Take a rapid look at someone, then look away．Do you realize you have made a statement? Hold the glance for a second longer, and you have made a different statement．Hold it for three seconds, and the meaning has changed again．For every social situation, there is an allowed time that you can hold a person's look without being close, rude or dangerous．If you are on a lift, what stare time are you permitted? To answer this question, consider what you specially do．You very likely give other passengers a quick look to judge of them and to let them believe that you mean no harm．Since being close to another person suggests the possibility of communication, you need to give a signal telling others you want to be left alone．So you cut off eye contact(接触), what Dr．Erving Goffman(1963)calls“a dimming of the lights”．You look down at the floor, at the lift door, or anywhere but into another passenger's eyes．If you break the rule against staring at a stranger on a lift, you'll make the other person gradually uncomfortable, and you are likely to feel a bit strange yourself．
If you hold eye contact for more than 3 seconds, what are you telling another person? Much depends on the person and the situation．For instance, a man and a woman communicate interest in this matter．They may look at each other for about 3 seconds at a time, then drop their eyes down for 3 seconds, before letting their eyes meet again．But if one man gives another man a 3-second-plus stare, he signals,“I know you”,“I am interested in you”,or“You look strange and I am curious about you”．This type of stare often produces unfriendly feelings．
(1)
We can learn from the first paragraph that ________．
[ ]
A．
every glance has its meaning
B．
staring at a person is an expression of interest
C．
a glance longer than 3 seconds is unacceptable
D．
a glance carries more meaning than words
(2)
If you want to be left alone on a lift, the best thing to do is ________．
[ ]
A．
to look into another person's eyes honestly
B．
to avoid eye contact with other passengers
C．
go give a signal that you are not dangerous
D．
to keep a distance from other passengers
(3)
By“a dimming of the lights”, Dr．Erving Goffman means“________”．
[ ]
A．
closing one's eyes
B．
turning off the lights
C．
stopping staring at others
D．
reducing stare time to the least
(4)
Which sentence is true?
[ ]
A．
If you break the rule against staring at a stranger on a lift, you'll make the other person gradually comfortable．
B．
Hold the glance for a second longer, and you have made the same statement．
C．
If a man and a woman communicate interest in the matter, they may let their eyes meet again and again．
D．
If one man gives another man a 3-second-plus stare, this type of stare often produces friendly feelings．
(5)
The passage mainly discusses ________．
[ ]
A．
the limited time of eye contact
B．
the passing of ideas through eye contact
C．
proper manners in different social situations
D．
the role of eye contact in inter-personal communication
