单选题 Calvin Coolidge (1872—1933) was the thirtieth president of the United States. He looked down on a person as being unworthy of respect who was too fond of talking about the details of other people"s actions and private lives; he had no time for small talk. The following two incidents clearly show how Coolidge treasured silence.
When he was vice-president, Coolidge had plenty of opportunity to participate in Washington"s social life, especially the many dinner parties. Because of his complete disregard for the art of conversation, he couldn"t exactly make himself dear to his hostesses. One lady felt she could solve this problem. She placed him next to Alice Roosevelt Longworth, daughter of former President Theodore Roosevelt. Mrs. Longworth, brilliant conversationalist, began to talk in her usual charming manner, but all attempts to awake interest on the part of vice-president were un-productive. Finally, being shamed into annoyance, she said, "I"m sure that going to as many dinners as you do, you must get terribly bored."
Without lifting his eyes from his plate, Coolidge said not very clearly, "Well, a man has to eat somewhere."
Later, when he was president and once again at a dinner party, Coolidge was seated next to an outstanding society woman, one of those people who seem to take delight in trying to change the lives of everyone they meet. "Oh, Mr. President," she spoke with too much enthusiasm, "you are always so quiet. I made a bet (打赌) today that I could get more than two words out of you.
In anger, the president made a low, rough sound and then said, "You lose."

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】这个词组出现在文中第四段第一句话中“……柯立芝坐在一位杰出的女交际家旁边，她是那类似乎take delight in试图改变他们遇见的每个人的生活的人”。从下文可以看出，这位女交际家用过度热情的方式说话，并试图让柯立芝总统多说话。由此我们可以推知，这位女交际家把改变别人的生活方式当做乐趣，因此此题答案为C。