Question

    Years ago, I had a falling out with a friend due to a misunderstanding that was completely my fault. I was afraid to admit that I was wrong, so we didn’t speak for years. Then we bumped into each other and decided to meet for lunch. It was so pleasant that we kept meeting. After two or three meals together, I pushed myself to apologize for my fault years earlier.

My experience isn’t unique: Many people avoid apologizing because the idea of admitting to wrongdoing makes them terribly uncomfortable. “We all like to view ourselves as good people- as kind, considerate and moral,” says Ryan Fehr, a professor at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business.

“Apologies force us to admit to ourselves that we don’t always live up to our own standards. We might also fear that the victim (受害者)won’t accept our apology, further compromising (作出让步；违背)our positive sense of self. For these reasons, an apology can be very difficult to give.”

For many, apologizing is stressful, awkward and uncomfortable. Research shows that it can improve your mental health, repair damaged relationships and increase self-respect.

“Apology acts as a signal of one’s moral character,” Fehr says. “It represents a separation of the offender(冒犯者)from the offense. The offender is saying: “ I recognize that what I did was hurtful, but that offense does not represent me as a person. ”Even if you speak your words not fluently, they will mean a lot. Victims usually do appreciate an apology. ” Fehr says.

I know this first-hand: My friend and I had lunch recently, 15 years after my belated (迟来 的)apology. Admitting that everything had been my fault helped. We’re both appreciative to have our friendship today.

1.What is the purpose of paragraph 1?

A.To tell us the background. B.To present the topic.

C.To describe the misunderstanding. D.To provide some guidance.

2.What makes it hard to make an apology?

A.Lack of chances. B.Shortage of money.

C.Regret and shame. D.Fear and awkwardness.

3.What does the underlined word “they” refer to in paragraph 5?

A.Offenders. B.Victims.

C.Words of an apology. D.Replies to an apology.

4.What does Ryan Fehr think about making an apology?

A.It will give both sides some relief.

B.It means giving up our self-respect.

C.It will make people value friendship.

D.It is no use forcing people to make an apology.

Answer

1.B

2.D

3.C

4.A

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文。文章的第一段作者以自己的经历导出话题，接着费尔分析了道歉的困难、道歉的意义以及费尔对道歉的看法。

1.

推理判断题。通读全文可知，文章的第一段作者以自己的经历导出话题，接着费尔分析了道歉的困难、道歉的意义以及费尔对道歉的看法。尤其最后一句I pushed myself to apologize for my fault years earlier.（我强迫自己为自己多年前犯下的过错道歉。）可知，第一段的目的是为了呈现本文话题。故选B。

2.

细节理解题。根据第三段 “Apologies force us to admit to ourselves that we don't always live up to our own standards. We might also fear that the victim (受害者)won’t accept our apology, further compromising (作出让步；违背)our positive sense of self. For these reasons, an apology can be very difficult to give.”（“道歉迫使我们向自己承认，我们并不总是达到自己的标准。道歉的人也可能害怕道歉不会被接受。因此，道歉是很难的。”）可推知，害怕和尴尬的心理使得道歉很难实现。故选D。

3.

词句猜测题。根据第五段中的Apology acts as a signal of one’s moral character,” Fehr says. “It represents a separation of the offender(冒犯者)from the offense. The offender is saying: “ I recognize that what I did was hurtful, but that offense does not represent me as a person. Even if you speak your words not fluently, they will mean a lot. （费尔说道歉是一个人道德品质的信号。“它代表着犯罪者（冒犯者）与犯罪分离。犯罪者说：“我知道我所做的是有害的，但这种冒犯并不代表我这个人。即使你说的话不流利，也会很有意义。）可推知，划线词“they”是指代上文中提到的“道歉的话”，也就是道歉的话即使不流利，但也有意义，故选C。

4.

细节理解题。根据Research shows that it can improve your mental health, repair damaged relationships and increase self-respect.可知，研究表明，它可以改善你的心理健康，修复受损的人际关系，增强自尊。再倒数第二段最后一句Even if you speak your words not fluently, they will mean a lot. 和Victims usually do appreciate an apology.（即使冒犯者道歉说得不流利，它们也会很有意义。受害者通常很感激道歉。）可知，道歉会让双方都有快轻松的感觉。故选A。