Question

The phone rings. It’s a friend who wants to tell you his or her latest health problems. You hate to be impolite and cut your friend off, but what can you do? Stephanie Winston, author of Stephanie Winston’s Best Organizing Tips, offers his advice:

Don’t ask questions like “What’s new?” They give the information that you have time to talk. After “hello”, get right to the heart of the matter.

Time your calls wisely. If you make a call right before lunch or dinner, or at the end of the workday, people chat less.

Set a time limit. Start with, “Hi, I’ve only got a few minutes, but I wanted to talk to you about….” Or, “Gee, I’d love to talk more, but I only have a couple of minutes before I have to leave.”

Jump on a pause. Even the most talkative caller has to pause now and then. Quickly say, “It has been great talking with you.” Then end the conversation.

Forget niceties. Some people just don’t take a hint. Cut your caller off and say, “I’d like to talk to you longer, but I’m afraid I have no enough time. Good bye.” Then hang up.

Find “a partner in crime”. If nothing else works, ask someone in your home to help you. For example, one woman gives a sign to her husband, who shouts, “Jane, I think the roast chicken is burning.”

Avoid the phone completely. Use an answering machine to screen calls. If you have an important message for a chatterbox, leave the message when he or she isn’t in.

1.What’s the good time to make a call so that people can chat less?

A. After lunch or dinner.

B. In the middle of the workday.

C. Before lunch or dinner.

D. At the beginning of the workday.

2.“Finding a partner in crime” means ______.

A. finding someone to answer the call

B. getting right to the heart of the matter

C. telling the caller you are just cooking

D. asking someone to help you end the call

3.What’s Winston’s advice about?

A. How to talk on the phone.

B. How to make calls wisely.

C. How to make a phone call.

D. How to keep phone calls short.

 

Answer 1

1.C

2.D

3.D

【解析】

试题分析：电话响了。这是一个朋友，他想告诉你他或她最新的健康问题。你讨厌不礼貌和打断你的朋友，但你会做什么呢？一名作者为大家提供了一些技巧与他的建议：1.不要问这样的问题：有什么新鲜事吗？2.明智你的打电话时间。3.设置一个时间限制。4.跳上一个停顿。5.完全避免电话。

1.如果你打电话在午餐或晚餐之前,或在工作日结束的时候,人们更少聊天。分析前面的中心句也提出明智的打电话时间，体现出第三项符合。故选C

2.找到合作伙伴。如果没有其他工作,要求某人到你家来帮助你。分析从句子中的例子中就明确的知道答案，让一个人找自己做活，借以停止通话。故选 D

3.

考点：社会现象类阅读。