It often appears that we have more to gain by speaking than by listening. One big advantage of speaking is that it gives you a chance to control others’ thoughts and actions. Whatever your goal is — to have a boss hire you, to 36 others to vote for the person of your 37 or to describe the 38 you want your hair cut ... the key to success seems to be the 39 to speak well.
Another 40 advantage of speaking is the chance it provides to 41 the admiration, respect, or liking of others. Tell jokes, and everyone will think you’re really a 42 man. Tell them all you know, and they’ll be 43 by your wisdom. But keep quiet, and it seems as if you are a 44 person.
Finally, talking gives you the 45 to release (释放) energy in a way that listening can’t. When you’re 46 , the chance to talk about your problems can often help you feel better. In the same way, you can often 47 your anger by letting it out orally. It is also helpful to 48 your excitement with others by talking about it, 49 keeping it inside often leaves you feeling as if you might burst.
While it is true that talking does have many advantages, it’s important to 50 that listening can do good to listeners, too. As you’ll soon read, being a good listener is one good way to 51 others with their problems; and what better way is there to have others 52 you? As for controlling others, it may be true that it’s hard to be persuasive while you’re listening, but your 53 to hear others out will often make them open to your ideas 54 . Listening is often reciprocal (互惠的). “You get what you 55 .”
36. A. insist B. advise C. persuade D. suggest
37. A. friend B. relation C. choice D. leader
38. A. idea B. way C. means D. plan
39. A. resource B. energy C. power D. ability
40. A. obvious B. easy C. new D. special
41. A. gain B. grasp C. remain D. seize
42. A. successful B. simple C. wise D. stupid
43. A. affected B. impressed C. instructed D. moved
44. A. fruitless B. priceless C. worthless D. senseless
45. A. pleasure B. course C. duty D. chance
46. A. in trouble B. in danger C. in debt D. in silence
47. A. reduce B. lengthen C. deepen D. widen
48. A. control B. share C. enjoy D. remove
49. A. or B. so C. for D. though
50. A. suppose B. notice C. realize D. imagine
51. A. fail B. cure C. hurt D. help
52. A. appreciate B. listen to C. envy D. support
53. A. kindness B. favor C. willingness D. eagerness
54. A. by turns B. in return C. in turn D. in order
55. A. lose B. ask for C. need D. give