation. In this instance, step away from your keyboard to allow everyone to calm down.

Sending an offensive message to it’s subject

The most awkward email mistake is usually committed in anger. You write an unkind message about someone, intending to send it to a friend, but accidentally send it to the person you’re discussing. In that case, ask to speak in person as soon as possible and say sorry. Explain your frustrations calmly and sensibly—see it as an opportunity tic hear up any difficulties you may have with this person.

1.After realizing an email accident, you are likely to feel _______.

A. curious    B. tired

C. awful    D. funny

2.If you have written the wrong name in an email, it is best to ________.

A. apologise in a serious manner    B. tell the receiver to ignore the error

C. learn to write the name correctly    D. send a short notice to everyone

3.What should you do when an unpleasant conversation is started by your “reply all” email?

A. Try offering other choices.    B. Avoid further involvement(参与).

C. Meet other staff members.    D. Make a light-hearted apology.

4.What is the passage mainly about?

A. Defining email errors.    B. Reducing email mistakes.

C. Handling email accidents.    D. Improving email writing.

Answer

1.C

2.A

3.B

4.C

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文，人们在发送邮件的时候经常会出现一些错误，作者详细说明了四个处理邮件事故的方法。

1.推理判断题。根据文章第二段Realization will probably set in seconds after you’ve clicked “send”. You freeze in horror and burn with shame根据文章第二段可知当人们意识到自己已经错误地发错邮件的时候，人们通常都很非常羞愧，感觉很糟糕。故C项正确。

2.细节理解题。根据第五段第二句Keep the tone measured: don’t handle it too lightly, as people can be offered, especially if your error suggests a misunderstanding of their culture(I.e. incorrect ordering of Chinese names).可知当我们写错名字的时候一定要狠严肃第向对方道歉，不要轻描淡写，因为在某些文化中这是非常严重的错误。故A项正确。

3.细节理解题。根据倒数第二段最后一句In this instance, step away from your keyboard to allow everyone to calm down.在这种情况下我们能做的是远离电脑，不要再有其他的动作，让所有人都冷静下来。故B项正确。

4.主旨大意题。文章前两段提及了我们在发邮件的时候经常会遇见一些错误情况，第三段“What to do? Here are four common email accidents, and how to handle.”是一个承上启下的段落，在接下来的四部分中作者详细说明了四个处理邮件事故的方法。C项“Handling email accidents”与文章中心思想一致。