The Sound of Finnish Silence芬兰式的沉默之声

by Leigh Goldberg

Being quiet doesn't always equal being shy.
安静并不总是与害羞划上等号。

You're out with a group of friends just having a good time. All of a sudden, a simple question regarding one's favorite movie turns into a heated discussion. _(1)_ Perhaps you stay silent because you don't know how to add anything relevant to the conversation, or you don't think anyone cares about what you have to say. _(2)_ However, this is not the case in Finland.
As a positive cultural trait, Finnish silence is the act of actively listening but not immediately and thoughtlessly chiming in. Furthermore, opinions are expressed only when they have relevancy to the topic at hand and not to fill in any uncomfortable silences. For Finns, silent observation is a sign of respect, whereas speaking profusely and interrupting others is rude and offensive. _(3)_ This is not to say that Finns don't know how to make small talk, though, because they do that when the need arises.
Finnish silence has been around since before the industrial era, when it was more essential to find food than to have mindless conversations. _(4)_ Finns learn from an early age that silence is quite acceptable and nothing to be looked down upon. The challenge now is for them to break their silence in order to explain this aspect of their culture to people who haven't been raised in a similar fashion. _(5)_

(A) This silence is uncomfortable for cultures that stress keeping conversations going at any cost.
(B) Everyone puts in his or her two cents' worth, except you.
(C) They also see it as a way to preserve harmony with others, themselves, and nature.
(D) In Taiwan and most Western countries, your quietness would be negatively seen as shyness, a reflection of low self-esteem, and a lack of social skills.
(E) That way, they can share all the positives of living in Finnish silence.

1. 第一题空格应选 (B)
   理由:
   a. 空格前一句提到 "..., a simple question regarding one's favorite movie turns into a heated discussion."（……一个与某人最爱的电影相关的简单问题成了热烈讨论的话题。），而选项 (B) 中提及，"Everyone puts in his or her two cents' worth..."（……，每个人都各自发表其意见。），两句皆提及『讨论话题』与『发表意见』，故产生关联。
   b. 根据上述，(B) 项应为正选。
   大补丸:
   put in sb's two cents' worth发表意见
   Let's give Eli a chance to put in his two cents' worth about the book.
   我们给伊莱一次机会，让他发表对这本书的看法。
2. 第二题空格应选 (D)
   理由:
   a. 空格後一句提到 "However, this is not the case in Finland."（然而，在芬兰却不是这麽一回事。），
   而选项 (D) 中提到 "In Taiwan and most Western countries, your quietness would be negatively seen as shyness..."（在台湾以及大多数西方国家，你的安静会被负面解读为害羞……），两句皆有提及『国家名称』形成对照，故产生关联。
   b. 根据上述，(D) 项应为正选。
   大补丸:
   a. quietness n. 安静
   b. reflection n. 反映；反射
   c. self-esteem n. 自尊（心）
   Getting that job really boosted Michael's self-esteem.
   得到那份工作大大提升了麦可的自尊心。
3. 第三题空格应选 (C)
   理由:
   a. 空格前一句提到 "For Finns, silent observation is a sign of respect..."（对於芬兰人来说，沉默的观察象徵一种尊重……），而选项 (C) 补充说明 "They also see it as a way to preserve harmony with others... "（他们也把沉默视为一种和他人……保持和谐的方式），後一句中的 it 指的即
   是前一句的 silent observation（沉默的观察），故形成关联。
   b. 根据上述，(C) 项应为正选。
   大补丸:
   a. preserve vt. 保持；维护
   The group fought to preserve the wildlife in this area.
   该团体为了保护这地区的野生动物而战。
   b. harmony n. 和谐
4. 第四题空格应选 (A)
   理由:
   a. 空格前一句提到 "...when it was more essential to find food than to have mindless conversations."（……当时找寻食物比起没意义的对话来得更重要。），而选项 (A) 的句子进一步说明 "...for cultures that stress keeping conversations going at any cost." （对於强调不论如何都要把对话持续下去的众多文化来说……），两句皆提及关键字 conversation（对话），故产生关联。
   b. 根据上述，(A) 项应为正选。
   大补丸:
   a. stress vt. 强调
   The doctor made a speech that stressed the importance of a balanced diet.
   那位医师发表了一场演说，内容在强调均衡饮食的重要性。
   b. at any cost不惜任何代价
   Soldiers are trained to defend the country at any cost.
   军人接受训练是为了要不惜代价地保卫国家。
5. 第五题空格应选 (E)
   理由:
   a. 空格前一句提到 "The challenge now is for them to break their silence..."（目前的挑战就是要让他们打破沉默……），而选项 (E) 的句
   子补充说明 "That way, they can share..."（那样一来，他们就可以分享……），前後语意连贯。
   b. 根据上述，(E) 项应为正选。

1. all of a sudden突然地
   = all at once
   = suddenly adv.
   Judy burst into tears for no reason all of a sudden.
   茱蒂突然无缘无故就大哭了起来。
2. relevant a. 有关的（与介词 to 并用）
   be relevant to...和……有关
   I don't think your question is directly relevant to our agenda.
   我不认为你的问题与本议程有直接的关联。
3. be (not) the case就（不）是这种情况
   Many people enjoy reading, but that isn't the case for me.
   很多人喜欢阅读，但我却不喜欢。
4. chime in插话
   chime vi.（钟）鸣响；和谐（与 with 并用）
   Rachel kept chiming in with her own opinions.
   瑞秋一直在插嘴，表明自己的意见。
   What you just said does not quite chime with our views.
   你刚才说的和我们的见解很不一致。
5. observation n. 观察
   Bruce is a man of keen observation and few words.
   布鲁斯是个观察敏锐而不多话的人。
6. interrupt vt. 打断
   The earthquake interrupted Dr. Wang's class.
   这场地震打断了王博士的课程。
7. offensive a. 冒犯的；得罪人的
   You should bite your tongue if you think you're going to say something offensive.
   当你觉得你说的话会冒犯到别人时，你就应该保持沉默。
   ＊bite your tongue保持沉默
8. arise vi. 产生，发生（三态为∶arise, arose, arisen。）
   Many difficulties have arisen in May's life, but she has gotten through them.
   阿梅的生活中发生过许多难题，不过她都能迎刃而解。

1. Finnish a. 芬兰（人）的
2. turn into...变成……
3. heated a. 热烈的
4. trait n. 特质
5. thoughtlessly adv. 不加思索地，草率地
6. relevancy n. 关联
7. Finn n. 芬兰人
8. profusely adv. 大量地，很多地
9. small talk闲谈
10. mindless a. 不需动脑筋的
11. look down upon...轻视　瞧不起……

芬兰式的沉默之声
安静并不总是与害羞划上等号。
你正和一群朋友在外面玩得很开心。突然，

一个与某人最爱的电影相关的简单问题成了热烈讨论的话题。除了你之外，每个人都各自发表其意见。可能你保持沉默是因为你不知道要如何在对话中加入相关的东西，或是你不认为有任何人会在意你说些什麽。在台湾以及大多数西方国家，你的安静会被负面解读为害羞、反映出自信心不足以及缺乏社交技巧。然而，在芬兰却不是这麽一回事。
以一种积极的文化特质来看，芬兰式的沉默是一种主动聆听的行为，但不会立即而不加思索地插话。此外，只有在有适切话题的时候他们才会表达自己的意见，而不是以令人不自在的沉默来回应。对於芬兰人来说，沉默的观察象徵一种尊重，而说很多话又打断别人谈话是很无礼而会得罪人的。他们也把沉默视为一种和他人、自己与大自然保持和谐的方式。然而，这不是说芬兰人不知道如何闲话家常，因为他们在有必要时也会这麽做。
芬兰式的沉默从工业时代之前到现在都一直存在，当时找寻食物比起没意义的对话来得更重要。这种沉默对於强调不论如何都要把对话持续下去的众多文化来说很不自在。芬兰人从小就知道沉默是普遍能被接受的，且完全不会被人看不起。现前的挑战就是要让他们打破沉默，目的是要向那些不曾在类似环境中长大的人解释他们的文化观点。那样一来，他们就可以以芬兰式的沉默来分享所有生活中的积极面了。
答案∶1. B2. D3. C4. A5. E