Listening

Human beings have a strong need to put their experiences and problems into words. That is why everyone (1) ___ a “friendly ear” – someone who is (2) ___ to listen to their troubles and joys. But few people (3) ___ what a complex skill listening is. Being a good listener requires great (4) ___ of concentration, which can only be gained through practice.

There are two reasons why listening is often such hard (5) ___. The first is simply that people merely show (6) ___ to speaking. How often have you (7) ___ what someone has said because you were thinking about what you were going to say in (8) ___? The second reason is that people speak too slowly. The average speed is about 125 words per minute, which is not fast enough for the (9) ___ brain. It allows too much time for the (10) ___ to fail, as the brain tries to keep itself busy with other, (11) ___ thoughts.

Next time you are in a listening (12) ___, try to predict what the speaker is going to say. Ask yourself questions about what is being said, and see if the speaker answers them. Finally, make quick (13) ___ in your head of the main (14) ___ that have been made. All the above (15) ___ things will help you to concentrate and make you a better listener.

1	A approves	B applauds	C appreciates	D attracts
2	A agreed	B wanting	C wishing	D willing
3	A realize	B distinguish	C identify	D detect
4	A forces	B qualities	C powers	D strengths
5	A action	B work	C assignment	D act
6	A priority	B predominance	C preference	D precedence
7	A neglected	B ignored	C overheard	D missed
8	A report	B replica	C reply	D respond
9	A humanitarian	B humanistic	C humane	D human
10	A contamination	B concentration	C congregation	D conservation
11	A irrelevant	B intolerant	C irregular	D unrelated
12	A session	B circumstances	C atmosphere	D situation
13	A agenda	B schedule	C summaries	D itinerary
14	A marks	B points	C topics	D ideas
15	A advised	B stated	C reminded	D mentioned

JOKES

• There is nobody so irritating than someone with less intelligence and more sense than you.

• A psychologist is someone who goes to a strip-tease show and watches the audience.

• A psychiatrist is someone who will listen to you as long as you don’t make sense.

• My son has never been to a psychiatrist.

Why? What’s wrong with him?

• I don’t know how old you are but you certainly don’t look it.

• Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

• Education today is teaching a child how to talk and then teaching it how to keep quiet.

• – When you son finishes his education, what will he be?

– About forty.

• A client at the hospital where they make transplantations asked about the prices. The doctor said, “Well, this Ph.D. brain costs $ 10,000. This brain belonged to a NASA top scientist and costs $ 15,000. Here we have a policeman’s brain as well. It costs $ 50,000.”

The client asks, “How is it possible?”

The doctor replies, “You see, it’s completely unused.”