Most of us are taught to pay attention to what is said—the words. Words do provide us with some information, but meanings are derived from so many other sources that it would hinder our effectiveness as a partner to a relationship to rely too heavily on words alone. Words are used to describe only a small part of the many ideas we associate with any given message. Sometimes we can gain insight into some of those associations if we listen for more than words. We don’t always say what we mean or mean what we say. Sometimes our words don’t mean anything except “I’m letting off some steam. I don’t really want you to pay close attention to what I’m saying. Just pay attention to what I’m feeling.” Mostly we mean several things at once. A person wanting to purchase a house says to the current owner, “This step has to be fixed before I’ll buy.” The owner says, “It’s been like that for years.” Actually, the step hasn’t been like that for years, but the unspoken message is: “I don’t want to fix it. We put up with it. Why can’t you?” The search for a more expansive view of meaning can be developed of examining a message in terms of who said it, when it occurred, the related conditions or situation, and how it was said.
When a message occurs can also reveal associated meaning. Let us assume two couples do exactly the same amount of kissing and arguing. But one couple always kisses after an argument and the other couple always argues after a kiss. The ordering of the behaviors may mean a great deal more than the frequency of the behavior. A friend’s unusually docile behavior may only be understood by noting that it was preceded by situations that required an abnormal amount of assertiveness. Some responses may be directly linked to a developing pattern of responses and defy logic. For example, a person who says “No!” to a serials of charges like “You’re dumb,” “You’re lazy,” and “You’re dishonest,” may also say “No!” and try to justify his or her response if the next statement is “And you’re good looking.”
We would do well to listen for how messages are presented. The words, “If sure has been nice to have you over,” can be said with emphasis and excitement or ritualistically. The phrase can be said once or repeated several times. And the meanings we associate with the phrase will change accordingly. Sometimes if we say something infrequently it assumes more importance; sometimes the more we say something the less importance it assumes.
1. Effective communication is rendered possible between two conversing partners, if ______.
2. “I’m letting off some steam” in paragraph one means ______.
3. The house-owner’s example shows that he actually means ______.
4. Some responses and behaviors may appear very illogical, but are justifiable if ______.
5. The word “ritualistically” in the last paragraph equals something done ______.
问题1选项
A.they use proper words to carry their ideas
B.they both speak truly of their own feelings
C.they try to understand each other’s ideas beyond words
D.they are capable of associating meaning with their words
问题2选项
A.I’m just calling your attention
B.I’m just kidding
C.I’m just saying the opposite
D.I’m just giving off some sound
问题3选项
A.the step has been like that for years
B.he doesn’t think it necessary to fix the step
C.the condition of the step is only a minor fault
D.the cost involved in the fixing should be shared
问题4选项
A.linked to an abnormal amount of assertiveness
B.seen as one’s habitual pattern of behavior
C.taken as part of an ordering sequence
D.expressed to a series of charges
问题5选项
A.without true intention
B.light-heartedly
C.in a way of ceremony
D.with less emphasis
第1题:D
第2题:B
第3题:B
第4题:B
第5题:C
第1题:
【选项释义】
Effective communication is rendered possible between two conversing partners, if ______. 有效的沟通在两个交谈伙伴之间是可能的,如果______。
A. they use proper words to carry their ideas A. 他们使用适当的词汇来表达他们的想法
B. they both speak truly of their own feelings B. 他们都真诚地说出了自己的感受
C. they try to understand each other’s ideas beyond words C. 他们试图用言语来理解对方的想法
D. they are capable of associating meaning with their words D. 他们能够通过自己的言语来联想意思
【考查点】推理判断题。
【解题思路】第一段第二句指出“言语确实提供了一些信息,但含义来源于如此多的其他来源,因此过分依赖言语会阻碍我们作为一段关系中的伙伴来获取信息的有效性”,从中可推理,如果想要获得有效交流,我们必须根据沟通中的言语来联想其暗藏的含义,所以D项“他们能够通过自己的言语来联想意思”符合题意。
【干扰项排除】
A项“他们使用适当的词汇来表达他们的想法”,文中提到了词语的含义来源于很多其他来源,我们需要联想词语的含义,所以该项属于曲解原文;
B项“他们都真诚地说出了自己的感受”,文中说的是他们的言语有其他的含义,我们要想有效交流就要明白其含义,而不是说把感受表达出来,该项属于曲解原文;
C项“他们尝试理解彼此的言外之意”,文中表达的是人们在交谈中不要过分依赖说出来的话,而要联想其中的含义,并不是交流中都要理解其言外之意,该项属于推理过度。
第2题:
【选项释义】
“I’m letting off some steam” in paragraph one means ______. “I’m letting off some steam”在第一段的意思是______。
A. I’m just calling your attention A. 我只是想提醒你一下
B. I’m just kidding B. 我只是开个玩笑
C. I’m just saying the opposite C. 我说的正好相反
D. I’m just giving off some sound D. 我只是发出一些声音
【考查点】推理判断题。
【解题思路】根据题干定位至第一段第六句“有时候我们说的话除了‘I’m letting off some steam’外没有任何意义”,let off steam本来表示“发泄感情,缓解压力”;由前一句“我们并不总是言出必行或言行一致”和后一句“我不想让你太注意我说的话”综合理解可推测,“I’m letting off some steam”这句话在文章中表示的实际含义是“这不是我真正的意思/我只是开个玩笑”,所以该题选择B项“我只是开个玩笑”。
【干扰项排除】A项“我只是想提醒你一下”、C项“我说的正好相反”、D项“我只是发出一些声音”根据解题思路可知,这三项表述都不准确,属于曲解原文。
第3题:
【选项释义】
The house-owner’s example shows that he actually means ______. 房主的例子表明,他实际上的意思是______。
A. the step has been like that for years A. 这个台阶已经像这样很多年了
B. he doesn’t think it necessary to fix the step B. 他认为没有必要修理台阶
C. the condition of the step is only a minor fault C. 这个台阶只是轻微损坏
D. the cost involved in the fixing should be shared D. 修复过程中所涉及的费用应该分摊
【考查点】细节事实题。
【解题思路】根据题干定位至第一段后半部分,文中提到“事实上,这个台阶多年来不是这样的,但不言而喻的信息是:我不想解决它,我们忍受了它,为什么你不能?”,由此可知,房屋所有人实际上的意思是他不想修理台阶,所以B项“他认为没有必要修理台阶”正确。
【干扰项排除】
A项“这个台阶已经像这样很多年了”,原文提到“实际上,这个台阶多年来不是这样的”,所以该项属于反向干扰;
C项“这个台阶只是轻微损坏”和D项“修复过程中所涉及的费用应该分摊”都没有依据,这两项属于无中生有。
第4题:
【选项释义】
Some responses and behaviors may appear very illogical, but are justifiable if ______. 一些反应和行为可能看起来很不合逻辑,但如果______,它是情有可原的。
A. linked to an abnormal amount of assertiveness A. 与异常的自信有关
B. seen as one’s habitual pattern of behavior B. 被视为一个人的习惯性行为模式
C. taken as part of an ordering sequence C. 将其作为排序序列的一部分
D. expressed to a series of charges D. 对一系列指控加以表述
【考查点】推理判断题。
【解题思路】根据第二段最后两句“有些反应可能与反应的发展模式直接相关,且不符合逻辑。例如,一个面对‘你很笨’、‘你很懒’、‘你不诚实’等一系列指说‘不’的人,即使如果下一句话是‘而且你长得很漂亮’,他(她)也可能会说‘不’,并试图证明他(她)的回答。”,从中理解可知,有些反应不符合逻辑,比如习惯对指责说“不”的人,对别人的称赞也会习惯性地说“不”,那么可推断,即使一个人的反应或行为看起来是不合逻辑的,但是如果把这些行为看作是他(她)的习惯性行为模式,那么他(她)的反应或行为就情有可原了。因此,该题选择B项“被视为一个人的习惯性行为模式”符合题意。
【干扰项排除】
A项“与异常的自信有关”和C项“将其作为排序序列的一部分”只是用来说明行为的顺序比行为的频率更重要,与题干无关,这两项属于出处错位;
D项“对一系列指控加以表述”根据解题思路可知,该项表示并不全面,属于以偏概全。
第5题:
【选项释义】
The word “ritualistically” in the last paragraph equals something done ______. 最后一段中的“ritualistically”一词等于______做某事。
A. without true intention A. 没有真正意图的
B. light-heartedly B. 轻松地
C. in a way of ceremony C. 用某种仪式
D. with less emphasis D. 不那么强调的
【考查点】语义推测题。
【解题思路】根据题干定位至最后一段第二句“‘如果你能来,我真的很高兴’这句话可以用强调、兴奋或ritualistically的方式说”,ritualistically是副词,ritual是它的名词,表示“仪式”,那么可以猜测ritualistically表示“仪式地”,所以,C项“用某种仪式”正确。
【干扰项排除】A项“没有真正意图的”、B项“轻松地”和D项“不那么强调的”根据解题思路可知,这三项属于曲解原文。