戴爾美語練功坊全民英檢閱讀(10/15)
下面一篇閱讀測驗，大約在英檢中級程度，同學可試做看看，
了解自己的實力。
Meetings can waste a great deal of time. But you can make
your meeting run more smoothly by following a few simple rules.
First, have an agenda. This will help keep you focused on
what is important. Next, decide who needs to be involved.
More people mean less efficient discussion. Finally,
keep the discussion moving. Thank each speaker as he or
she finishes and move on to the next speaker. This encourages people
to make their remarks brief.
The problem with meetings, of course, is that no one likes them,
no one wants them, and no one needs them. Yet, everyone has them.
Meetings are the corporate world's response to primitive
socializing behaviors. People feel more comfortable when
making decisions in groups. They can then share the blame if a decision
turns out to be the wrong decision. Sharing credit for a correct
decision is not often found in groups. Then individuals tend
to remind people of how persuasive they were in the meeting when the
"right" decision was made.
What happens after a meeting is more important than
what happens during the meeting. The skills used then are more
professional and less procedural. So no matter how well you run a meeting,
it is the work that gets done after the meeting that is important.
1. What is one way to run a meeting well?
(A) Watch how your manager runs meetings.
(B) Minimize the number of participants.
(C) Let the group make decisions.
(D) Let everyone speak.
2. What is the purpose of the meeting agenda?
(A) To keep the speakers organized.
(B) To allow free discussion.
(C) To send to others in advance.
(D) To keep focused on important items.
3. How should you receive other people's comments at a meeting?
(A) Try to keep others from talking.
(B) Thank them and move on.
(C) Give them as much time as they want.
(D) Criticize them in public.
4. In conclusion the author feels
(A) real work is left to the professionals.
(B) all meetings should be in the morning.
(C) no one should receive credit for his work.
(D) meetings should be held more frequently.
答案：1. B 2. D 3. B 4. A
原文及題目翻譯：
開會可能浪費我們許多時間，但是你可以藉著依循某些簡單規則來使得
會議進行的比較順利。首先，定出議程，這可以幫助你持續專注在重要事務
。其次，決定誰需要來參與，人愈多表示討論愈沒效率。最後一點，
要讓討論持續進行。每個發言者發言完畢要對他們說謝謝，然後輪下一位
發言者。這樣可以鼓勵人們發言簡短。
當然，開會的問題在於沒有人喜歡開會，沒人想要開會，沒人需要開會。
然而，人人都在開會。開會是群體社會對原始社交行為的反應。一般人覺得
在群體中做決定比較自在，如果一項決定結果證實是錯誤決定，他們可以
分擔責難。做了正確決定之後，在群體中要分享功勞則很少見。這時個人
往往會提醒大家當初再做出「正確」決定的會議中，他是多麼具有說服力。
開會之後發生的事情比開會進行中發生的事情更重要。那時所使用的技巧
比較倚重專業，而比較不是重程序，所以無論你讓會議進行的多麼好，
真正重要的是開會之後所做的事。
1. 會議進行順利的方法之一是什麼？
(A) 觀察你的經理主持會議。
(B) 將與會者的數目減至最低。
(C) 讓團體去做決定。
(D) 讓大家發言。
2. 會議議程的目的為何？
(A) 讓發言者井然有序。
(B) 允許自由討論。
(C) 預先傳送給他人。
(D) 保持專注於重要事項
3. 會議中應該如何接受別人的意見？
(A) 試著阻止別人發言。
(B) 謝謝他們，然後繼續會議。
(C) 盡量多給他們時間。
(D) 公開批評他們。
4. 在結論中作者覺得
(A) 真正的工作是留給專業人士來完成。
(B) 所有會議都必須在早上。
(C) 沒有人應該因工作表現而受褒揚。
(D) 會議應該經常舉行。