A
The meaning of silence varies among cultural groups.Silences may be thoughtful, or they may be empty when a person has nothing to say.A silence in a conversation may also show stubbornness,uneasiness,or worry.Silence may be viewed by some cultural groups as extremely uncomfortable; therefore attempts may be made to fill every gap(间隙)with conversation.Persons in other cultural groups value silence and view it as necessary for understanding a person’s needs.
Many Native Americans value silence and feel it is a basic part of communicating among people,just as some traditional Chinese and Thai persons do.Therefore,when a person from one of these cultures is speaking and suddenly stops,what may be implied(暗示) is that the person wants the listener to consider what has been said before continuing.In these cultures,silence is a call for reflection.
Other cultures may use silence in other ways,particularly when dealing with conflicts among people or in relationships of people with different amounts of power.For example,Russian,French,and Spanish persons may use silence to show agreement between parties about the topic under discussion.However,Mexicans may use silence when instructions are given by a person in authority rather than be rude to that person by arguing with him or her.In still another use,persons in Asian cultures may view silence as a sign of respect,particularly to an elder or a person in authority.
Nurses and other care-givers need to be aware of the possible meanings of silence when they come across the personal anxiety their patients may be experiencing.Nurses should recognize their own personal and cultural construction of silence so that a patient’s silence is not interrupted too early or allowed to go on unnecessarily.A nurse who understands the healing(治愈) value of silence can use this understanding to assist in the care of patients from their own and from other cultures.
1.What does the author say about silence in conversations?
A.It implies anger. B.It promotes friendship.
C.It is culture-specific. D.It is content-based.
2.Which of the following people might regard silence as a call for careful thought?
A.The Chinese. B.The French.
C.The Mexicans. D.The Russians.
3.What does the author advise nurses to do about silence?
A.Let it continue as the patient pleases. B.Break it while treating patients.
C.Evaluate its harm to patients. D.Make use of its healing effects.
4.What may be the best title for the text?
A.Sound and Silence B.What It Means to Be Silent
C.Silence to Native Americans D.Speech Is Silver;Silence Is Gold
语篇解读:本文是一篇说明文,主要介绍了沉默在不同文化背景下具有不同的内涵。
答案及剖析:
1.C 推理判断题。根据第一段内容,尤其是第一句The meaning of silence varies among cultural groups可知,人们在交流时,沉默是有文化特性的。故选C项。
2.A 细节理解题。根据第二段第一句Many Native Americans value silence and feel it is a basic part of communicating among people,just as some traditional Chinese and Thai persons do.及最后一句In these cultures,silence is a call for reflection.内容可知选A项。
3.D 细节理解题。根据最后一段最后一句A nurse who understands the healing(治愈) value of silence can use this understanding to assist in the care of patients from their own and from other cultures.可知选D项。
4.B 主旨大意题。文章主要介绍了在不同文化背景下谈话期间沉默的不同含义。因此B项适合作为本文的标题。
