The meaning of silence varies among cultural ...

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 perhaps viewed by some cultural groups as quite uncomfortable; therefore tries 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 local 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 perhaps shows is that the man wants the listener to consider what has been said before continuing. In these cultures, silence is a call for reflection（反应）.

Other cultures may use silence in other ways, particularly when dealing with conflicts（冲突） 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 power 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, especially to an elder or a person in power.

Nurses and other care-givers need to realize the possible meanings of silence when they come across the personal anxiety（焦虑）their patients may be experiencing. Nurses should learn about their own personal and cultural situation of silence so that a patient’s silence is not stopped too early or allowed to go on unnecessarily. A nurse who understands the curing value of silence can use this understanding to help in the care of patients from their own and from other cultures.

1.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.

2.What does the writer advise nurses to do about silence?

A. Let it continue as the patient pleases.　　 B. Break it while treating patients.

C. Study its harm to patients.　　 D. Make use of its healing effects.

3.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

九年级英语阅读单选中等难度题查看答案及解析

阅读下文并回答问题。

The meaning of silence is different among different cultures.

Many people in some Asian cultures think silence is a basic part of communication. When a traditional Chinese or Thai is speaking and suddenly stops, he probably wants the listener to consider what he has said before he continues. Many people may think silence is a sign of respect (尊重), especially to an elder or a person with power.

Western cultures may use silence in other ways. In America, if you keep silent in a conversation, the speaker may think you’re impolite or not listening to them carefully. Russian, French, and Spanish persons may use silence to show they agree with the discussion of the topic. However, Mexicans may keep silent when instructions（指示，命令） are given by a person with a lot of power, even though they don’t agree with the instructions.

In our daily life, if we know the exact meaning of one’s silence, it’s quite helpful, too. A man was ill in hospital. One morning, when the nurse said “Hello!” to him, he said “Hello!” back. “How are you feeling now?” the nurse continued. But the man lay in bed and looked at the nurse, saying nothing. “Not well, right? Then I will check it for you, OK? ” the patient was still silent. Then the nurse passed him a cup of warm water. He drank it quickly. After that, the nurse checked up his health. “Mr. Smith, your blood pressure is a little high. But don’t worry, you’ll soon be well again after taking some medicine.” The man smiled and said, “You’re the best nurse I’ve ever met.” You see, this is how silence works.

1.Is the meaning of silence the same among different cultures?

_______________________________________________________________________

2.When a traditional Thai is speaking and suddenly stops, what does he probably mean ?

_________________________________________________________________

3.In America, what may the speaker think if you keep silent in a conversation?

_______________________________________________________________________

4.If your parents give you instructions you don’t like, will you keep silent? Why or why not?

_______________________________________________________________________

九年级英语回答问题简单题查看答案及解析

The　　　　 of this activity is to raise money for a new hospital.

A.silence B.purpose C.culture D.language

九年级英语单选题中等难度题查看答案及解析

—What do you think of the speech by Mr. Zhang?

—Oh, it's great. All the students sat there in silence and listened carefully.

A.worriedly B.quietly C.happily

九年级英语单选题简单题查看答案及解析

Two teachers were sitting in the teachers' room. For a moment there was silence. Then one of them, Miss Smith, said, "I'm afraid I'd have to fail him! I just can’t let him16 . "

"Now Alice," said her friend, Mrs Jackson, "is he so terrible a student?"

"That's just the trouble!" the other woman answered, "Tom was ever my17 student. The problem is that he is so lazy that he never gets his work done. He hasn't handed me a piece of homework for three 18 !"

Mrs Jackson had never seen Miss Smith so19 before. "Have you had a word with him about it?" she asked.

"Why should I? Every student must hand in homework. I made 20 very clear on the first day for class.  I don't know what has happened. When the lessons started, he did so well that I21 thought about asking the school to give him a scholarship(奖学金). But now he often sleeps in class! I've never seen such a 22   in a student."

"You should have a talk with him. Give him a chance. "

Miss Smith spoke to Tom and learned all about it. He was studying all day and working most of the night in a factory to23 for his schooling. Of course he was24   in class and sometimes could hardly   25 awake. Miss Smith soon asked the school to give him a scholarship and he was able to devote himself to his lessons again.

1.A. leave          B. pass         C. work         D. sleep

2.A. laziest            B. busiest        C. worst         D. best

3.A. minutes        B. hours       C. weeks        D. years

4.A. worried            B. pleased          C. useless          D. kind

5.A. them           B. him              C. that             D. one

6.A. even          B. only         C. mostly           D. still

7.A. trouble            B. hope         C. change           D. danger

8.A. pay           B. call             C. save             D. share

9.A. forgetful          B. careless         C. asleep      D. tired

10.A. seem         B. keep             C. look             D. get

九年级英语完型填空困难题查看答案及解析

根据句意和汉语提示写单词。（5分）

1.It’s better to read 　　　　　　　　 than to read in silence.（出声地）

2.The quilt is made of　 　　　　　　　　 . It’s very comfortable.(棉花)

3.It was too hot. I could feel the 　　　　　　　　 of the sun on my back. (热)

4.The Chinese are without 　　　　 (疑问)the ones who best understand the nature of tea.

5.You can say something about your ________　 life.(日常的)

九年级英语单词拼写中等难度题查看答案及解析

When we speak of culture, we mean a way of life_________ a group of people have in common.

A. what B. who C. where D. that

九年级英语单选题中等难度题查看答案及解析

To be a(n) _______ person means to be well-known among a group of people.

A. celebrated　　 B. important　　 C. lucky

九年级英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

None of them talked．They finished their meal in．（　 ）

A．silence 　　　　　　 B．order

C．place 　　　　　　　 D．public

九年级英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

None of them talked. They finished their meal in　　　　 .

A. silence　　 B. order

C. place　　 D. public

九年级英语单选题中等难度题查看答案及解析