新视野大学英语读写教程第一册unit4-a How to Make a Good Impression

Unit 4

Section A

Pre-reading Activities

First Listening
Please listen to a short passage carefully and prepare to answer some questions.

Second Listening
Listen to the tape again. Then answer the following questions with your own experiences.
1. How long does it take us to judge the people we meet?
2. What is one way you can have a positive effect on other people?
3. What is the key to being the best person you can be?

How to Make a Good Impression

Research shows we make up our minds about people through unspoken communication within seven seconds of meeting them. Consciously or unconsciously, we show our true feelings with our eyes, faces, bodies and attitudes, causing a chain of reactions, ranging from comfort to fear.
Think about some of your most unforgettable meetings: an introduction to your future spouse, a job interview, an encounter with a stranger. Focus on the first seven seconds. What did you feel and think? How did you "read" the other person? How do you think he read you?
You are the message. For 25 years I've worked with thousands who want to be successful. I've helped them make persuasive presentations, answer unfriendly questions, communicate more effectively. The secret has always been you are the message.
Others will want to be with you and help you if you use your good qualities. They include: physical appearance, energy, rate of speech, pitch and tone of voice, gestures, expression through the eyes, and the ability to hold the interest of others. Others form an impression about you based on these.
Think of times when you know you made a good impression. What made you successful? You were committed to what you were talking about and so absorbed in the moment, you lost all self-consciousness.
Be yourself. Many how-to books advise you to stride into a room and impress others with your qualities. They instruct you to greet them with "power handshakes" and tell you to fix your eyes on the other person. If you follow all this advice, you'll drive everyone crazy — including yourself.
The trick is to be consistently you, at your best. The most effective people never change from one situation to another. They’re the same whether they're having a conversation, addressing their garden club or being interviewed for a job. They communicate with their whole being; the tones of their voices and their gestures match their words.
Public speakers, however, often send mixed messages. My favorite is the kind who say, "Ladies and gentlemen. I'm very happy to be here" — while looking at their shoes. They don't look happy. They look angry, frightened or depressed.
The audience always believe what they see over what they hear. They think, "He's telling me he's happy, but he's not. He's not being honest."
Use your eyes. Whether you're talking to one person or one hundred, always remember to look at them. Some people start to say something while looking right at you, but three words into the sentence, they break eye contact and look out the window.
As you enter a room, move your eyes comfortably; then look straight at those in the room and smile. Smiling is important. It shows you are relaxed. Some think entering a room full of people is like going into a lion's cage. I disagree. If I did agree, I certainly wouldn't look at my feet or at the ceiling. I'd keep my eye on the lion!
Lighten up. Once in a staff meeting, one of the most powerful chairmen in the entertainment industry became very angry over tiny problems, scolded each worker and enjoyed making them fear him. When he got to me, he shouted, "And you, Ailes, what are you doing?"
I said, "Do you mean now, this evening or for the rest of my life?" There was a moment of silence. Then the chairman threw back his head and roared with laughter. Others laughed too. Humor broke the stress of a very uncomfortable scene.
If I had to give advice in two words, it would be "lighten up"! You can always see people who take themselves too seriously. Usually they are either brooding or talking a great deal about themselves.
Take a good hard look at yourself. Do you say "I" too often? Are you usually focused on your own problems? Do you complain frequently? If you answered yes to even one of these questions, you need to lighten up. To make others comfortable, you have to appear comfortable yourself. Don't make any huge changes; just be yourself. You already have within you the power to make a good impression, because nobody can be you as well as you can.

words: 707

NEW WORDS

impression
n. 1. the effect produced in sb.'s mind 印象，效果
2. an idea or opinion that one forms about sth. 感觉，感想

conscious
a. 1. realizing sth. 感觉到，意识到
2. fully awake; knowing what is happening around 处于清醒状态，有知觉的

consciously
ad. 意识到地，感觉到地，神志清楚地

unconsciously
ad. 无意识地，无感觉地，神志不清地

self-conscious
a. 1. nervous or embarrassed about the way one looks or appears 不自然的，难为情的，忸怩的
2. strongly aware of who or what one is or what one is doing 有自我意识的

self-consciousness
n. 害羞，忸怩；自我意识

attitude
n. 1. a position of the body 姿势，姿态
2. the way one thinks and feels about sth. or sb. 态度，看法

reaction
n. 1. the way a person reacts to something 反应
2. a course of change that occurs when two or more kinds of matter are put together 反应，作用

range
v. 1. occur (between certain limits)（在一定幅度或范围内）变动，变化
2. put things in rows; order in a line or lines 排列；把……排成行
n. 1. a choice; a variety 种类；广泛（性）
2. the distance over which an object can be sent or thrown; the distance over which a sound can be heard, etc. 射程；距离，范围

introduction
n. 1. the introducing of one person to another 介绍，（正式）引见
2. the introducing of sth. 引进，采用

▲spouse
n. a husband or wife 配偶（指夫或妻）

interview
n. 1. a meeting and discussion with sb. seeking a job, etc.（对求职者等的）面谈，面试
2. a discussion in which a television or radio reporter asks a person questions that he thinks listeners would like to hear the answers to （记者等的）采访，访谈
vt. question a person in an interview 对……进行面谈（或面试）；对……采访

encounter
n. a meeting with sb. that happens by chance 意外（或偶然）相遇
vt. meet or have to deal with (sth. bad, esp. a danger or difficulty) 遇到，遭遇（尤指危险或困难）

focus
v. direct attention, etc. to one point 使（注意力）集中

▲persuasion
n. the act of making sb. do sth., or not do sth., by arguing with them and advising them 说服，劝说

persuasive
a. able to persuade sb. to do or believe sth. 有说服力的，能使人相信的

presentation
n. the presenting of sth. 表现，描述

physical
a. 1. having to do with one's body 身体的，肉体的
2. having to do with things that can be seen 物质的，有形的，实物的

appearance
n. 1. what can be seen of a person, thing, etc. 外观，外貌，外表
2. the act of beginning to exist or becoming within one's reach 出现

rate
n. 1. the speed with which sth. happens or is done 速度，速率
2. the number of occasion within a certain period of time when sth. happens 比率，率

pitch
n. the highness or lowness of a voice or a musical note（说话等）声音（或音调）的高低度；音高

tone
n. the quality of a sound, esp. of the human voice 音调，音

gesture
n. a movement of the hand, head, etc. that expresses something 手势，示意动作

absorb
vt. 1. hold sb.'s attention completely or interest sb. greatly 吸引……的注意力，使……感兴趣
2. take in and hold sth. 吸收

▲stride
vi. walk with long steps, often because one is feeling very sure and determined 大踏步走，阔步行进
n. a long step 大步；步态，步法

impress
vt. make sb. feel admiration and respect 给……深刻的印象，使钦佩

consistent
a. 1. always having the same opinions, standard, behaviour, etc. 一贯的
2. agreeing 一致的

consistently
ad. 一贯地，一直

speaker
n. a person who makes a speech to a group of people 演讲者，演说家

depress
vt. make sb. unhappy 使抑郁，使沮丧

audience
n. a group of people who watch or listen to a play, concert, speech, the television, etc. 观众，听众

contact
n. 1. a state in which two people or things touch each other 接触
2. communication with a person, official group, country, etc. 接触，联系，交往

relax
v. make or become less worried or stressed; spend time not doing very much 使（困难等）减少；（使）休息，放松

■lighten
v. make or become less heavy or forceful 减轻，放松

entertainment
n. things that interest and humour people 娱乐；供消遣的东西

roar
vi. make a loud, deep sound 大声叫喊，咆哮

humor (英 humour)
n. the funny or pleasing quality or qualities of sb. or sth. 幽默，诙谐

▲brood
v. (over, on) worry, or think a lot about sth. that makes one sad （不快或怨忿地）想；忧伤；考虑

PHRASES AND EXPRESSIONS

make up one's mind
decide 下定决心，打定主意

range from... to...
occur from...to... 从……到……（范围或幅度内）变化

focus on
direct (sth. such as one's attention) firmly on (a subject); pay attention to 使（注意力）集中在

drive sb. crazy
make sb. feel very angry or annoyed 逼得某人发疯或受不了

at one's best
in one's best state or condition 处于最佳状态，在全盛时期

communicate with
speak to; send a message to; be understood by (sb.) 与……交谈，与……交流


lighten up
sth. you say to tell sb. to stop being so serious or annoyed 放松，不要生气

take ...seriously
treat a thing or person as important 认真地对待

PROPER NAMES

Ailes
艾尔斯（人名）