Just listen
I suspect that the most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our 36 , and especially if it’s given from the 37 . When people are talking, there’s no need to do anything but 38 them. Just take them 39 . Listen to what they’re saying. Care about it. Most times caring about it is even more important than 40 it.
One of my patients told me that when she 41 to tell her story, people often 42 to tell her that they had once had something just like what happened to her. Subtly, her pain became a story about themselves. 43 she stopped talking to most people. It was just too 44 . We connect through listening. When we interrupt what someone is saying to let them know that we understand, we move the 45 of attention to ourselves. But when we listen, they know we care.
I have ever learned to 46 to someone crying by just listening. In the old days I used to reach for the tissues(纸巾) 47 I realized that passing a person a tissue may be just another way to shut them 48 , to take them out of their 49 of sadness and pain. Now I just listen. When they have cried all they need to cry, they find me there 50 them.
This 51 thing has not been that easy to learn. It certainly went against everything I had been 52 since I was very young at school. I thought people listened only because they were too 53 to speak or did not know the answer. A loving silence often has far more 54 to connect than the most well-intentioned(善意的) 55 .
A．introduction B．instruction C．attention D．relaxation
A．head B．memory C．mind D．heart
A．talk to B．listen to C．object to(反对) D．stick to(坚持)
A．in B．up C．off D．away
A．denying(否认) B．remembering C．questioning D．understanding
A．managed B．tried C．hoped D．expected
A．encouraged B．interrupted C．discouraged D．urged
A．Eventually B．Immediately C．Completely D．Especially
A．impolite B．meaningless C．lonely D．selfish
A．middle B．focus C．center D．choice
A．respond B．compare C．link D．regret
A．unless B．if C．until D．when
A．down B．away C．in D．off
A．experiment B．mixture C．judgment D．experience
A．with B．against C．for D．among
A．complex(费解的) B．simple C．single D．complicated(复杂的)
A．mentioned B．published C．taught D．proved
A．shy B．greedy C．active D．proud
A．strength B．energy C．power D．force
A．gestures B．praise C．criticism D．words
In some countries, people eat rice every day. ____ they eat it two or three times a day, for breakfast, lunch and supper. They can ______ __it, fry(煎) it or _____ __ it into rice noodles. They usually eat it _____ __meat, fish and vegetables. Some people do not eat some kind of ______ __. Mullins, for example, do not eat pork , and Hindus do not eat beef. The Japanese eat a lot of fish. Japan is an island and its ______ __ go all over the Pacific looking for fish to ______ __. The Japanese sometimes eat uncooked fish, and they also eat a lot of rice. In ______ _ such as Britain the most important food is ____ __ or potatoes. People there usually make their bread from wheat flour. They ______ _potatoes in different ways. They can boil them, fry them and roast（烤） them.. In Africa , maize（玉米） is the most important food.______ __rice and wheat, maize is a kind of cereal. African people make the maize______ __flour. From this flour they make ______ __kinds of bread and cakes. Many Africans are very ______ __ and they can’t afford to eat much______ __with their cereal（谷物）. Cereal are a very important kind of food ______ __ we also need plenty of vegetables and lots of fresh_____ __. Some people eat ______ __ fruit and vegetables. They do not eat meat or fish or ______ _that comes from animals. They eat only food from ______ __. Some people say that food from plants is better for us than meat.
A．Sometimes B．Sometime C．Some time D．Some times
A．drink B．eat C．have D．boil
A．make B．turn C．change D．eat
A．as B．like C．with D．together
A．apples B．fish C．meat D．vegetables
A．trains B．planes C．fishing boats D．life boats
A．buy B．weigh C．hold D．catch
A．the world B．countries C．the east D．developing countries
A．bread B．cake C．flour D．vegetables
A．cook B．eat C．make D．take
A．Like B．As C．Being D．With
A．of B．from C．into D．up to
A．the same B．different C．every D．each
A．rich B．poor C．strong D．weak
A．meat B．maize C．flour D．bread
A．so B．as C．because D．but
A．rice B．cakes C．fruit D．potatoes
A．not only B．only C．besides D．except
A．something B．anything C．pork D．beef
A．plants B．apples C．pigs D．fish
Over the course of a few days when I was in a nursing home to recover, I started to really appreciate the housekeeper, an elderly lady who didn’t speak English. Every morning at 6:30 she would try to get into my room so she wouldn’t disturb me. However, every time I would and see her. She would try to and at the same time gave an amazing smile. , I would be just waiting to see her come in and give that wonderful.
I from a nurse that there was an employee rewards program. I asked her to write a(an) card for my housekeeper and put it up. About ten minutes later, another nurse came into my room and told me that the housekeeper was out in the hall her eyes out. Had I done something wrong or inappropriate ? Then the nurse to tell me that the housekeeper had worked there for thirty years and had never a rewards card.
It me like a ton of bricks. Just a few simple words made such a .
From that day forward I tried to admire someone every day for the good things they showed. The results were . People came in with smiles, they talked more, they laughed more, and they life more. , it seems the more I tried to praise others, the I got.
I’m out of nursing home now and almost recovered. I thank my housekeeper for helping me see just how unbelievably life is.
Do a favor and tell your loved ones just how much they to you. It can make the world of difference with both them and you.
A．quickly B．quietly C．happily D．slowly
A．wake B．stand C．sit D．go
A．leave B．hide C．explain D．apologize
A．Eventually B．Gradually C．Suddenly D．Occasionally
A．greeting B．apology C．smile D．word
A．knew B．learned C．found D．got
A．invitation B．congratulation C．appreciation D．appointment
A．laughing B．shouting C．screaming D．crying
A．went on B．came up C．set out D．got up
A．accepted B．received C．created D．afforded
A．beat B．knocked C．hit D．touched
A．difference B．profit C．mistake D．contribution
A．disappointing B．interesting C．amazing D．embarrassing
A．understood B．valued C．enriched D．enjoyed
A．However B．Therefore C．Meanwhile D．Otherwise
A．less B．more C．worse D．better
A．barely B．fully C．really D．rarely
A．dangerous B．beautiful C．tough D．enthusiastic
A．yourself B．you C．themselves D．them
A．bring B．take C．give D．mean
On August 26, 1999, New York City experienced a torrential downpour. The rain caused the streets to ____ and the subway system almost came to a stop.
Unfortunately, this happened during the morning rush hour. Many people who were going to work were ____ to go home. Some battled to ____ a taxi or to get on a bus. Still others faced the ____ bravely, walking miles to get to work.
I ____ to be one of the people on the way to work that morning. I went from subway line to subway line only to find that most ____ had stopped. After making my way ____ crowds of people, I finally found a subway line that was ____. Unfortunately, there were so many people waiting to ____ the subway that I could not even get down the stairs to the ____. So I took the train going in the opposite direction, and then switched back to the downtown train. Finally, after what seemed like an forever, the train ____ my stop. Then I had to walk several blocks in the increasingly heavy rain. When I finally got to my office, I was ____ through, exhausted and ____.
My co-workers and I spent most of the day drying off. When it was 5:00 pm，I was ready to go home. I was about to turn off my computer ____ I received an email from Garth, my Director:
I would like to thank all of you who made the effort and ____ reported to work. It is always reassuring(令人欣慰), at times like these, when employees so clearly show their ____ to their jobs. Thank you.
Garth’s email was short, but I learned more from that ____ message than I ever did from a textbook. The email taught me that a few words of ____ can make a big difference. The rainstorm and the traffic ____ had made me tired and upset. But Garth’s words immediately____ me and put a smile back on my face.
A．break B．flood C．sink D．crash
A．forced B．refused C．adjusted D．gathered
A．order B．pay C．call D．search
A．weather B．scenery C．storm D．burden
A．used B．promised C．deserved D．happened
A．practice B．demand C．process D．service
A．to B．through C．over D．for
A．operating B．cycling C．turning D．rushing
A．check B．carry C．find D．board
A．street B．ground C．floor D．platform
A．paused B．crossed C．reached D．parked
A．wet B．weak C．sick D．hurt
A．ashamed B．discouraged C．surprised D．puzzled
A．while B．when C．where D．after
A．hardly B．casually C．absolutely D．finally
A．devotion B．reaction C．investigation D．relation
A．accurate B．vital C．brief D．humorous
A．promise B．appreciation C．advice D．guidance
A．troubles B．signals C．rules D．signs
A．corrected B．supported C．amazed D．refreshed
Adele Green was just 11 weeks old when her father left the family. ________, he’s never returned. Now, after having a Facebook campaign to find him, the _________ daughter has finally found her father, more than three ________ later.
Adele posted an old photo of her _______ on the social networking site. Then, she was _______ by a man who said he knew her father. “The man had seen my post, which had been ______ more than 21,000 times. They had ______ each other because of a homeless charity. An hour later, he called me and gave me a _____. I rang it and then there he was my dad, on the other end of the _____.”
Derek is now 63, who was 33 when he walked out of the family home. The family had ______ he worked at his office, but he didn’t appear there at all. They spent days ______, but in vain. Police also conducted inquiries, ______ were unable to find Derek. He himself ________ made contact with his friends or family again.
Though her father never contacted her family, Adele says she is excited to _____ him and isn’t looking for answers. “When I first got to his house, I was very scared,” ____ Adele “I knew I couldn’t go and expect anything. But it ______ out quite well. We got on like a house on fire(极好地), and it’s the _______ 24 hours of my life. I wasn’t looking for _______, and just getting to know him was ______ for me. I want to thank every person, who read and shared my post online. Because _____ all of you, I would never have found him. It is a fairy tale ending and I’m just so happy.”
A．Soon after B．Before long C．Since then D．In future
A．crazy B．angry C．young D．devoted
A．decades B．years C．months D．centuries
A．sister B．father C．mother D．friend
A．stopped B．noticed C．followed D．contacted
A．changed B．shared C．collected D．bought
A．visited B．avoided C．known D．harmed
A．number B．photo C．letter D．telephone
A．phone B．street C．world D．story
A．thought B．fooled C．imagined D．feared
A．helping B．searching C．hearing D．worrying
A．though B．unless C．but D．so
A．even B．seldom C．often D．never
A．find B．doubt C．invite D．follow
A．thanks B．watches C．recalls D．lies
A．stood B．worked C．picked D．moved
A．longest B．worst C．best D．latest
A．effects B．plans C．pains D．answers
A．usual B．common C．unfair D．enough
A．without B．with C．about D．for
I was walking down the road one day when my cell phone rang. A little girl’s voice on the other end , “Dad, please come back soon. I miss you so much!” Instinctively（本能地）, I knew it was a(n) number, so I rudely , “You’ve dialed the wrong number!” and then .
During the following days, I got the same call . But I didn’t care much about it. Then one day she constantly called me, I didn’t answer. Finally I answered the phone and heard a torpid （有气无力的） voice, “Dad, please come back. I miss you so much! Dad, I’m in so pain! Mom said you were too busy to take of me. But, dad, please me again, OK?” The innocent was difficult to reject. I made a loud kiss on the phone and heard the voice say, “Thank you ... Dad, I am so ... happy, so ... happy ...”
Shortly after this, I became about who had been on the other end of my phone. So I called back, and a woman answered, “Sorry, sir. I am really sorry to have you. My daughter has suffered from bone cancer she was born. And her father died in an a short while ago. I not tell her this news. Poor baby. When she couldn’t with the painful chemotherapy (化疗), she would cry for her dad, who had always her, so I gave her a random (任意的) number...”
“How is your daughter now?” I couldn’t wait to ask.
“She has . You must have kissed her on the phone, because she went with a smile, tightly holding the cell phone ...”
Tears filled my eyes. Little help may make big effect.
A．shouted B．cried C．screamed D．called
A．unfit B．unfriendly C．wrong D．false
A．replied B．responded C．reflected D．reacted
A．hung on B．held on C．held up D．hung up
A．from then on B．now and then C．right away D．at once
A．even if B．as if C．so D．because
A．few B．little C．much D．many
A．charge B．control C．notice D．care
A．hug B．kiss C．touch D．pat
A．demand B．command C．request D．require
A．low B．deep C．soft D．weak
A．curious B．interested C．surprised D．amazed
A．confused B．bothered C．displeased D．upset
A．until B．when C．while D．since
A．incident B．event C．accident D．affair
A．must B．dare C．need D．should
A．put up B．come up C．bear D．stand
A．encouraged B．comforted C．persuaded D．beaten
A．room B．QQ C．phone D．house
A．gone by B．passed by C．passed D．gone