英语标准美文100篇 023

Become a Better Listener

　　I strongly believe that it is rather important to be a good listener. And although I have become a better listener than I was ten years ago， I have to admit I'm still only an adequate1 listener.

　　Effective listening is more than simply avoiding the bad habit of interrupting others while they are speaking or finishing their sentences. It's being content to listen to the entire thought of someone rather than waiting impatiently¹ for your chance to respond. In some ways， the way we fail to listen is symbolic² of the way we live. We often treat communication as if it were a race. It's almost like our goal is to have no time gaps³ between the conclusion of the sentence of the person we are speaking with and the beginning of our own. My wife and I were recently at a cafe having lunch， eavesdropping⁴ on the conversations around us. It seemed that no one was really listening to one another， instead they were taking turns not listening to one another.I asked my wife if I still did the same thing. With a smile on her face she said，" Only sometimes." Slowing down your responses and becoming a better listener aids you in becoming a more peaceful person. It takes pressure from you. If you think about it， you'll notice that it takes an enormous⁵ amount of energy and is very stressful to be sitting at the edge of your seat trying to guess what the person in front of you （or on the telephone） is going to say so that you can fire8 back your response. But as you wait for the person you are communicating with to finish， as you simply listen more intently⁶ to what is being said， you'll notice that the pressure you feel is off. You'll immediately feel more relaxed， and so will the people you are talking to.They will feel safe in slowing down their own responses because they won't feel in competition with you for " air time " ！ Not only will becoming a better listener make you a more patient person， it will also enhance⁷ the quality of your relationships. Everyone loves to talk to someone who truly listens to what they are saying.

1 impatiently   

adv.不耐烦地

参考例句：

• Impatiently he cut short what I was telling him. 他不耐烦地打断了我的话。
• The children wait impatiently for the vacation.孩子们焦急地等待着假期的来临。

2 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

3 gaps   

n.缺口( gap的名词复数 )；不同；间隔；[植物学]裂

参考例句：

• Contraction of the timbers left gaps in the fence. 木料收缩，结果围墙露出缝来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The record is not complete; there are several gaps in it. 这份纪录不完整，中间有几处间断。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 eavesdropping   

n. 偷听

参考例句：

• We caught him eavesdropping outside the window. 我们撞见他正在窗外偷听。
• Suddenly the kids,who had been eavesdropping,flew into the room. 突然间，一直在偷听的孩子们飞进屋来。

5 enormous   

adj.巨大的；庞大的

参考例句：

• An enormous sum of money is injected each year into teaching.每年都有大量资金投入到教学中。
• They wield enormous political power.他们行使巨大的政治权力。

6 intently   

adv.专心致志地，注意力集中地

参考例句：

• He watched her face intently to catch every nuance of expression. 他认真地注视着她的脸，捕捉每一丝细微的表情变化。
• He was looking at her intently but she stared him out. 他专注地看着她，可她盯得他移开了目光。

7 enhance   

vt.提高（强度、力量、数量等），增加（进）

参考例句：

• BBC backing for the scheme will enhance its credibility.英国广播公司对这一计划的支持将提高其可信度。
• Good secretarial skills should enhance your chances of getting a job.出色的秘书工作技能会增加你找工作的机会。