Question

Emma and Ryan, a married couple, were driving to a friend’s house when Emma turned to Ryan and asked, “Would you like to stop for lunch?”

Ryan replied, “No, I’m not hungry yet,” and continued driving. Meanwhile, Emma sat quietly fuming (十分恼火) in the passenger seat. Ryan could not understand why Emma was unhappy. He had thought she was asking if he was hungry, but in reality, Emma was telling him that she was hungry and wanted to stop for lunch.

Misunderstandings like this often occur between men and women, even among people from the same culture. Deborah Tannen, professor of linguistics at Georgetown University in the United States, has studied conversational rules.

In Emma and Ryan’s situation, Emma was making a request in the form of a question. Her style of talking is common for women. She needed Ryan to agree they were both hungry. So, Emma asked Ryan what he wanted. She was really telling Ryan what she wanted; however, Ryan did not understand this. If he had been hungry, he would have said something more direct, such as, “I’m hungry. Let’s have lunch.”

Tannen believes that most women grow up in a world where talk is used to express feelings. However, most men are raised differently and they tend to keep their feelings to themselves.

Tannen says, for men, talk is often used as a situation used outside the home to gain respect, to entertain and get attention, or to exchange information. This is why men communicate by making each other laugh, or talking about sport and work. These men do not always feel it is necessary to talk to feel close or to express their feelings. Women, on the other hand, are encouraged to speak about their feelings since this is a way to build relationships.

1.What can be inferred from Emma and Ryan’s story?

A. Emma didn’t like Ryan.

B. Ryan didn’t want to talk to Emma.

C. Ryan didn’t want to eat with Emma.

D. Emma wasn’t pleased with Ryan’s answer.

2.According to Deborah Tannen, what causes the misunderstanding?

A. Different cultures.

B. Different characteristics.

C. Different ways of communicating.

D. Different educational background.

3.Compared with women, men _______.

A. talk less about feelings

B. communicate more with others

C. are more likely to become angry

D. are better at building relationships

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

A. Why women like to express feelings

B. How men and women communicate

C. Different ways of supporting a child

D. Misunderstandings in social communication

Answer

1.D

2.C

3.A

4.B

【解析】

本文是说明文。文章通过故事讲述了男人和女人怎样交流，男女交流方式有很大的不同。

1.推理判断题。根据第二段中Ryan replied. “No, I’m not hungry yet,” and continued driving. Meanwhile, Emma sat quietly fuming (十分恼火) in the passenger seat.可知，Emma对Ryan的回答感到不满意。故选D。

2.推理判断题。根据第五段Tannen believes that most women grow up in a world where talk is used to express feelings. However, most men are raised differently and they tend to keep their feelings to themselves.可知，根据Deborah Tannen所说，是男女之间不同的交流方式引起误解。故选C。

3.细节理解题。根据最后一段中These men do not always feel it is necessary to talk to feel close or to express their feelings.可知，与女人相比，男人很少谈论感情。故选A。

4.主旨大意题。根据最后一段中These men do not always feel it is necessary to talk to feel close or to express their feelings. Women, on the other hand, are encouraged to speak about their feelings since this is a way to build relationships.可知，本文讲述的是男人和女人怎样交流。故选B。