A
TOASTMASTERS
Toastmasters is an international organization, designed to develop effective speaking and listening skills. It was set up in 1924 by Ralph Smedley and it’s headquartered in California. It has a double purpose: the personal growth and strong effective communication skills.
Who is Toastmasters open to?
Many people think Toastmasters is open only to those who wish to be professional speakers, but that is not true. Toastmasters is open to the public at large. Any person who wishes to improve his public speaking is welcome. And also, those who just want to increase their overall self-confidence are encouraged to attend.
How can Toastmasters help you?
Joining Toastmasters, a person will learn different methods of communicating what he really wants to say, and equally important, he will learn what the audience expects so he can send that message to them in an organized way. Some people are comfortable around friends, but when they appear before a group they don’t know, they get nervous. The organization helps its members to get calm and organize thoughts, and express them in an effective way.
Most often, people assume that when one is listening, he is also paying attention. This is not always true. Many times people are waiting for their turn to speak and are not really listening at all. Toastmasters can develop a person overall in organizing their thoughts, getting information from others and receiving effective feedback(反馈).
How does Toastmasters train people?
Toastmasters has a way of learning by doing. The Toastmasters International Organization provides a menu called the basic menu because it gives a guideline for the development of speeches. These speeches can meet different purposes. For example, one might need voice training; another might be to organize his thoughts or develop use of humor in speeches. There is an eight-week program for young people and also an eight-week speech course offered for adults. As a person continues to give speeches and improve, he progresses from the point of being fearful to stand before a group to the point where he can speak to any group of people with confidence.
1. Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. Toastmasters was set up in 1924 by Ralph Smedley.
B. Toastmasters is a club only for professional speakers.
C. Toastmasters was originally set up to train speaking skills.
D. Toastmasters is a local organization headquarter in California.
2. Why in many cases people aren’t really listening at all?
A. Because they are too nervous.
B. Because they are organizing their thoughts.
C. Because they are not interested in the talking.
D. Because they are waiting for their turn to speak.
3. What is the purpose of the passage?
A. To offer some tips on giving speeches.
B. To call on people to join Toastmasters.
C. To give a general introduction to Toastmasters.
D. To show the benefits of effective speaking skills.
【答案】1. A 2. D 3. B
【解析】
【分析】
本文是一篇说明文，主要介绍了演讲协会Toastmasters的宗旨、适用人群、培训内容以及培训方法等信息。
【1题详解】
细节理解题。根据第一段中的“It was set up in 1924 by Ralph Smedley”可知，演讲会是由Ralph Smedley于1924年创立的，故A项正确。
【2题详解】
细节理解题。根据第四段中的“Many times people are waiting for their turn to speak and are not really listening at all.”可知，很多时候，人只是在等着轮到他们发言而根本没有认真听演讲，故D项正确。
【3题详解】
文章意图题。通读全文可知，本文主要介绍了演讲协会Toastmasters的宗旨、适用人群、培训内容以及培训方法，因此推断目的是号召人们加入来提高自己的沟通技巧，故B项正确。
【点睛】文章意图题的难度较大，例如本篇第3题，抓住说明文的文体特点是关键，一般介绍一个组织或课程的说明文的目的就是吸引人们加入其中，通读全文可知，本文主要介绍了演讲协会Toastmasters的宗旨、适用人群、培训内容以及培训方法，因此推断目的是号召人们加入来提高自己的沟通技巧，而不是提高演讲技巧或是展示有效的演讲技巧的好处。故选B项正确。
