单选题

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Among the many ways in which people communicate through speech, public speaking—also called oratory—has probably received more study and attracted more attention than any other. Politicians campaigning for public office, salespeople presenting products, and preachers delivering sermons all depend upon this form of public communication. Even people who do not make speaking a part of their daily work are often asked to make public speeches: students at graduation or at pep rallies, for instance, or members of churches, synagogues, clubs, or other organizations. Nearly everyone speaks in public at some time or other, and those who perform the task well often become leaders.
Public speaking is not informal conversation between two people—nor is it free discussion in a small group or seminar. Speaking becomes public speaking when a person addresses a group of more than one, without interruption, and takes responsibility for the words and ideas being expressed. Public speaking always includes a speaker who has a reason for speaking, an audience that gives that speaker its attention, and a message meant to accomplish a purpose.
There are many reasons for speaking in public. An orator may hope to teach an audience about new ideas, for example, or provide information about some topic. Creating a good feeling or entertaining an audience may be another purpose. Public speakers, however, most often seek to persuade an audience to adopt new opinions, to take certain actions, or to see the world in a new way.
Public speakers usually know well in advance when they are scheduled to make an address. Consequently, they are able to prepare their message before they deliver it. Sometimes, though, speakers must deliver the message unprepared, or off the cuff, such as when they are asked to offer a toast at a wedding reception or to participate in a televised debate, or interview. Spontaneous speaking of this type is called extemporaneous, or impromptu speaking.
When they do not have to speak extemporaneously, most speakers write their own speeches. Politicians and business executives sometimes employ professional writers who prepare their speeches for them. These professional writers may work alone or in small teams. Although the speaker may have some input into the contents of the speech, the writers sometimes have a great influence over the opinions expressed by their employers. Regardless of how a speech is prepared, the person who delivers it is given credit for its effect upon its hearers.

单选题 According to the passage, public speaking______.

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】细节判断题。关键词是public speaking，第一段第一句说，在许多语言交际方式中，公开演讲所受到的研究和注意超过其他任何一种：第一段最后一句说，几乎每个人都会不时地需要作演讲，而那些做得非常出色的常常会成为领导人，可见public speaking是人们最重要的语言交际手段之一，所以[B]为正确答案。[A]太绝对，也不符合第一段主题；[C]与第二段的第一句话意思相反；[D]概念理解错误，将“公开演讲”(面向公众的演讲)误解为公众所作的演讲。

单选题 All of the following are mentioned as possible purposes for public speaking EXCEPT______.

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】细节题。问哪一个演讲的动机或目的文中没有提到。关键词是possible purposes前三个选项都在第三段提到了，[A]意思是“激发一种好的情感并娱乐听众”，在第三段第三句提及，只是采用了同义词替换，原文的create替换为bring out，entertain替换为amuse；[B]意思是“宣传新观点或传播信息”，对应信息是原文第三段第二句，也采用了同义词语替换，原文的teach换为publicize，provide替换为broadcast；[C]意思是“使听众信服某事或说服听众去做某事”，对应信息是原文第三段最后一句，原文意思是“演讲者常常试图说服听众接受某种新观点，采取某种行动，或以一种新的眼光看世界”；[D]意思是“在公众场合炫耀口才”，原文没有提及。故正确答案为[D]。

单选题 Public speakers______.

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】细节题。关键词是public speakers，要求准确理解有关演讲者的细节内容。从第四段可知。演讲者通常都预先了解要讲什么，并且提前作些准备，而只是有些时候会发表即席演讲等，比较选项只有[D]“演讲者通常会提前做准备”与此一致；[A]意思是“演讲者常常对听众发表即席演讲”，而原文说只是有些时候会发表即席演讲，而不是常常这样做；[B]是“演讲者通常不能提前做准备”，与此相悖；[C]意思是“演讲者不能不加准备就发表演讲”，而原文说有些时候会发表即席演讲。

单选题 The phrase "off the cuff" (Line 3, Para. 4)most probably means______.

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】词汇题。短语所在第四段前半部分讲到通常演讲者会提前做准备，后半段讲到的是不能提前做准备的即席演讲，而且句中用了unprepared or off the cuff，根据意义和用词上前后对应关系，显然off the cuff就是unprepared的同义词即：without preparation. 故正确答案为[C]。off the subject：“偏离主题”；at random：“随意”；out of breath：“喘不过气来”均不符合文章的意思。

单选题 We can infer from the passage that the employed professional writers______.

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】细节推理题。关键词是employed professional writers要求就被雇用的职业撰稿人的情况进行推断。有关信息出现在最后一段倒数第二句Although the speaker… expressed by their employers意思是说，尽管演讲者会将自己的思想融入演讲稿，但起草演讲稿的职业撰稿人有时会对演讲者表达的观点产生影响。由此可知，受雇的职业撰稿人有可能会通过演讲者间接地影响听众，选项[D]与此一致，故为正确答案。[A]说职业撰稿人总是集体工作为雇主写演讲稿，但原文说的是他们有时独立工作，有时集体工作；[B]意思是“演讲对听众所产生的影响归于演讲者”，这是演讲者的情况，而非职业撰稿人的情况；[C]说“职业写手们不会在演讲稿中融入自己的思想”，与此意相悖。