In English classes, we spend a large amount of time studying grammar and learning new words. We work hard to improve our reading and listening skills. Few of us, however, pay enough attention to body language. So body language is not important, is it?

The answer is “Yes!” As the old saying goes, “________” Sometimes, we can communicate things even without a single word. For example, shrug our shoulders, and, without a word, we’ve just said, “don’t know.”

Body language can help us stress what we are saying. It can help us express our true feelings. What’s more, body language can help us find out if someone is lying. Often, people who are lying do not make eye contact. They may turn away or raise their shoulders because they are uncomfortable with the conversation.

In job interviews, the interviewers can sometimes judge the interviewee before he or she speaks. ________ It can show if you really care about your friends. Leaning forward into the conversation, for example, means you are interested in what is being said. Listening without making eye contact means you are not paying attention but are waiting for your turn to speak.

________ They say more than 70% of our messages are delivered through body language. Sometimes, body language is more accurate than the words we use.

So it is very important for us to learn body language. By understanding body language, we are more likely to be understood. We will find it easier to get a job. We will also have lasting friendships.

Body language is one of the most powerful means of communication, often even more powerful than spoken language. People around the world show all kinds of feelings, wishes and attitudes that they might never speak aloud. It is possible to read others around us, even if they do not want us to catch their unspoken communication. Of course, body language can be misread, but many gestures and actions are common.

The most common facial expression is, of course, the smile—its function is to show happiness and put people at ease. It does not always mean that we are truly happy, however. Smiles around the world can be false, hiding other feelings like anger, fear or worry. There are unhappy smiles, such as when someone loses face and smiles to hide it. However, the general purpose of smiling is to show good feelings.

From the time we are babies, we show unhappiness or anger by frowning. In most places around the world, frowning and turning one’s back to someone shows anger. Making a fist and shaking it almost always means that someone is angry.

How about showing that I am bored? Looking away from people or yawning will, in most cases, make me appear to be uninterested. However, if I turn toward and look at someone or something, people from almost every culture will think that I am interested.

Being respectful to people is subjective, based on each culture, but in general it is probably not a good idea to give a hug to boss or teacher. In almost every culture, it is not usually good to stand too close to someone of a higher rank. Standing at a little distance with open hands will show that I am willing to listen.

With so many cultural differences between people, it is great to have some similarities in body language. We can often be wrong about each other, so it is an amazing thing that we understand each other as well as we do!

【推荐3】A well-dressed lady（A）came into the office. She looked at Debbie and Simon, and then walked over to Debbie. Debbie gave her a cheerful greeting.

Simon sighed and walked away.

（B）”怎么了?”Mr Yang asked.

“People（C）always choose Debbie instead of me. I don’t understand.”

“I do. It’s the way you communicate.”

“How can that be?” Simon asked. “I don’t get a chance to speak.”

“Communicating is（D）________ than just speaking. Your body language is important, too.”

“Body language?”

“It’s the way you stand and sit. It’s your gestures and the expression on your（E）________. Your whole appearance communicates things.（F）You don’t give people a good impression, Simon. You look down, you never smiles and you don’t turn your head towards them. Look at Debbie. She’s holding her head up. She always smiles and looks friendly. Her body language is making people feel welcome, so they go to her for help.”