Directions: Read the following passage. Summarize the main idea
and the main point(s) of the passage in no more than 60 words. Use your own
words as far as possible.
Most of us — even those at
the top — struggle with public-speaking anxiety. When I ask my clients what
makes them nervous, invariably they respond with the same answers: "I don't
like being watched", "I don't like the eyes on me" or "I
don't like being in the spotlight".
To understand why, we need
to go way back to prehistoric times, when humans regarded eyes watching us as
an existential threat. Those eyes were likely predators (肉食动物) and people were terrified of being eaten alive. The bad news is
that our brains have transferred the ancient fear of being watched into public
speaking. In other words, public-speaking anxiety is in our DNA.
Fortunately, there is a
solution: human generosity. The key to disarming our panic button is to turn
the focus away from ourselves and toward helping the audience. Studies have
shown that an increase in generosity indeed leads to a decrease in amygdala (扁桃腺) activity, which is responsible for our panic feeling in the
brain. When we are kind to others, we overcome the sense of being under attack
and start to feel less nervous.
Admittedly, this is hard to
do. But it's absolutely possible to become a generous speaker. To begin with,
when you start preparing for a presentation, the mistake you often make is
starting with the topic. Instead, you should start with the audience. Identify
the audience's needs, and craft a message that speaks directly to those needs.
Also, you are the most nervous right before you speak. This is the moment when
your brain is telling you, "Everyone is judging me." But it is
exactly the moment when you should refocus your brain. Over time, your brain
will begin to get it, and you will become less nervous.
答案: Many people have public-speaking anxiety because they fear being watched. The reason dates back to prehistoric times when humans regarded eyes watching them as those of the predators that would eat them. To solve the problem, people should be generous to the audience/ focus on helping the audience. They should speak directly to the audience's needs and refocus their brain before speaking.