CalvinCoolidge(1872–1933)wasthethirtiethpresidentoftheUnitedStates.Helookeddownonapersonasbeingunworthyofrespectwhowastoofondoftalkingaboutthedetailsofotherspeople’sactionsandprivatelivesbecausehehadnotimeforsmalltalks.ThefollowingtwoincidentsclearlyshowhowCollidgetreasuredsilence.
WhenhewasvicepresidentCoolidgehadplentyofopportunitiestoparticipate(参加)inWashington’ssociallifeespeciallythemanydinnerparties.Asbeignoredtheartofconversationhecouldn’texactlymakehimselfdeartohishostesses.Oneladyfeltshecouldsolvethisproblem.SheplacedhimnexttoAliceRooseveltLongworthdaughteroftheformerPresidentRoosevelt.Mrs.Longworthaverybrilliantconversationalist(谈话者)begantotalkinherusualcharmingmannerbutallattemptstoawaketheinterestonthepartofthevicepresidentwereunproductive.Finallybeingshamedintoangershesaid“I’msurethatgoingtoasmanydinnersasyoudoyoumustgetterriblybored.”
WithoutliftinghiseyesfromhisplateCoolidgesaidnotveryclearly“Wellamanhastoeatsomewhere.”
LaterwhenhewaspresidentandonceagainatadinnerpartyCollidgewasseatednexttoanoutstandingsocietywomanoneofthosebusybodieswhoseemedtotakedelightintryingtochangethelivesofeveryonetheymet.“OhMr.President”shespokewithtoomuchenthusiasm“youarealwayssoquiet.Imadeabet(打赌)todaythatIcouldgetmorethantwowordsoutofyou.”
PresidentCollidgeconsideredthosepeopleasbeingunworthyofrespect .
A．wholikedtotalkabouttheaffairsofothers
B．whonevertalkedaboutanythingserious
C．whooftenspokeinsincerely
D．whotalkedmuchbutdidlittle
ThehostessesthoughtCollidgewasunfriendlybecause inhereyes.
A．hetreatedwomencoldlyandrudely
B．hepaidnoattentiontoconversationalskills
C．hewastooserioustopleaseanywomen
D．hewasprettyeasyandquicktogetangry
Mrs.Longworthgotshamedandangrybecause .
A．thevicepresidenttookpartintoomanydinnerparties
B．thevicepresidentdidn’tlifthiseyesfromhisplate
C．thevicepresidentdidn’tspeake