A
We can all think of times when people didn’t make remembering easy. Directions given at machine-gun speed. New people introduced in a flood of names and handshakes. Whenever information is passed between people, it’s all too easy for it to go in one ear and straight out of the other. Thankfully, the opposite is also true. Look around you, and you’ll see parents who can get their children to remember exactly what they were told; advertisers who know how to imprint their sales messages on our brains.
So, how do they do? Their secrets can be summed up in four simple words: focus, imagery, reasons and engagement.
FOCUS means ensuring that the person you’re talking to can concentrate on learning. Choose your moment carefully. Check that they can properly hear or see the information. Communicate slowly and clearly enough for their memory to cope.
IMAGERY helps information to stick. Do everything your can to make other people “see” the ideas you’re giving them. Add visual details to directions, and illustrate abstract concepts with metaphors.
REASONS to remember help people to put in the mental effort. So, make it clear that your words are important, and be explicit about why. Maybe this information will save them time, protect them from embarrassment, or let them enjoy a particular experience or event.
EMGAGEMENT requires you to ask questions. Point out links between new concepts and things listeners already know. Activate their senses, spark their curiosity, get them doing something physical, or simply make them laugh.
The next time you’ve got an important message to pass on, put some of these techniques to the test. You’ll discover that there are benefits on both sides when you know how to FIRE people’s memories into action.
1. What is the main purpose of the text?
A. To report new research.
B. To provide some advice.
C. To explain a problem.
D. To define some terms.
2. How can you do to help a listener “focus” on what you are saying?
A. Select the appropriate time to raise the topic.
B. Do something humorous to get their attention.
C. Make sure the information provided is correct.
D. Speak as slowly and clearly as you possibly can.
3. Explaining to listeners why your information is important is an example of ________.
A. FOCUS B. IMAGERY
C. REASONS D. ENGAGEMENT
【答案】1. B 2. A 3. C
【解析】
【分析】
这是一篇说明文。主要针对如何让人们记住你所说的事情，提出了四点意见。
【1题详解】
推理判断题。问整篇文章的目的是什么。根据最后一段The next time you’ve got an important message to pass on, put some of these techniques to the test. 下次你有重要的信息要传递时，试试这些技巧。可知，作者的目的是想要提供一些建议，选项B正确。A. 报道一篇研究；C. 解释一个问题；D. 定义一些术语，不是文章的意图，文章没有传达。故选B。
【2题详解】
细节理解题。根据关键词“focus”定位到第三段Choose your moment carefully. Check that they can properly hear or see the information. 认真选择时机。检查他们是否能正确地听到或看到信息。可知，选项A. Select the appropriate time to raise the topic. 选择适当的时机提出话题。为正确选项；B. Do something humorous to get their attention. 做一些幽默的事情来吸引他们的注意力，没有提到；C. Make sure the information provided is correct. 确保被提供的信息是正确的；没有提及D. Speak as slowly and clearly as you possibly can. 尽可能地说得慢而清楚。为干扰选项。根据Communicate slowly and clearly enough for their memory to cope. 沟通要慢而清晰，让他们的记忆能应付。可知，D不是让听者集中注意力在你说的话中的做法，而是使听众集中注意力后需要注意的事项。故选A。
【3题详解】
细节理解题。根据关键词“why your information is important”定位到REASONS to remember help people to put in the mental effort. So, make it clear that your words are important, and be explicit about why. 记住理由有助于人们投入精神上的努力。所以，要清楚地表明你的话是重要的，并明确说明原因。可知，选项C. 理由为正确选项。故选C。
【点睛】细节理解题的做题方法：题干中定位关键词-根据关键词在文中寻找关键句-对比选项-运用排除法，选出答案。例如2.3小题都是细节题，根据关键词“focus”以及 “why your information is important”由此找出文章中对应的关键句Choose your moment carefully. Check that they can properly hear or see the information.以及REASONS to remember help people to put in the mental effort. So, make it clear that your words are important, and be explicit about why.从而选答案，故第2小题选A，第三小题选C。
