Question

    Nail biting and hair pulling are two forms of body language. Both nail biting and hair pulling can be either conscious or subconscious body language gestures, each showing some interesting aspects of the character, emotion and inner working of the individual.

Nail biting is a non-verbal gesture. In adults it’s often a habit adopted and carried through from childhood and can become apparent in stressful situations throughout adulthood. To most people, nail biting is associated with nervousness and shyness and is an involuntary response to certain social situations. In many cases, it’s an adaptor behaviour that channels nervous energy, inactivity or boredom and doesn’t disturb normal functioning. In severe cases nail biting can become a repetitive behaviour that is intentionally performed. It can result in great physical damage.

So when we look deeper, in both adults and children, it has been suggested that severe nail biting is often referred to as a method of “self-heating”. This indicates that nail biting is a subconscious behaviour indicating increased anxiety and low self-confidence.

Hair pulling can indicate a number of emotions and behaviors. For example, children who bite their nails or frequently pull their hair may be nervous or have low self-confidence. Hair pulling may be a comforting action for a child who is tense and anxious, and may become habitual later in life in stressful situations. Routine and severe hair pulling can be a compulsive disorder that may be linked to genetics, anxiety and depression. It’s most commonly thought to be a stress-related condition.

However, hair puling is also another non-verbal body language that can signify different things in different situations. For example, in some situations, it can mean interest and desire. However, in other situations, it can suggest anxiety, incompetence, uncertainty or shyness.

1.What does the text say about nail biting?

A.It doesn’t harm its doer physically. B.It stops its doer functioning normally.

C.It isn’t a gesture only made by children. D.It is a commonly used way to avoid shyness.

2.According to the text, children who often pull their hair        .

A.may take no interest in something B.may feel quite sure of themselves

C.must suffer from lack of desire D.may not feel at ease at all

3.The underlined word “signify” in the last paragraph is closest in meaning to “      “.

A.explain B.indicate

C.hide D.summarize

4.What is the best title for the text?

A.How to Read Forms of Body Language?

B.What Do Nail Biting and Hair Pulling Suggest?

C.How to Express Ourselves with Body Language?

D.What Are the Deep Meanings of Body Language?

Answer

1.C

2.D

3.B

4.B

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。咬指甲和拉扯头发是两种身体语言。咬指甲和拉扯头发都可以是有意识的或潜意识的肢体语言动作，每一种都展示了个人性格、情感和内在工作的一些有趣的方面。文章主要就这两种肢体语言背后表明的具体含义进行了说明。

1.推理判断题。根据第二段中In adults it’s often a habit adopted and carried through from childhood and can become apparent in stressful situations throughout adulthood. To most people, nail biting is associated with nervousness and shyness and is an involuntary response to certain social situations.可知，在成年人中，这通常是一种习惯，从童年开始就一直保持着，在整个成年期的压力环境中会变得明显起来。对大多数人来说，咬指甲与紧张和害羞有关，是对某些社交场合的不自觉反应。由此可推知，文章提到咬指甲不是只有孩子才会做的手势。故选C。

2.细节理解题。根据倒数第二段中For example, children who bite their nails or frequently pull their hair may be nervous or have low self-confidence.可知，例如，咬指甲或经常揪头发的孩子可能会紧张或缺乏自信。由此可知，经常揪头发的孩子可能是因为紧张或缺乏自信而感到不自在。故选D。

3.词义猜测题。根据后文For example, in some situations, it can mean interest and desire. However, in other situations, it can suggest anxiety, incompetence, uncertainty or shyness.可知，例如，在某些情况下，它可以表示兴趣和欲望。然而，在其他情况下，它可能意味着焦虑、无能、不确定或害羞。由此可知，头发拉扯也是另一种非语言的身体语言，可以在不同的情况下表明不同的事情。故划线单词意思为“表明”。故选B。

4.主旨大意题。根据第一段Nail biting and hair pulling are two forms of body language. Both nail biting and hair pulling can be either conscious or subconscious body language gestures, each showing some interesting aspects of the character, emotion and inner working of the individual.可知，咬指甲和拉扯头发是两种身体语言。咬指甲和拉扯头发都可以是有意识的或潜意识的肢体语言动作，每一种都展示了个人性格、情感和内在工作的一些有趣的方面。结合文章主要就这两种肢体语言背后表明的具体含义进行了说明。故B选项“咬指甲和拉扯头发暗示了什么？”最符合文章标题。故选B。