We can make mistakes at any age．Some mistakes we make are about money．But most mistakes are about people．“Did Jerry really care when I broke up with Helen？”“When I got that GREat job，did Jim really feel good about it，as a friend？Or did he envy my luck？”When we look 
back，doubts like these can make us feel bad．But when we look back，it's too late．
Why do we go wrong about our friends or our enemies？Sometimes what people say hides their real meaning．And if we don't really listen，we'll miss the feeling behind the words．Suppose someone tells you，“You're a lucky dog．”Is he really on your side？If he says，“You're a lucky guy．”Or“You're a lucky gal．”
That's being friendly．But“lucky dog”？There's a bit of envy in those words．Maybe he doesn't see it himself．But bringing in the“dog”puts you down a little．What he may be saying is that he doesn't think you are worthy of your luck．
“Just think of all the things you have to be thankful for”is another expression phrase that says one thing and means another．It could mean that the speaker is trying to get you to see your problem as part of your life as a whole．But is he？Wrapped up in this phrase is the thought that your problem isn't important．It's telling you to think of all the starving people in the world when you haven't got a date for Saturday night．
How can you tell the real meaning behind someone's words？One way is to take a good look at the person talking．Do his words fit the way he looks？Is what he says in aGREement with the tone（语气）of voice？His posture（姿势）？The look in his eyes？Stop and think．The minute you spend thinking about the real meaning of what people say to you may prevent another mistake．
1．In the first paragraph，the writer brings back to the mind something that happened between him and his friends．He ________．
A．feels happy，thinking of how nice his friends were to him
B．feels he might not have“read”his friends'true feelings correctly
C．thinks it was a mistake to have broken up with his girl friend，Helen
D．is sorry that his friends let him down
2．In the second paragraph，the writer talks about someone saying，“You're a lucky dog．”He is saying that ________．
A．the speaker of this sentence is just being friendly
B．this saying means the same as“You're a lucky guy．”or“You're a lucky gal．”
C．the word“dog”shouldn't be used to refer to people
D．Sometimes the words give some suggestive idea to the feeling behind the words
3．This passage tries to tell us how to ________．
A．keep away from mistakes about money and friends
B．form a judgement or opinion of people
C．keep away from mistakes in understanding people
D．keep people friendly without trusting them
4．In listening to a person the important thing is ________．
A．to notice his tone，his posture，and the look in his eye
B．to believe what he has said
C．to take a good look at him，and think before you believe
D．never to believe what he says
5．If you follow the writer's advice，you will ________．
A．weigh what people say to find out their real meaning
B．not believe anything anybody says
C．think of the opposite of what people say
D．believe people in order not to go wrong about them
参考答案：1．B 2．D 3．C 4．C 5．A
