Question

How to Build the Skill of Understanding People

It’s not always easy to predict or understand how someone else feels. Some people are better at it than others, but just about everyone can improve with practice.1..

It starts with watching.

Try these ways to develop your observation skills.

2. Next time you’re at the cafe, or on the bus, try this: Look  around and try to  identify how people might be feeling based on their body language, facial expressions, and what they’re doing. The girl with the textbooks on her knee might have an exam coming up.Does she seem confident or stressed?

Read books or watch movies that have realistic descriptions of human emotions. 3. Try to understand why the characters feel the way they do. Based on those emotions, predict what a character will do next. Or see if you can explain why a charater did what he or she did.

It improves with listening.

Most of us rate ourselves as good listeners after all, listening seems like such a simple, basic thing to do. But often we’re so busy thinking of what we want to say that we don’t listen as much as we’d like.

Practice listening well in everyday conversations.4. Train  yourself  to  think  of listening as more important than talking.

Tune in to feelings as well as story. When a friend tells you about something, try to imagine how he or she might have felt. Make statements that show you’re trying to understand your friend’s experience, like: “Oh, that must have felt amazing!” or “That must be upsetting for you.”5.

A. Observe what people around you like.

B. Observe the behavior of people around you.

C. Here are some tips for you to share the skill.

D. Pay attention to how different characters feel and act.

E. Really pay attention to what the other person is saying.

F. Understanding others is all about watching and listening.

G. You might find you can predict what your friend will say next.

Answer

1.F

2.B

3.D

4.E

5.G

【解析】

本文为说明文。主要说明如何通过练习来培养理解人的能力，即从观察开始，随着倾听而改善。

1.考查对上下文的理解及推理判断能力。根据本小题的上文可知，预测或理解别人的感受并不总是容易的。有些人在这方面比其他人强，但几乎每个人都可以通过练习来提高。文章对于练习“理解他人”的两点建议“It starts with watching.”和“It improves with listening.”可知，人们可通过“看和听”来培养理解他人。分析选项可知F项（理解他人就是观察和倾听）符合题意，故选F。

2.考查对上下文的理解及推理判断能力。根据上一句“Try these ways to develop your observation skills” 尝试这些方法来培养你的观察技能。以及下文的内容可知，本段主要阐明要观察周围人的行为。分析选项可知B项（观察你周围人的行为）符合题意，故选B。

3.考查对上下文的理解及推理判断能力。根据本小题的下文“试着理解他人为什么会有这种感觉。根据这些情绪，预测一个人物接下来会做什么。或者看看你是否能解释为什么一个人物做了他或她所做的事。”可知，此段是指“要注意不同人物的感受和行为”。分析选项可知D项符合题意，故选D。

4.考查对上下文的理解及推理判断能力。本小题所在的小标题为“It improves with listening.”以及上文“Practice listening well in everyday conversations Train yourself to think of listening as more important than talking.”可知，倾听他人的话非常重要。分析选项可知E项（真的要注意对方说的话）符合题意，故选E。

5.考查对上下文的理解及推理判断能力。根据“When a friend tells you about something try to imagine how he or she might have felt.”可知，如果你认真倾听，试着想象他或她可能有的感受，可能会知道他下一步会说什么。分析选项可知G项（你可能会发现你可以预测你的朋友接下来会说什么）符合题意，故选G。