Question

Many of us feel uneasy when someone stands too close to us, talks to us too loudly or makes eye contact(接触) with us for too long. But have you ever wondered why those things make you uncomfortable?

It’s all about personal peace, which means not only an imaginary space around the body, but also the space around all the senses. People feel that their space is being violated(侵犯) when they meet with an unwelcome sound, smell or look. This is probably why a man on a crowded bus shouting into his mobile phone or a woman next to you putting on strong perfume(香水) makes you feel angry.

Whether people have had a stronger wish to protect their personal space in recent times is hard to say. Yet studies of airlines show that people have a strong desire(渴望) to have space to themselves. In a survey by TripAdvisor, a travel website, people said that if they had to pay more for some extra service, they would rather have larger seats than extra food.

Although people may need their personal space, some hardly realize it. For example, people on a bus who hold newspapers in front of their faces to read in fact keep a distance from strangers.

Go and watch a library table. You will notice that one of the corner seats will usually be taken first, because they are the farthest way. What if someone sits opposite to you? Maybe you will pile up books as if to make a wall.

Preference(偏好) for personal space are different from culture to culture. Scientists have found that Americans generally prefer more personal space than people from other cultures. In Latin(拉丁人的) cultures, however, people are more comfortable standing close to each other.

1.The writer mainly _________ in this article.

A.tells us how to achieve personal space

B.explains why people need personal space

C.introduces some knowledge about personal space

D.argues for the importance of keeping personal space

2.Who might feel his personal space is safe according to the passage?

A.A person who has to sit next to a lady putting on strong perfume.

B.A person who has been watched by a stranger for a long time.

C.A person who hears strange noises when reading at home.

D.A Latin boy who is chatting with a friend sitting close to him.

3.What can we know from the survey by TripAdvisor?

A.People need a smaller personal space in recent times than before.

B.People have a strong desire for personal space in recent times.

C.There are not enough seats on the plane to meet people’s needs.

D.Food service is better provided than seats on the plane.

4.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A.The space around the body is more needed than that around all the senses.

B.If you hold newspapers on the bus, your personal space won’t be violated.

C.People usually choose the corner seats first in a library for personal space.

D.Different cultures share the same preferences for personal space.

Answer

1.C

2.D

3.B

4.C

【解析】

这篇短文主要谈论了在人际交往中的个人空间的问题，告诉我们人们大多倾向于更大的个人空间。关于个人空间问题，在不同的文化中是不相同的。

1.主旨题。根据第二段第一句（本文主旨句）“It’s all about personal peace”及上下文描述，可知本文主要谈论的是个人空间的问题；故选C。

2.细节题。根据短文最后一段第3句“In Latin(拉丁人的) cultures, however, people are more comfortable standing close to each other.”及上文描述，可知当彼此站得较近时，拉丁人感觉更舒服一些.故选D。

3.细节题。根据第三段第3句“In a survey by TripAdvisor, a travel website, people said that if they had to pay more for some extra service, they would rather have larger seats than extra food.”描述，可知相对于额外的食物来说，人们更倾向于大的空间距离；故选B。

4.细节题。根据短文第5段第1句“Go and watch a library table. You will notice that one of the corner seats will usually be taken first, because they are the farthest way.” 描述，可知人们通常先在图书馆的角落座位上选择私人空间，可知C正确，故选C。