A. One Important Factor in Conversation

B. It's not Difficult to Talk Well

C. A Famous Master of the Art

D. Pronunciation and Usage

E. What Makes a Good Talker

F. Talk with Strangers

1.______________________

      The ancient Greeks were very good at making conversations, and the greatest talker of them all was philosopher Socrates. His pupil, Plato, recorded some of his supposed conversations, and we read them in ‘ The dialogues' of Plato. In many classrooms today, Socrates' method of teaching is used.

2.____________________

      The best talkers appear to have a great interest in and love for their fellow creatures; a curiosity about the world in general; some powers of observation and reflection; respect for their own opinions and tolerance for those of others; and quick thinking. And they talked for the fun of it, not to show off their knowledge.

3.____________________

       A good voice must have the help of good speech, whose two assistants are clear enunciation (清晰发音)and correct pronunciation. Poor enunciation may suggest to your listeners that you lack consideration, and that you are not especially concerned about their opinion of you.

4.___________________

       Pronunciation is settled by common agreement of the community or group speaking the particular language or dialect. For standard pronunciation of words, a dictionary is your best friend. The usage of words is somewhat the same as pronunciation. To be accurate in your use of words is very important in your conversation. Dictionaries usually provide the usage of words. So whenever you meet with new words, it is a good idea to look them up in the dictionary.

5.____________________

       Think of meeting a stranger as a chance to have a good time to talk, to make a friend. Look with a smile directly into the other’s eyes when you are intructed, and shake hands with a firm, friendly clasp. This will give you confidence. Then try to have a smooth and pleasant conversation with him.

Until recently, women in advertisements wore one of three things — an apron, an attractive dress or a frown. Although that is now changing, many women still feel angry about offending advertisements. “This ad degrades women.” they protested（抗议）.Why does this sort of advertising exist? How can advertisers and ad agencies still produce, sometimes, after months of research, advertising that offends the consumer?

The ASA, the body which deals with complaints about print media, is carrying out research into how women feel about the way they are pictured in advertisements. Its conclusions are likely to be what the advertising industry already knows: although women are often annoyed by the ads, few feel strong enough to complain.

Women are not the only victims of poor and boring stereotypes（老套）— in many TV commercials men are seen either as useless, childish fools who are unable to perform the simplest household tasks, or as inconsiderate fellows, always on the lookout for an escape to the pub. But it is women who seem to suffer more from the industry’s inability to put people into an authentic present-day situation. Yet according to Emma Bennett, director of a London advertising agency, women are not aggressive or extremely angry about those stereotypes and sexist （歧视妇女）advertising. “They just find it annoying or tiresome.”

She says that it is not advertising’s use of the housewife role that bothers women, but the way in which it is handled. “The most important thing is the advertisement’s tone of voice. Women hate being insincerely praised or given desperately down-to-earth common-sense advice.”

In the end, the responsibility for good advertising must be shared between the advertiser, the advertising agency and the consumer. Advertising does not set trends but it reflects them. It is up to the consumer to tell advertisers where they fail, and the process of change will remain slow until people on the receiving end take the business seriously and make their –feelings known.

1.Despite recent changes in attitudes, some advertisements still fail to        .

2.According to the writer, the commonest fault of present-day advertising is to         .

3.Emma Bennett suggests that advertisement ought to        .

4.We can learn from the passage that advertising industry should         .

Until recently, women in advertisements wore one of three things — an apron, an attractive dress or a frown. Although that is now changing, many women still feel angry about offending advertisements. “This ad degrades women.” they protested（抗议）.Why does this sort of advertising exist? How can advertisers and ad agencies still produce, sometimes, after months of research, advertising that offends the consumer?

The ASA, the body which deals with complaints about print media, is carrying out research into how women feel about the way they are pictured in advertisements. Its conclusions are likely to be what the advertising industry already knows: although women are often annoyed by the ads, few feel strong enough to complain.

Women are not the only victims of poor and boring stereotypes（老套）— in many TV commercials men are seen either as useless, childish fools who are unable to perform the simplest household tasks, or as inconsiderate fellows, always on the lookout for an escape to the pub. But it is women who seem to suffer more from the industry’s inability to put people into an authentic present-day situation. Yet according to Emma Bennett, director of a London advertising agency, women are not aggressive or extremely angry about those stereotypes and sexist （歧视妇女）advertising. “They just find it annoying or tiresome.”

She says that it is not advertising’s use of the housewife role that bothers women, but the way in which it is handled. “The most important thing is the advertisement’s tone of voice. Women hate being insincerely praised or given desperately down-to-earth common-sense advice.”

In the end, the responsibility for good advertising must be shared between the advertiser, the advertising agency and the consumer. Advertising does not set trends but it reflects them. It is up to the consumer to tell advertisers where they fail, and the process of change will remain slow until people on the receiving end take the business seriously and make their –feelings known.

1.Despite recent changes in attitudes, some advertisements still fail to        .

2.According to the writer, the commonest fault of present-day advertising is to         .

3.Emma Bennett suggests that advertisement ought to        .

4.We can learn from the passage that advertising industry should         .

Maggie was very glad that James did not often visit the house. In the children’s opinion, they had something that they couldn’t explain or understand about him and that excited their imagination. He caused Maggie’s anger, however, so that she often said to her husband, “It’s a pity that brother of yours doesn’t come oftener.”

In fact James came once a year, unexpectedly, around eight o’clock in the evening, and he stayed for six hours of close discussion with his brother. His arrival was a signal to the children that their bedtime would be put off. Not that he ever spoke to them or played with them. He took no notice of them, as if he was unable to see children, at least until the time came for him to go. Indeed, after his first greeting and a careless kiss, James took no notice of Maggie either, except to add, “You’ll be getting on with the supper, Maggie.” Such was his regard for her.

Maggie paid him back in her own way. She kept the children up, the four of them, to stay around her, she said, but of course they sang and made a noise and broke the endless sound of James’ voice. Very late, they fell asleep in their chairs. Then, when James was about to go, Maggie woke them up and so more or less forced him to say goodbye to them with four pence before he left. That gave her some satisfaction, for James, though rich, was unwilling to give or share what he had. He always went home by the last train, just after two o’clock.

Maggie’s children secretly looked at their uncle. They could not forget that he had, in their mother’s words,“lost two wives and taken a third.” They wondered about those two unlucky, lost ladies. They asked each other what their fate（命运）had been, and if neither could ever be found again. James never brought his third wife with him nor ever mentioned her. The children decided that he must be so frightened of losing her that he never allowed her outside the door.

63. Maggie never prepared anything special for James because ________.

A. he was a man difficult to please

B. she never knew when he was coming

C. she was too busy looking after her children

D. he never stayed long enough for a meal

64. About James’ behavior we can learn that ________.

A. He was a kind man, with love for the family

B. He was unselfish, especially towards his brother

C. He hoped to please the family, especially the children

D. He was rude to his sister-in-law

65. Maggie felt pleased when ________ .

A. James thanked her for the nice supper

B. James gave some money to the children

C. she had to wake James up to catch his train

D. she paid James the money that she should give him

66. The children did not realize that two of James’ wives ________.

A. were dead                             B. suffered from loss of memory

C. had run away from him                       D. might re-appear one day