阅读理解
As Peter Drucker, a recognized expert in organizational management, says, "The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn't being said." On that point, I couldn't agree more.
Early in my marriage, my husband and I often had major misunderstandings. I'd say something in anger, "Don't listen to what I say, but how I say it!" He would respond, "How can you call yourself a communications expert when what you say and what you mean are two totally different things?" And he had a good point. Even so, I argued that he took my words too literally while everyone else understood the true essence (本质) of my communication.
In conversation, we tend to listen more to the intent than to the words themselves. There are many ways to say one thing but mean another — figures of speech, for example.
It wasn't until I started using email as a form of communication that I realized how easy it is to misinterpret a message. Did you know that the 500 most common words in the English language have over 14,000 definitions? No wonder we have so much confusion and misunderstanding.
Learning to communicate in the digital age is one of the challenges that we all face today.
In face-to-face talks, how we understand much of what is said through body language — how fast someone walks, how loudly, their tone of voice and choice of words — than through the words alone. Most of this non-verbal (非语言的) communication is lost in emails. Maybe we need to develop signs and symbols to represent the intended meaning in written communication. People are already starting to do this with email faces, for example, ; ) represents a smiling face on its side. The use of bold (黑体) text, underlining and exclamation (感叹) marks also helps.
Words are powerful, so you must choose them carefully. Remember to organize your thoughts before you write, and decide which words best communicate the message you want to send — before you hit the "reply" button.
1. What does the author want to illustrate with the example in paragraph 2?
A. The true message often lies between the lines.
B. Good communication requires careful listening.
C. Arguments arise from poor communication skills.
D. The ability to understand affects people's relationship.
2. What causes misunderstandings in email communication?
A. Words with many meanings.
B. Ignorance of figures of speech.
C. The depth of the underlying message.
D. People's different ways of thinking.
3. What does the author think of digital communication compared with in-person conversation?
A. It is too formal.
B. It includes various symbols.
C. It is convenient.
D. It misses the meaning behind words.
4. What does the author suggest readers do in the last paragraph?
A. Create new signs.
B. Use body language.
C. Communicate less online.
D. Be careful with their wording.