Question

    We can make mistakes at any age. Some mistakes we make are about money. But most mistakes are about people. Did Jerry really care when I broke up with Helen? When I got that great job, did Jim really feel good about it, as a friend? Or did he envy my luck? And was Paul friendly just because I had a car? When we look back, doubts like these can make us feel bad. But when we look back, it’s too late.

Why do we go wrong about our friends or our enemies? Sometimes what people say hides their real meaning. And if we don’t really listen, we will miss the feeling behind the words. Suppose someone tells you, “You’re a lucky dog.” That’s friendly. But there’s a bit of envy in those words. Maybe he doesn’t see it himself. But bringing in the dog bit puts you down a little. What he may be saying is that he doesn’t think you deserve your luck.

“Just think of all the things you have to be thankful for” is another phrase that says one thing and means another. It could mean that the speaker is trying to get you to see your problem as part of your life as a whole. But this phrase contains the thought that your problem isn’t important. It’s telling you to think of all the starving people in the world when you haven’t got a date for Saturday night.

How can you tell the real meaning behind someone’s words? One way is to take a good look at the person talking. Do his words fit the way he looks? Does what he says agree with the tone of voice? His posture (姿态)? The look in his eyes? Stop and think. The minute you spend thinking about the real meaning behind one’s words may save another mistake.

1.This passage is mainly about__________.

A.how to interpret what people say

B.what to do when you listen to others talking

C.how to avoid mistakes when you communicate with people

D.why we misunderstand people sometimes

2.According to the author, the reason why we go wrong about our friends is that________.

A.we fail to listen carefully when they talk

B.people tend to be annoyed when we check what they say

C.people usually state one thing but mean another

D.we tend to doubt what our friends say

3.In the second paragraph, the underlined word “it” refers to___________.

A.your effort B.a lucky dog

C.a bit of envy D.your luck

Answer

1.C

2.C

3.C

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文，在日常交往中，我们经常会误解他人。本文告诉我们在与他人交往的过程中要观察别人说话的表情、语调、姿态和眼神等，通过这些观察可以辨别出别人的真正想法。

1.主旨大意题。根据第一段中We can make mistakes at any age. Some mistakes we make are about money. But most mistakes are about people.可知，我们经常犯的错误都是关于人的错误。文章接下来的部分告诉我们如何辨别别人的言外之意。也就是说本文主要告诉我们在与他人交往的过程中如何避免出现错误。故选C项。

2.推理判断题。根据第二段中Sometimes what people say hides their real meaning. And if we don’t really listen, we will miss the feeling behind the words可知，人们所说的话会隐藏他们真实的含义。如果我们没有真正理解，我们可能就会错过话语背后真实的含义，这也是我们会和朋友产生误解的原因。故选C项。

3.词义猜测题。根据前一句But there’s a bit of envy in those words. Maybe he doesn’t see it himself可知，在他说你是幸运儿的时候，实际上是有点嫉妒的含义，但是他自己可能并没有感觉到这一点。此处it指的是前句中的“a bit of envy”。故选C项。