选择知识点

We can text, whatsapp, Facebook message and snapchat — but are we losing the luxury (奢侈) of the phone conversation? Who has time to chat when you can spend hours on WhatsApp?

Most of my phone calls are less than a minute long. If I accidentally hit answer instead of pressing the ignore button, it’s usually to say, “Hold on, I’ll call you back” before quickly typing out a “whatsup?” text. My list of recent phone calls is limited to four people and unless we live together, are related, or dating, there is very little chance of joining that list.

But as the original mobile brand, Nokia, finally dies, it seems I’m not the only who’s abandoning the phone call. The average adult spends more time on media or communication per day (8 hours and 41 minutes) than on sleeping (8 hours and 21 minutes) but among all that communication, the phone call is the one medium that’s falling.

So why has the phone call fallen out of favor? The many messaging apps and emails seem to have created a gradient (坡度) of communication, so that the phone call is no longer the standard way of conversing long distance, but a relatively intimate (亲密的) thing.

Rachel, 24, says that she used to speak to all her girlfriends on the phone but now only calls a few. “I rarely even speak to good friends on the phone and if they call me, I’m like, ‘Hello, is something wrong?’,” says Rachel. “If I do a phone call, it feels really official, like it’s a big deal.”

Instead of taking the time to ring a friend and catch up, it now seems easier to send a brief message. And unless you’re extremely close to someone, an unscheduled phone call can feel like an intrusion (干扰). Whereas (但是) text messages can be put to one side for hours or even days, a phone call demands attention in the moment.

But while text messages and emails may be a more efficient way of sharing basic facts and information, they’re not necessarily the best way of communication. We may be communicating more than ever before, but we seem to be listening far less.

In Canada and the United States, there is a new group of children called “satellite kids”, who live in one place but whose parents live in another place.

       Asians are immigrating to Canada and the United States in larger numbers than ever before. Most Asians immigrate because they believe that they can give their children a better education in the West. In Asia, especially in China, Japan, and Korea, it is difficult to go to university. Students must first pass the strict national examination. However, in Canada and the United States, it is easy to go to university, and anyone who wants to go can go. As a result, Asian parents decide to leave their countries so that their children can go to university.

       The problem is that when Asians arrive, they discover that finding a job and making money are more difficult in the West than in the East. Also, they find that they are very lonely, and that they miss their homes. Because of these two reasons, most Asian parents decide to go back to work while their children study in the West. Therefore, these children become “satellite kids”, and most of their parents do not know how sad it is to be a “satellite kid”.

       Only until now are Canadians and Americans discovering the “satellite kid” problem. Because these children do not speak English and because their parents are not there to take care of them, they are often absent from school. To be a “satellite kid” means to grow up in a country where you know you are different and where you cannot make friends because you do not speak English well. Also, it means to grow up lonely, because your parents are elsewhere. What these “satellite kids” will probably say to their parents is that it is better to have parents around than to have a university education.

B

   China is a land of bicycles. At least it was back in 1992 when I traveled the country. Back then everyone seemed to be riding a bicycle. Millions of them, all black. Cars were rare. Yet since my arrival in Beijing last year, Iˈve found the opposite is true. There are millions of cars. However, people still use their bicycles to get around. For many, itˈs the easiest and cheapest way to travel today. Bicycles also come in different colors---silver, green, red, blue, yellow, whatever you want.

 Itˈs fun watching people biking. They rush quickly through crossroads, move skillfully through traffic, and ride even on sidewalks. Bicycles allow people the freedom to move about that cars just canˈt provide.

  Eager to be part of this aspect of Chinese culture, I decided to buy a bicycle. Great weather accompanied（陪伴）my great buy. I immediately jumped up on my bicycle seat and started home.

  My first ride home was orderly (守秩序的). To be safe, I stayed with a “pack” of bikers while cars on the streets came running swiftly out of nowhere at times. I didnˈt want to get hit. So I took the ride carefully.

  Crossing the streets was the biggest problem. It was a lot like crossing a major highway back in the United States. The streets here were wide, so crossing took time, skill and a little bit of luck.

  I finally made it home. The feeling on the bicycle was amazing. The air hitting my face and going through my hair was wonderful. I was sitting on top of the world as I passed by places and people. Biking made me feel alive.

A

       A young woman carrying a three-year-old child got on a bus. The conductor hurried to give her a warm welcome and then kindly asked the other passengers to make more room for the woman and her child. On seeing this, people began to talk. "You know this conductor used to be very rude. Now suddenly he has changed his bad behavior , "said a middle-aged man.

       "Yes, he should be praised and we must write a letter to the company," said a second passenger. "Thatˈs right," another lady said, "I wish a newspaper reporter were here so that more people could learn from this conductor. "

        Just then a gentleman who looked like a teacher turned to the conductor and said , "Excuse me, but can I know your name, please? Your excellent service must be praised..."

       Before he could open his mouth, the three-year-old child sitting on the young womanˈs lap interrupted, "I know his name. I call him Dad."

B

       If you want to go shopping, you’d better decide how much money you can spend on new clothes. Think about the kind of clothes you really need. Then look for those clothes you really need. Then look for those clothes on sale.

      There are labels (标签) inside all new clothes. The labels tell you how to take care of your clothes. The label on a shirt may tell you to wash it in warm water. A label on a sweater may tell you to wash in cold water. The label on a coat may say “dry clean only”, for water-washing may destroy (毁坏) this coat. If you do according to the directions (说明书) on the label, you can keep your clothes looking their best for a long time.

       Many clothes must be dry cleaned. Dry cleaning is expensive. When buying new clothes, check to see if they will need to be dry cleaned. You will save money if you buy clothes that can be water-washed.

        You can save money if you buy clothes that are well done. Well-made clothes last longer. They look good even after they have been washed many times. Clothes that cost more money are not necessarily better made. They do not always fit better. Sometimes less expensive clothes look and fit better than more expensive clothes.

D

     It doesn’t matter when and how much a person sleeps , but everyone needs some rest to stay alive. That’s what all doctors thought , until they heard about Herpin. Herpin, it was said , never slept. Could this be true? The doctors decided to see this strange man themselves.

    Herpin was 90 years old when the doctors came to his home in New Jersey. They thought for sure that he got some sleep of some kind. So they stayed with him and watched every movement he made. But they were surprised . Though they watched him hour after hour and day after day, they never saw him sleeping. In fact , he did not even own a bed. He never needed one.

    The only rest that Herpin sometimes got was sitting in a comfortable chair and reading newspapers. The doctors were puzzled by this strange continuous sleeplessness. They asked him many questions, hoping to find an answer. They found only one answer that might explain his condition. Herpin remembered some talk about his mother having been injured several days before he was born. But that was all. Was this the real reason? No one could be sure. Herpin died at the age of 94.

It is natural that young people are often uncomfortable when they are with their parents. They say that their parents don’t understand them. They often think that their parents are out of touch with modern ways, that they are too serious and too strict with their children, and they seldom give their children a free hand.

It is true that parents often find it difficult to win their children’s trust and they tend to forget how they themselves felt when young. For example, young people like to act on the spot without much thinking. It is one of their ways to show that they have grown up and they can face any difficult situation. Older people worry more easily. Most of them plan things ahead and do not like their plans to be upset by something unexpected. When you want your parents to let you do something, you will have better success if you ask before you really start doing it.

Young people often make their parents angry with their choice in clothes, in entertainment and in music．But they do not mean to cause any trouble: it is just that they feel cut off from the older people’s world, into which they have not yet been accepted. That’s why young people want to make a new culture of their own, and if their parents do not like their music or entertainment or clothes or their way of speech, this will make the young people extremely happy.

Sometimes you are so proud of yourself that you do not want your parents to say, “ Yes” to what you do. All you want is to be felt alone and do what you like. It is natural enough, after being a child for so many years, when you were completely under your parents’ control. If you plan to control your life, you’d better win your parents over and try to get them to understand you. If your parents see that you have a high sense of responsibility, they will certainly give you the right to do what you want to do.

       Animal moms are great moms. You might be surprised at some of these moms.

Octopuses (章鱼)

       The mother octopus lays about 50,000 eggs. For about 300 days, she stays with the eggs, cleans them and protects them. She does not leave to feed. However, this animal mom dies as soon as the eggs are hatched (孵化).

Crocodiles

       A crocodile mother puts a lot of time and effort into raising her babies. She starts by building a nest (巢), which she guards for over two months! When the eggs are ready to hatch, the young crocs call out to their mother, who digs them out and helps them hatch. She then carries them in her mouth down to the water, where she will guard them for several more weeks or months until they learn to hunt on their own.

Bats

       Bats become moms by hanging head up in a cave, giving birth. Catching the youngster before it can fall to the ground below, she puts it in a pouch (育儿袋). Bat moms may carry babies with them when feeding for the first few days. As the little bats get bigger and heavier, moms help them hang on the wall of their caves and return often to feed them. It continues for about three weeks, until the babies are grown up and able to fly on their own.

Koalas (考拉)

       The animal mom gives birth after a pregnancy (怀孕期) of only 35 days. The hairless baby climbs into its mother’s pouch and lives there for another five months. When the little koala is between five and eight months old, it leaves the pouch for short periods of time but returns for safety. Once it is too big to return to the pouch, it will climb onto its mother’s back and ride there until it is about 12 months old.

   In my eyes, the most basic and powerful way to communicate with another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention. And especially if it's given from the heart. When people are talking，there's no need to do anything but receive them. Listen to what they're saying. Care about it. Most times caring about it is even more important than understanding it. Most of us don't value ourselves or our love enough to know this. It has taken me a long time to believe in the power of simple saying “I'm so sorry.” when someone is in pain.

   One of my patients told me that when she tried to tell her story people often interrupted to tell her that they once had something just like that happening to them. Her pain became a story about themselves. Eventually she stopped talking to most people. We connect through listening. When we interrupt what someone is saying to let them know that we understand，we move the focus of attention to ourselves. When we listen，they know we care.

    I have even learned to respond to someone crying by just listening. In the old days I used to reach for the handkerchiefs，until I realized that passing a person a handkerchief  may be just another way to shut him down，to take them out of their experience of sadness. Now I just listen. When they have cried all they need to cry，they find me there with them.

    This simple thing has not been that easy to learn. It certainly went against everything I had been taught since I was very young. I thought people listened only because they were too shy to speak or did not know the answer. But now I know that a loving silence often has far more power to heal than the kindest words.

B

       One day Mom bought a dog named “Lily”. My brothers and I all loved Lily and did different things with her. One of us would walk her, another would feed her, then there were baths, playing catch and many other games. Lily loved everyone. One thing that most touched my heart was that she would go to whoever was sick and just be with them. We always felt better when she was around.

Some day, as I was getting her food, she chewed up（咬破）one of Mom’s shoes, which had to be thrown away in the end. I knew Mom would be mad and I had to let her know what she did was wrong. When I looked at her and said, “Bad girl,” she looked down at the ground and then went and hid. I saw a tear in her eyes.

       Lily was more than just our family pet. She went everywhere with us. People would stop and ask if they could pet her. Of course she’d let anyone pet her. She was just the most lovable dog. There were many times when we’d be out walking and a small child would come over and pull on her hair. She never barked（吠）or tried to get away. Funny thing is she would smile. This frightened people because they thought she was showing her teeth. Far from the truth, she loved everyone.

       Sadly, Lily died of old age. Today I still miss days we spent together.