Communications technologies are far from equal when it comes to conveying the truth．The first study to compare honesty across a range of communication media has found that people are twice as likely to tell lies in phone conversations as they are in emails．The fact that emails are automatically recorded—and can come back to puzzle you---appears to be the key to the finding．

Jeff Hancock of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, asked 30 students to keep a communications diary for a week．In it they noted the number of conversations or email exchanges they had lasting more than 10 minutes, and confessed to how many lies they told．Hancock then worked out the number of lies per conversation for each medium．He found that lies made up 14 per cent of emails, 21 percent of instant messages, 27 per cent of face-to-face interactions and an astonishing 37 percent of phone calls．

His results to be presented at the conference on human-computer interaction in Vienna, Austria, in April, have surprised psychologists．Some expected emailers to be the biggest liars, reasoning that because deception makes people uncomfortable, the indirect contact of emailing would make it easier to lie．Others expected people to lie more in face-to-face exchanges because we are most practiced at that form of communication．

But Hancock says it is also crucial whether a conversation is being recorded and could be reread, and whether it occurs in real time．People appear to be afraid to lie when they know the communication could later be used to hold them to account, he says．This is why fewer lies appear in email than on the phone．

People are also more likely to lie in real time---in an instant message or phone call, say---than if they have time to think of a response, says Hancock．He found many lies are spontaneous（脫口而出） responses to an unexpected demand, such as: “Do you like my dress?”

Hancock hopes his research will help companies work out the best ways for their employees to communicate．For instance, the phone might be the best medium for sales where employees are encouraged to stretch the truth．But, given his result, work assessment where honesty is a priority, might be best done using email．

1.Hancock’s study focuses on _______．

A．the consequences of lying in various communications media

B．the success of communications technologies in conveying ideas

C．people are less likely to lie in instant messages

D．people’s honesty levels across a range of communications media

2.Hancock’s research finding surprised those who believed that _____．

A．people are less likely to lie instant messages

B．people are unlikely to lie in face-to-face interactions

C．people are most likely to lie in email communication

D．people are twice as likely to lie in phone conversations

3.According to the passage, why are people more likely to tell the truth through certain media of communication?

A．They are afraid of leaving behind traces of their lies

B．They believe that honesty is the best policy

C．They tend to be relaxed wh en using those media

D．They are most practised at those forms of communication

4.It can be inferred from the passage that ________．

A．honesty should be encouraged in interpersonal communications

B．suitable media should be chosen for different communication purposes

C．more employers will use emails to communicate with their employees

D．email is now the dominant medium of communication within a company

 

Communications technologies are far from equal when it comes to conveying the truth．The first study to compare honesty across a range of communication media has found that people are twice as likely to tell lies in phone conversations as they are in emails．The fact that emails are automatically recorded—and can come back to puzzle you---appears to be the key to the finding．

       Jeff Hancock of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, asked 30 students to keep a communications diary for a week．In it they noted the number of conversations or email exchanges they had lasting more than 10 minutes, and confessed to how many lies they told．Hancock then worked out the number of lies per conversation for each medium．He found that lies made up 14 per cent of emails, 21 percent of instant messages, 27 per cent of face-to-face interactions and an astonishing 37 percent of phone calls．

       His results to be presented at the conference on human-computer interaction in Vienna, Austria, in April, have surprised psychologists．Some expected emailers to be the biggest liars, reasoning that because deception makes people uncomfortable, the indirect contact of emailing would make it easier to lie．Others expected people to lie more in face-to-face exchanges because we are most practiced at that form of communication．

       But Hancock says it is also crucial whether a conversation is being recorded and could be reread, and whether it occurs in real time．People appear to be afraid to lie when they know the communication could later be used to hold them to account, he says．This is why fewer lies appear in email than on the phone．

       People are also more likely to lie in real time---in an instant message or phone call, say---than if they have time to think of a response, says Hancock．He found many lies are spontaneous（脫口而出） responses to an unexpected demand, such as: “Do you like my dress?”

       Hancock hopes his research will help companies work out the best ways for their employees to communicate．For instance, the phone might be the best medium for sales where employees are encouraged to stretch the truth．But, given his result, work assessment where honesty is a priority, might be best done using email．

Hancock’s study focuses on _______．

      A．the consequences of lying in various communications media

      B．the success of communications technologies in conveying ideas

      C．people are less likely to lie in instant messages

      D．people’s honesty levels across a range of communications media

Hancock’s research finding surprised those who believed that _____．

      A．people are less likely to lie instant messages

      B．people are unlikely to lie in face-to-face interactions

      C．people are most likely to lie in email communication

      D．people are twice as likely to lie in phone conversations

According to the passage, why are people more likely to tell the truth through certain media of communication?

      A．They are afraid of leaving behind traces of their lies

      B．They believe that honesty is the best policy

      C．They tend to be relaxed wh en using those media

      D．They are most practised at those forms of communication

It can be inferred from the passage that ________．

      A．honesty should be encouraged in interpersonal communications

      B．suitable media should be chosen for different communication purposes

       C．more employers will use emails to communicate with their employees

      D．email is now the dominant medium of communication within a company

Communications technologies are far from equal when it comes to conveying the truth．The first study to compare honesty across a range of communication media has found that people are twice as likely to tell lies in phone conversations as they are in emails．The fact that emails are automatically recorded—and can come back to puzzle you---appears to be the key to the finding．
Jeff Hancock of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, asked 30 students to keep a communications diary for a week．In it they noted the number of conversations or email exchanges they had lasting more than 10 minutes, and confessed to how many lies they told．Hancock then worked out the number of lies per conversation for each medium．He found that lies made up 14 per cent of emails, 21 percent of instant messages, 27 per cent of face-to-face interactions and an astonishing 37 percent of phone calls．
His results to be presented at the conference on human-computer interaction in Vienna, Austria, in April, have surprised psychologists．Some expected emailers to be the biggest liars, reasoning that because deception makes people uncomfortable, the indirect contact of emailing would make it easier to lie．Others expected people to lie more in face-to-face exchanges because we are most practiced at that form of communication．
But Hancock says it is also crucial whether a conversation is being recorded and could be reread, and whether it occurs in real time．People appear to be afraid to lie when they know the communication could later be used to hold them to account, he says．This is why fewer lies appear in email than on the phone．
People are also more likely to lie in real time---in an instant message or phone call, say---than if they have time to think of a response, says Hancock．He found many lies are spontaneous（脫口而出） responses to an unexpected demand, such as: “Do you like my dress?”
Hancock hopes his research will help companies work out the best ways for their employees to communicate．For instance, the phone might be the best medium for sales where employees are encouraged to stretch the truth．But, given his result, work assessment where honesty is a priority, might be best done using email．
【小題1】Hancock’s study focuses on _______．

A．the consequences of lying in various communications media

B．the success of communications technologies in conveying ideas

C．people are less likely to lie in instant messages

D．people’s honesty levels across a range of communications media

【小題2】Hancock’s research finding surprised those who believed that _____．

A．people are less likely to lie instant messages

B．people are unlikely to lie in face-to-face interactions

C．people are most likely to lie in email communication

D．people are twice as likely to lie in phone conversations

【小題3】According to the passage, why are people more likely to tell the truth through certain media of communication?

A．They are afraid of leaving behind traces of their lies

B．They believe that honesty is the best policy

C．They tend to be relaxed wh en using those media

D．They are most practised at those forms of communication

【小題4】It can be inferred from the passage that ________．

A．honesty should be encouraged in interpersonal communications

B．suitable media should be chosen for different communication purposes

C．more employers will use emails to communicate with their employees

D．email is now the dominant medium of communication within a company

吃蘋果的人比不吃蘋果的人身體更健康。

誤：Apple eaters prove healthier than those don't．

正：Apple eaters prove healthier than those who don't．

閱讀訓(xùn)練

閱讀下面短文，判斷句子的正(T)誤(F)。

　　Every year the U． S． government keeps records of inventions． Of these only a few become popular and make a lot of money． There are thousands of inventions that nobody wants． Here are some of those．

　　In 1879, somebody invented a new type of “fire escape” , This was a special “hat” which had a parachute on top． You attached the hat with a strap under your chin． With this special hat on you could jump from a building on fire and float safely down． With it there was also a special pair of shoes with thick rubber soles, so the person landed safely．

　　There was a special alarm clock for people who had problems ：waking up in the morning． This clock had sixty pieces of wood that hung above your head． At the right time, the pies of wood dropped down on you when you were sleeping． They hit you but didn't hurt you． Therefore, you woke up．

　　Another invention was the bicycle seat to stop a thief． This seat had needles in it． When the owner rode the bicycle the needles were down． But when the bicycle was not in use, the needles were up． Therefore, a thief who jumped on the bike got a nice surprise !

1．The fire escape was a special “hat” with special shoes．

2．The special shoes of the fire escape became popular．

3．You attached the shoes to your chin．

4．The special alarm clock had special sound．

5．The special alarm clock hung over your head．

6．The bicycle seat to stop a thief had needles．