Question

We can make mistakes at any age. Some mistakes we make are about money. But most mistakes are about people: “Did Jerry really care when I broke up (与……分手) with Helen?” “When I got that great job, did Jim really feel good about it, as a friend? Or did he envy (嫉妒) my luck?” When we look back, questions like these can make us feel bad. Bad when we look back, it’s too late.

Why do you go wrong about our friends or our enemies (敌人)? Sometimes what people say hides real meaning. And if we don’t really listen, we miss the feeling behind the words. Suppose someone tells you, “You are a lucky dog.” Is he really on your side? If he says, “You are a lucky boy” or “You are a lucky girl”, that’s being friendly. But “lucky dog”, there’s a bit of envy in the “dog”. Maybe he doesn’t see it himself. But bringing in the “dog” puts you down a little. What he may be saying is that he doesn’t think you should have such good luck.

“Just think of all the things you have to be thankful for” is another example that says one thing and means another. It could mean that the speaker is trying to get you to see your problems as part of your life as a whole. But is he? Hidden in the phrase is the thought that your problem can’t be important. It’s telling you to think of all the poor people in hunger and cold in the world when you haven’t got a date for Saturday night.

How can you tell the real meaning behind someone’s words? One way is to take a good look at the person talking. Do his words fit the way he looks? Does what he says square with (与……一致) the tone (腔调) of his voice?

His posture (姿势)? The look in his eye? Stop and think.

The minute you spend thinking the real meaning of what people say to you save another mistake.

1. The examples in the first paragraph show the writer _______.

   A. feels happy, thinking of how nice his friends were to him

   B. feels he may not have “read” his friends’ true feeling correctly

   C. thinks it was a mistake to have broke up with his girl friend Helen

   D. is sorry that his friends let him down (叫他失望)

2. Talking about “You are a lucky dog”, the writer is saying ________.

   A. the speaker of this sentence is just being friendly

   B. it means the same as “You are a lucky boy” or “You are a lucky girl”

   C. the word “dog” shouldn’t be used to speak about people.

   D. sometimes the words used by the speaker give away (泄露) the feeling behind the words

3. The writer believes that the sentence “Just think of all the things you have to be thankful for” means _______.

   A. problems are part of your life

B. your own problem is not as important as you think

   C. you should thank others for what they have done for you

   D. poor people in the world are the most important

4. In listening to a person, the important thing is _______.

   A. not to believe what he says

   B. to check his words against his manner, his tone and his posture

   C. to notice the words and sentences he is using

   D. to listen to how he pronounces (发音) his words

5. The writer’s purpose (目的) of writing this article is _______.

   A. to keep away from mistakes about money and friends

   B. to keep people friendly without believing in each other

   C. to keep away from mistakes in understanding what people tell you

   D. to show you how to keep friendly with your friends

Answer 1

1B  2D  3D  4B  5C