Question

    At your next meeting, wait for a pause (停顿) in conversation and try to measure how long it lasts.

Among English speakers, it is probable that it will be a second or two at most. But while this pattern may be universal, our understanding of silence differs greatly across cultures.

What one culture considers a confusing or embarrassing pause may be seen by others as a valuable moment of thought and respect for what the last speaker has said. Research in Dutch (荷兰语) and also in English found that when a silence in conversation lasts four seconds, people start to feel uneasy. However, another study of business meetings found that Japanese people are happy with silences of 8.2 seconds—nearly twice as long as in Americans’ meetings.

In Japan, it is recognized that the best communication is when you don’t speak at all. It’s already a failure to understand each other by speaking because you’re repairing that failure by using words.

In the US, it may originate from the history of colonial (殖民地的) America as a crossroads of many different races (种族). When you have difference, it’s hard to reach common understanding unless you talk and there’s understandably a kind of anxiety unless people use words to establish a common life. This applies also to some extent to London.

However, when there’s more homogeneity, perhaps it’s easier for some kinds of silence to appear. For example, among your closest friends and family it’s easier to sit in silence than with people you’re less well know.

1.Which of the following people might have the longest silence in conversation?

A.The Dutch

B.The American

C.The English

D.The Japanese

2.What might the Japanese agree with in a conversation?

A.Speaking more gives the upper hand.

B.Speak out what you have in your mind.

C.Great minds think alike without words.

D.The shorter talking silence, the better.

3.What can we learn from the text?

A.A four second silence in conversation is universal.

B.It’s hard for American to reach a common agreement.

C.English speakers are more talkative than Japanese speakers.

D.The closer we and our family are, the easier the silence appears.

4.What does the underlined word “homogeneity” in the last paragraph mean?

A.Similarity

B.Difference

C.Disagreement

D.Misunderstanding

Answer

1.D

2.C

3.D

4.A

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章讲述了不同文化和语言中，谈话时会让人感到不自在的停顿时间，其长短是存在差异的，表达的意义也是不一样的，文中列举了一些国家和语言作为例证。

1.细节理解题。根据第三段最后一句“However, another study of business meetings found that Japanese people are happy with silences of 8.2 seconds”然而，另一项关于商业会议的研究发现，日本人对8.2秒的沉默很满意。可知日本人交谈时能忍受的停顿时长是最长的。故选D项。

2.推理判断题。根据第四段“In Japan, it is recognized that the best communication is when you don’t speak at all. It’s already a failure to understand each other by speaking because you’re repairing that failure by using words”可知，在日本，人们公认最好的交流方式是你根本不说话。通过说话来理解对方已经是一种失败，因为你在用语言来弥补这种失败。由此判断出，日本人在谈话中会同意英雄所见略同， 无需多言。故选C项。

3.细节理解题。根据全文最后一句“For example, among your closest friends and family it’s easier to sit in silence than with people you’re less well know.”可知，与熟络的人进行对话，更容易出现沉默不语的情况。所以我们和家人越亲密，沉默就越容易出现。故选D项。

4.词义猜测题。根据最后一段中所举例子“For example, among your closest friends and family it’s easier to sit in silence than with people you’re less well know.”可知，亲人、朋友等这些与你比较亲近、相似的人，更容易出现沉默相对的情况。所以判断出，当有更多的相似之处时，也许更容易出现某种沉默。所以划线词的意思是“相似”。故选A项。