The meaning of silence varies among cultural groups. Silences may be thoughtful, or they may be empty when a person has nothing to say. A silence in a conversation may also show stubbornness, uneasiness,or worry. Silence may be viewed by some cultural groups as extremely uncomfortable; therefore attempts may be made to fill every gap(间隙) with conversation. Persons in other cultural groups value silence and view it as necessary for understanding a person’s needs.

Many Native Americans value silence and feel it is a basic part of communicating among people, just as some traditional Chinese and Thai persons do. Therefore, when a person from one of these cultures is speaking and

suddenly stops, what may be implied(暗示) is that the person wants the listener to consider what has been said before continuing. In these cultures, silence is a call for reflection.

Other cultures may use silence in other ways, particularly when dealing with conflicts among people or in relationships of people with different amounts of power. For example, Russian, French, and Spanish persons may use silence to show agreement between parties about the topic udner discussion. However, Mexicans may use silence when instructions are given by a person in authority rather than be rude to that person by arguing with him or her. In still another use, persons in Asian cultures may view silence as a sign of respect, particularly to an elder or a person in authority.

Nurses and other care-givers need to be aware of the possible meanings of silence when they come across the personal anxiety their patients may be experiencing. Nurses should recognize their own personal and cultural construction of silence so that a patient’s silence is not interrupted too early or allowed to go on unnecessarily. A nurse who understands the healing(治愈) value of silence can use this understanding to assist in the care of patients from their own and from other cultures.

1.What does the author say about silence in conversations?

A. It implies anger.

B. It promotes friendship.

C. It is culture-specific.

D. It is content-based.

2.Which of the following people might regard silence as a call for careful thought?

A. The Chinese.

B. The French.

C. The Mexicans.

D. The Russians.

3.What does the author advise nurses to do about silence?

A. Let it continue as the patient pleases.

B. Break it while treating patients.

C. Evaluate its harm to patients.

D. Make use of its healing effects.

4.What may be the best title for the text?

A. Sound and Silence

B.What It Means to Be Silent

C.Silence to Native Americans

D.Speech Is Silver; Silence Is Gold

阅读下列短文,从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中,选出最佳选项。

A Language Programme for Teenagers

Welcome to Teenagers Abroad! We invite you to join us on an amazing journey of language learning.

Our Courses

Regardless of your choice of course, you’ll develop your language ability both quickly and effectively.

Our Standard Course guarantees a significant increase in your confidence in a foreign language, with focused teaching in all 4 skill areas—speaking, listening, reading and writing.

Our Intensive Course builds on our Standard Course, with 10 additional lessons per week, guaranteeing the fastest possible language learning (see table below).

Course Type

Days

Number of Lessons

Course Timetable

Standard Course

Mon-Fri

20 lessons

9:00—12:30

Intensive Course

Mon-Fri

20 lessons

9:00—12:30

10 lessons

13:00—14:30

Evaluation

Students are placed into classes according to their current language skills. The majority of them take an online language test before starting their programme. However, if this is not available, students sit the exam on the first Monday of their course.

Learning materials are provided to students throughout their course, and there will never be more than 15 participants in each class.

Arrivals and Transfer

Our programme offers the full package—students are taken good care of from the start through to the very end. They are collected from the airport upon arrival and brought to their accommodation in comfort. We require the student’s full flight details at least 4 weeks in advance.

Meals/Allergies(过敏)/Special Dietary Requirements

Students are provided with breakfast, dinner and either a cooked or packed lunch(which consists of a sandwich, a drink and a dessert). Snacks outside of mealtimes may be purchased by the student individually.

We ask that you let us know of any allergies or dietary requirements as well as information about any medicines you take. Depending on the type of allergies and/or dietary requirements, an extra charge may be made for providing special food.

1.How does Intensive Course differ from Standard Course?

A. It is less effective. B. It focuses on speaking.

C. It includes extra lessons. D. It gives you confidence.

2.When can a student attend Standard Course?

A. 13:00—14:30 Monday. B. 9:00—12:30 Tuesday.

C. 13:00—14:30 Friday. D. 9:00—12:30 Saturday.

3.Before starting their programme, students are expected to _____.

A. take a language test B. have an online interview

C. prepare learning materials D. report their language levels

4.With the full package, the programme organizer is supposed to_____.

A. inform students of their full flight details

B. look after students throughout the programme

C. offer students free sightseeing trips

D. collect students’ luggage in advance

5.Which of the following may require an extra payment?

A. Cooked dinner. B. Mealtime dessert.

C. Packed lunch. D. Special diet.

Everyone needs friends.We all like to feel close to someone.It is nice to have a friend to talk, laugh and do things with.Surely, sometimes we need to be alone. We don’t always want people around.But we would feel lonely if we never had a friend.

No two people are the same.Sometimes friends don’t get along well.That doesn’t mean that they no longer like each other.Most of the time they will go on being friends.Sometimes friends move away.Then we feel very sad.We miss them very much.But we can call them and write to them.Maybe we would never see them again.And we can make new friends.It is surprising to find out how much we like new people when we get to know them.Families sometimes name their children after a close friend.Many places are named after men and women, if they are friendly to people in a town.Some libraries are named this way.So are some schools.We think of these people when we go to these places.

There’s more good news for people, if they have friends.These people live longer than those people who don’t have friends.Why? It could be that they are happier.Being happy helps you stay well.Or it could be just knowing that someone cares about you.If someone cares about you, you take better care of yourself.

1.The first paragraph tells us _________.

A.none need friends

B.we always need friends around us

C.making friends is the need in people’s life

D.we need to be alone

2.Which of the following is what the writer doesn’t say in the passage?

A.People are happy when their friends leave them.

B.People may never see their friends after their friends move away.

C.People name their children after a close friend.

D.People like their friends very much if they get to know them.

3.This passage tells us_________.

A.that people are all friends B.that people need friends

C.how to get to know friends D.how to name a place

D

Let us suppose it is now about A.D. 2060. Let’s make believe (假装;虚构) it is about sixty years from now. Of course, things have changed and life is very different.

Voyages to the moon are being made every day. It is as easy to take a holiday on the moon today as it was for the people in 1960 to take a holiday in Europe. At a number of scenic spots on the moon, many hotels have been built. The hotels are air-conditioned, naturally. In order that everyone can enjoy the beautiful scenery on the moon, every room has at least one picture window. Everything imaginable is provided for entertainment (娱乐) of young and old.

What are people eating now? People are still eating food. They haven’t yet started to take on heir (继承) supply of energy directly as electrical current or as nuclear power. They may some day. But many foods now come in pill form, and the food that goes into the pill continues to come mainly from green plants.

Since there are several times as many people in the world today as there were a hundred years ago, most of our planet’s surface has to be filled. The deserts are irrigated with water and crops are no longer destroyed bypests. The harvest is always good.

Farming, of course, is very highly developed. Very few people have to work on the farm. It is possible to run the farm by just pushing a few buttons now and then.

People are now largely vegetarians (素食者). You see, as the number of people increases, the number of animal decreases. Therefore, the people have to be vegetarians and we are healthier both in our bodies and in our minds, and we know the causes and cure of disease and pain, and it is possible to get rid of diseases. No one has to be ill any more.

Such would be our life in 2060.

1.When was the passage written?

A. In about A.D. 2060. B. In about 1960.

C. In about 2004. D. In about 2000.

2. According to the passage, what will be on the moon in about A.D. 2060?

A.Many other animals. B.Many tourists.

C. Many plants. D. A sea.

3.What will people eat then according to the passage?

A. Foods in pill form. B.Biscuits in pill form.

C .Foods in water form. D. Foods in gas form.

4.The passage tells us that in 2060, ____ on the earth than now.

A. there are fewer population

B. there are more pests

C. the crops are getting better

D.there is less water

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