Question

    When was the last time you listened to someone? And when was the last time someone really listened to you? I asked people what it meant to be a good listener. The typical response was a blank stare. People had no trouble, however, telling me what it meant to be a bad listener.

Of course, technology plays a role. Social media helps filter out (滤掉) opposing views. People find phone calls disturbing and ignore voice mail, preferring text or wordless emoji. But tech is not the only blame. High schools and colleges rarely, if ever, offer classes or activities that teach careful listening. Traffic noise on city streets and music playing in shops exceed (超过) the volume of normal conversation by as much as 30 decibels (分贝), and can even cause hearing loss.

So how can we reclaim the lost art of listening? After years of studying and consulting, I discovered that listening goes beyond simply hearing what people say. It also involves paying attention to how they say it and what they do while they are saying it, in what context, and how what they say resonates (与. . . 共鸣) within you. It’s not about merely holding your peace while someone holds forth. Quite the opposite. A lot of listening has to do with how you respond — the degree to which you assist in the clear expression of the other person’s thoughts and in the process, express your own.

Good listeners ask good questions. Good questions don’t begin with “Wouldn’t you agree. or “Don’t you think. . . ?” and they definitely don’t end with “right?” The idea is to explore the other person’s point of view, not sway it. You also want to avoid asking people personal and evaluating questions. Instead, ask about people’s interests so that they feel more connected than if they spend time together accomplishing a task.

The reward of good listening will almost certainly be more interesting conversations. Attentive listeners receive more information, related details from the speakers, even when the listeners didn’t ask any questions. We are, each of us, the sum of what we attend to in life. And to listen poorly, selectively or not at all limits your understanding of the world and prevents you from becoming the best you can be.

1.Which is NOT mentioned as a factor that contributes to bad Listening?

A.People prefer text message to phone calls.

B.Listening skills are not taught in school.

C.The noise around us drowns out our speech.

D.Our responses to others while listening is different.

2.What does the author find about listening?

A.Listening combines hearing, understanding and responding.

B.Listening requires the listener to keep in total silence.

C.Listening isn’t just hearing but also predicting questions.

D.Listening is to put your thoughts into other person’s mouth.

3.What does the underlined word “sway” in paragraph 4 mean?

A.Influence. B.Stop.

C.Prove. D.Complain.

4.Which of the following will the author most probably agree with?

A.Good listeners should express themselves bravely.

B.Good listening promotes our understanding of the world.

C.Good listeners always receive reward from the speakers.

D.Good listening develops people’s interest in private life.

Answer

1.D

2.A

3.A

4.B

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了倾听的重要性以及如何做个好的倾听者。

1.

细节理解题。根据第二段People find phone calls disturbing and ignore voice mail, preferring text or wordless emoji. 人们觉得打电话很烦人，忽视了语音邮件，更喜欢文字或无文字的表情符号。High schools and colleges rarely, if ever, offer classes or activities that teach careful listening. 高中和大学如果有也很少提供课程或活动，教学如何仔细倾听。Traffic noise on city streets and music playing in shops exceed (超过) the volume of normal conversation by as much as 30 decibels (分贝), and can even cause hearing loss. 城市街道上的交通噪音和商店里播放的音乐超过正常谈话的音量30分贝，甚至会造成听力损失。可知，比起打电话，人们更喜欢发短信，学校不教如何倾听，我们周围的噪音淹没了我们的讲话，这三个都是导致不会倾听的因素。D项Our responses to others while listening is different.我们在倾听时对他人的反应是不同的，没有提及。故选D项。

2.

细节理解题。根据第三段After years of studying and consulting, I discovered that listening goes beyond simply hearing what people say. It also involves paying attention to how they say it and what they do while they are saying it, in what context, and how what they say resonates within you.A lot of listening has to do with how you respond — the degree to which you assist in the clear expression of the other person’s thoughts and in the process, express your own.经过多年的学习和咨询，我发现倾听不仅仅是听别人说什么。它还包括关注他们是如何说的，以及他们在说什么的时候做了什么，在什么背景下，以及他们所说是如何引起共鸣的。很多倾听都与你如何回应有关ーー你在多大程度上帮助别人清晰地表达自己的想法，并在此过程中表达自己的想法。可知，作者发现倾听结合了听觉、理解和反应。故选A项。

3.

词句猜测题。结合前文The idea is to explore the other person’s point of view这样做的目的是探索别人的观点，后文与前文表达相反含义。不要影响他人，左右他人，推测sway 与influence意思相近。故选A项。

4.

推理判断题。根据最后一段We are, each of us, the sum of what we attend to in life. And to listen poorly, selectively or not at all limits your understanding of the world and prevents you from becoming the best you can be.我们每个人都是生活中所关注的事物的总和。而听得不好、有选择性或完全不倾听，会限制你对世界的理解，并阻止你成为最好的自己。可知，作者认为不会倾听会限制对世界的理解。因此判断出，作者最可能同意好的倾听能促进我们对世界的了解。故选B项。