閱讀理解
Too often we accuse others of not listening, pretending that we ourselves are faultless, yet in our
hearts we know that many of the mistakes we make come about because we haven't listened carefully
enough. We get things wrong because we haven't listened carefully enough. We get things wrong because we haven't quite understood what someone meant when they were talking to us. Anyone who has ever
taken the minutes of a long meeting will know how hard it is to remember-despite the benefit of
notes-exactly what everyone said. But success depends on getting things right-and that means listening.
Listening is not the same thing as hearing which is not quite an effort. It demands attention and
concentration. It may mean quizzing the speaker for additional information or for clarification-it is always
better to ask than to continue regardless and get things wrong. However, if you allow your mind to
wander onto something else, even for a few minutes, you'll miss what the speaker is saying -probably
at the very moment when he or she is saying something critical. And not having heard, you won't know
you've missed anything until it's too late.
The most common bad habit we have is to start thinking of what we are going to say about the
subject long before the other speaker has finished. We then stop listening. Even worse, this often adds
rudeness to inattentiveness, as once you have decided what to say there is a fair chance you will interrupt
to say it. Good listeners don't interrupt. In fact it is often worth explaining the main idea of what you have
just been told before going on to make your own points. Nobody is offended by this and it shows that
you have listened well.
Above all, be patient and accept that many people are not very good communicators. It's helpful to
remember that the ways people move and position themselves while they are speaking can reveal a
great deal about what they are saying. Equally important you should put yourself in the other person's
place, both intellectually and emotionally; it will help you to understand what_they_are_getting_at and
form a response. But don't be too clever. Faced with a know-all, many people keep quiet because they
see no point in continuing.
1. Which is the best title for this passage?
A. Don't be too clever
B. Be a good listener
C. Don't miss anything critical
D. Think of the speaker
2. In the last paragraph, the underlined words mean ________.
A. what they imply
B. what they like
C. what they attack
D. what they achieve
3. According to the passage, which of the following is the writer's opinion?
A. If you want to be a good listener, you should be very clever and emotional.
B. Speakers won't continue talking when their listeners explain what they’ve heard.
C. If you don't want to get things wrong, it's important to be a good listener.
D. It's hard to be a good listener because listening tests you on your intelligence.
4. What is the lesson we can learn from this passage?
A. Don't accuse others of not listening while talking with them.
B. Don't get anything wrong if you miss what the speaker is saying.
C. Listening inattentively may cost you the loss of your success.
D. Think carefully of what you're going to say before the speaker finishes.
