下载掌阅APP，畅读海量书库
立即打开
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 may be viewed by some cultural groups as extremely uncomfortable; therefore attempts 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 Native 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 may be implied （暗示） is that the person wants the listener to consider what has been said before continuing. In these cultures, silence is a call for reflection.
Other cultures may use silence in other ways, particularly when dealing with conflicts 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 authority 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, particularly to an elder or a person in authority.
Nurses and other care-givers need to be aware of the possible meanings of silence when they come across the personal anxiety their patients may be experiencing. Nurses should recognize their own personal and cultural construction of silence so that a patient’s silence is not interrupted too early or allowed to go on unnecessarily. A nurse who understands the healing （治愈） value of silence can use this understanding to assist in the care of patients from their own and from other cultures.
1. What does the author say about silence in conversations?
A. It implies anger.
B. It promotes friendship.
C. It is culture-specific.
D. It is content-based.
2. 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.
3. What does the author advise nurses to do about silence?
A. Let it continue as the patient pleases.
B. Break it while treating patients.
C. Evaluate its harm to patients.
D. Make use of its healing effects.
4. 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
vary v . 变化；变异
stubbornness n . 固执
value v . 评价，评估
imply v . 暗示
consider v . 考虑
reflection n . 沉思；反映
deal with 处理
conflict n . 矛盾
authority n . 权威，权力
be aware of 意识到……的；有……意识
come across 遇到
anxiety n . 焦虑，渴望
1. Persons in other cultural groups value silence and view it as necessary for understanding a person’s needs.
in other cultural groups是介词短语做后置定语，修饰Persons。value此处为动词，和view 并列做本句的谓语。
（参考译文） 其他文化种族的人很重视沉默，并把它看成是理解一个人需求的必要方式。
2. Many Native Americans value silence and feel it is a basic part of communicating among people, just as some traditional Chinese and Thai persons do.
此句话中feel后省略了一个that。it is...among people做feel的宾语，...just as some...do 是对前一句话的进一步解释说明。
（参考译文） 很多美国本土人很重视沉默，并且觉得它是人们之间交流的一个基本组成部分，就像很多传统的中国人和泰国人做的那样。
3. Nurses and other care-givers need to be aware of the possible meanings of silence when they come across the personal anxiety their patients may be experiencing.
此句话中anxiety后省略了that，their patients may be experiencing 是省略了that的定语从句，修饰前面的personal anxiety。
（参考译文） 在遇到病人焦虑不安的时候，护士和其他护理人员需要了解病人沉默背后可能要表达的意思。