A
When someone gives you advice, listen without judgment, try to find value in what you’re hearing, and say: “Thank you.” This wise advice is easy to understand yet hard to practice. I’ll give you an example from my life when I totally blew it in terms of practicing what I teach.
In my work I travel constantly. I always put off going to the airport until the last second. My wife, Lydia, was sitting next to me in the front seat. I was racing along and not paying much attention. Lydia cried out: “Look out! There is a red light up ahead.” Being a trained behavioral science professional—who teaches others the value of encouraging advice—I naturally screamed at her: “I know there is a red light up ahead! Don’t you think I can see?” When we arrived at the airport, Lydia didn’t speak to me. I wondered why she seemed mad at me.
During the flight to New York, I did a cost-benefit analysis. I asked myself: “What was the cost of just listening when Lydia called out the warning? Zero.” I then reasoned: “What was the potential benefit? What could have been saved?” Several potential benefits came to mind, including her life, my life, and the lives of other people. I landed in New York feeling ashamed of myself. I immediately called Lydia and told her my cost-benefit story. I convinced her: “The next time you help me with my driving, I am just going to say, “Thank you.”
A few months passed
and I had long forgotten the incident. Again, I was racing off to the airport, when Lydia cried out: “Look out for the red light!” I was embarrassed, and then shouted: “Thank you!”
I’m a long way from perfect, but I’m getting better. My suggestion is that you get in the habit of asking the important people in your life how you can do things better. And be ready for an answer. Some people may tell you things like “Look out for the red light.” When this happens, remember that there is possibly some potential benefit. Then just say: “Thank you.”
1. What do we know about the author?
A. He is expert at behavioral science.
B. He is gifted in cost-benefit analysis.
C. He seldom takes his wife’s advice.
D. He often runs the red traffic light.
2. It can be inferred from the passage that people _____.
A. tend to be defensive when given advice
B. intend to follow others’ suggestions
C. had better study behavioral science
D. should give their opinions patiently
3. The purpose of the passage is to advise people to _____ .
A. do a cost-benefit analysis in daily life
B. treasure others’ suggestions
C. learn from the author’s experiences
D. discover potential benefits
【答案】1. A 2. A 3. B
【解析】
这是一篇夹叙夹议的文章。文章讲述了当有人向你提供建议时，请认真倾听，它可能会给你带来一些潜在的好处，即人们要重视和珍惜别人的建议。
【1题详解】
细节理解题。根据第二段的“Being a trained behavioral science professional—who teaches others the value of encouraging advice”可知，作为一名训练有素的行为科学专业人士，作者教给别人鼓励性建议的价值。即作者是行为科学方面的专家。故选A。
【2题详解】
推理判断题。根据第一段中的“When someone gives you advice, listen without judgment, try to find value in what you’re hearing, and say: “Thank you.” This wise advice is easy to understand yet hard to practice. ”可知，当有人向你提供建议时，请认真倾听，尝试在你听到的内容中找到价值，然后说：“谢谢。”这种明智的建议易于理解，却难以实践。由此可以推断出，当有人给我们提供建议时，我们往往会产生抵制的心理。故选A。
【3题详解】
推理判断题。根据最后一段可知，作者建议人们养成向自己生活中重要的人询问如何做得更好的习惯并准备好倾听他人的回答。有人可能会告诉你诸如“注意红灯”之类的话语。发生这种情况时，请记住这可能会有一些潜在的好处。然后说：“谢谢。由此可知，文章的目的是建议人们重视和珍惜别人的建议。故选B。
