Question

“Chances are we have all experienced shyness in our lives, and shyness has been associated with negative outcomes—characteristics like difficulty maintaining eye contact, and feelings of humiliation(丢脸) are known to be part of a shy person’s characters. It’s these traits that tend to affect some shy individuals’ ability to connect,” says C. Barr Taylor, a professor of psychology at Stanford University.

“But while shyness can often be seen as a bad thing, there are ways to use the personality trait to your advantage,” Taylor says. Below are some common shy habits and how you can learn to make them benefit you:

Shy people usually reflect inwardly (在内心) a lot. But according to Taylor,all that thinking may not always be a bad thing and it should be viewed as a way you can think actively as you go into a situation. So, for shy people who feel worried about facing a particular challenge or event, Taylor advises slowly approaching the fearful situation if you start to feel anxious. By facing what you are not feeling secure about, Taylor says, you will feel less anxious. “Our brains are amazing—they can become well adapted,” he says. “If you put yourself in a fearful situation, you will get a sense that you are going to do it.” What’s more, shy individuals care deeply about what others think of them, and if it is addressed healthily, they can use it to their advantage to form social connections.

Shy people are observant and often pick up on parts of their conversation or surroundings that others may not. “Just because you are shy, that does not mean you are not used to social situations,” Taylor says. “It can actually become a source of strength as you are the observer in the room.” In a study out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, researchers found an association between college-age adults who were shy and the ability to better identify expressions of sadness and fear compared with those who weren’t shy. In addition, a shy person has a born drive to absorb a conversation, so they can be great at conversation.

1.In the opinion of C. Barr Taylor, we should .

A.think positively of shyness

B.try to get rid of shyness

C.attempt to be a little shy

D.often help those shy people

2.The passage mentions the study by Southern Illinois University just to show that .

A.shy people use rich facial expressions

B.shy people are good at observing others

C.shyness can be used to reduce anxiety

D.shyness can be used in social connections

3.We can know from the passage that shy people .

A.are good at getting used to a new environment

B.often attach much importance to others’ opinions

C.hate to think a lot before taking an action

D.are good at overcoming their feeling of insecurity

Answer 1