After a very busy afternoon，as I walked into my house，I heard the phone ringing. It was my friend Lydia，upset over an argument with her husband. My usual approach is to offer advice，but this time，exhausted from chores，I simply sat down in a chair and listened to my friend’s frustration  and sadness. Without the disturbance of judgment or the desire to comfort her，I stayed totally quiet while she talked. Eventually Lydia’s depression eased and we said our goodbyes. The next day she phoned to thank me. “I’m so grateful for the way you helped me through this，”she said.
At first I was surprised. After all，I had done nothing except be there for her. But after I had my own venting (发泄的)  experience with another friend later that evening，I realized that my focused silence had some value. In fact，most relationship experts agree that talk is cheap；it’s listening that’s rare and valuable It allows you not only to hear what the other person is saying，but also to have a clear understanding of her thoughts and feelings. And for the speaker，that level of understanding translates into concern and respect.
Unfortunately，listening isn’t as easy as it sounds. Thanks  to  schedules  filled  with  family and work，multitasking has become a barrier (障碍) to listening. My tiredness may have been the only thing stopping me from folding  laundry or checking my e­mail while Lydia talked that afternoon.
Another barrier to listening is our listening system：Most of us take in only about half of what’s being said during a conversation，according to the International Listening Association. Research shows that we speak at 125 to 150 words per minute，yet think at 500 words a minute. Therefore，because we think much more quickly than we  speak，it is easy for us to lose our concentration when  listening to speakers.
While it can be hard to focus at times，it’s a skill worth developing. With a little practice  (employing some techniques)，you can become a better listener.
【小题1】Why didn’t the author give any advice to Lydia that afternoon?

A．Because she thought her keeping silence was better for Lydia.

B．Because she didn’t know how to comfort Lydia.

C．Because she was too tired to talk to Lydia.

D．Because she couldn’t cut in while Lydia was talking.

【小题2】In Paragraph 2，the author mainly talks about________.

A．the importance of listening

B．the importance of venting anger

C．her own listening experience

D．her own venting experience

【小题3】The author uses the result of the research in Paragraph 4 to mainly show that________.

A．we think much more quickly than we speak

B．we can only understand about half of what we hear

C．there is not much thinking time available while we are listening

D．we lose our concentration easily while we are listening

【小题4】What will be discussed following the passage?

A．Why listening is valuable.

B．What we should do while listening.

C．How to become a good listener.

D．How to stop drifting off while listening.

【小题5】The first paragraph serves as a(n)________．

A．explanation	B．introduction
C．comment	D．background

After a busy day of work and play, the body needs to rest. Sleep is necessary for good health. During this time, the body recovers from the activities of the previous day. The rest that you get while sleeping enables your body to prepare itself for the next day.

　　There are four levels of sleep, each being a little deeper than the one before. As you sleep, your muscles relax little by little. Your heart beats more slowly, and your brain slows down. After you reach the fourth level, your body shifts back and forth from one level of sleep to the other.

　　Although your mind slows down, from time to time you will dream. Scientists who study sleep state that when dreaming occurs, your eyeballs begin to move more quickly (Although your eyelids are closed). This stage of sleep is called REM, which stands for rapid eye movement.

　　If you have trouble falling asleep, some people recommend breathing very deeply. Other people believe that drinking warm milk will help make you drowsy. There is also an old suggestion the counting sheep will put you to sleep!

1.A good title for this passage is ____.

A. Sleep            B. Dreams  　C. Good Health      D. Work and Rest

2.The word drowsy in the last paragraph means ____.

A. sick             B. asleep   　C. stand up          D. a little sleepy

3.This passage suggests that not getting enough sleep might make you _____.

A. dream more often   　B. have poor health   C. nervous     D. breathe quickly

4.During REM, ____.

A. your eyes move quickly  B. you dream C. you are restless　 D. both A and B

5.The average number of hours of sleep that an adult needs is ______ .

A. approximately six hours    B. around ten hours 

C. about eight hours          D. not described here

 

After a busy day of work and play, the body needs to rest. Sleep is necessary for good health. During this time, the body recovers from the activities of the day. The rest that you get while sleeping makes it possible for your body to prepare itself for the next day.

There are four levels of sleep, each being a little deeper than the one before. As you sleep, your body relaxes (放松) little by little. Your heart beats more slowly, and your brain slows down. After you reach the fourth level, your body shifts (变换) back and forth from one level of sleep to the other.

Though your mind slows down, you will dream from time to time. Scientists who study sleep point out that when dreaming occurs, your eyeballs begin to move more quickly (although your eyelids are closed). This stage of sleep is called REM, which stands for rapid eye movement.

If you have trouble falling asleep, some people recommend (建议) breathing very slowly and very deeply. Other people believe that drinking warm milk will make you drowsy. There is also an old suggestion that counting sheep will put you to sleep.

1.The text suggests that not getting enough sleep might make you _____.

A．suffer from poor health                  B．feel tired and nervous

C．dream more often                       D．breathe quickly

2.During REM, _____.

A．you move restlessly

B．you start dreaming

C．your mind stops working

D．your eyeballs move quickly

3.The underlined word "drowsy" in the last paragraph probably means _____.

A．lazy              B．sleepy            C．relaxed           D．pleased

4.A good title for this text might be _____.

A．Dreams                               B．Sleep

C．Good Health                           D．Work and Rest

 

After a busy day of work and play, the body needs to rest. Sleep is necessary for good health. During this time, the body recovers from the activities of the day. The rest that you get while sleeping makes it possible for your body to prepare itself for the next day.

There are four levels of sleep, each being a little deeper than the one before. As you sleep, your body relaxes (放松) little by little. Your heart beats more slowly, and your brain slows down. After you reach the fourth level, your body shifts (变换) back and forth from one level of sleep to the other.

Though your mind slows down, you will dream from time to time. Scientists who study sleep point out that when dreaming occurs, your eyeballs begin to move more quickly (although your eyelids are closed). This stage of sleep is called REM, which stands for rapid eye movement.

If you have trouble falling asleep, some people recommend (建议) breathing very slowly and very deeply. Other people believe that drinking warm milk will make you drowsy. There is also an old suggestion that counting sheep will put you to sleep.

1.The text suggests that not getting enough sleep might make you _____.

A．suffer from poor health

B．feel tired and nervous

C．dream more often

D．breathe quickly

2.During REM, _____.

A．you move restlessly

B．you start dreaming

C．your mind stops working

D．your eyeballs move quickly

3.The underlined word "drowsy" in the last paragraph probably means _____.

A．lazy              B．sleepy            C．relaxed           D．pleased

4. A good title for this text might be _____.

A．Dreams                               B．Sleep

C．Good Health                           D．Work and Rest

 

After a very busy afternoon, as I walked into my house, I heard the phone ringing. It was my friend Lydia, upset over an argument with her husband. My usual approach is to offer advice, but this time, extremely tired from chores, I simply pulled off my coat, sat down in a chair and listened to my friend's frustration and sadness. Without the disturbance of judgment or the desire to comfort her, I stayed totally quiet while she talked. Eventually Lydia's depression eased and we said our goodbyes. The next day she phoned to thank me. "I'm so grateful for the way you helped me through this," she said.

At first I was surprised. After all, I had done nothing except be there for her. But after I had my own venting(发泄的) experience with another friend later that evening, I realized that my focused silence had some value. In fact, most relationship experts agree that talk is cheap; it's listening that's rare and valuable. It allows you not only to hear what the other person is saying, but also to have a clear understanding of her thoughts and feelings. And for the speaker, that level of understanding translates into concern and respect.

Unfortunately, listening isn't as easy as it sounds. Thanks to schedules filled with family and work, multitasking has become the barrier(障碍) to listening. My tiredness may have been the only thing stopping me from folding laundry or checking my e-mail while Lydia talked that afternoon.

Another barrier to listening is our listening system: Most of us take in only about half of what's being said during a conversation, according to the International Listening Association. Research shows that we speak at 125 to 150 words per minute, yet think at 500 words a minute. Therefore, because we think much more quickly than we speak, it is easy for us to lose our concentration when listening to speakers.

While it can be hard to focus at times, it's a skill worth developing. With a little practice — employing some techniques— you can become a better listener.

1. In Paragraph 2, the author mainly talks about ____.

  A. the importance of listening         B. the importance of venting anger

  C. her own listening experience       D. her own venting experience

2.The author uses the result of the research in Paragraph 4 to mainly show that ____.

  A. we think much more quickly than we speak

  B. we can only understand about half of what we hear

  C. there is not much thinking time available while we are listening

  D. we lose our concentration easily while we are listening

3. What will be discussed following the passage?

  A. Why listening is valuable.        B. What we should do while listening

C. How to become a good listener    D. How to stop drifting off while listening.