A firm handshake is key to interview success. As any serious job-hunter knows, it helps to dress smartly and smile at that all-important interview. But research has showed that a firm handshake is what really matters when it comes to impressing potential employers.
The US research looked at 98 undergraduates taking part in mock (模拟) interviews with businesses. As each undergraduate was graded on their overall performance, five "handshake raters" also marked them on their grasp, strength, duration, vigor and eye contact.
Professor Greg Stewart, from the University of Iowa, who led the study, said those who scored highly with the handshake raters were also considered to be the most hirable by the interviewers. Students with " wimpy" shakes were judged to be more timid and less impressive.
The study also found women with a firm handshake were likely to be evaluated more favorably than their male counterparts.
Professor Stewart said: "We've always heard that interviewers make up their mind about a person in the first two or three minutes of an interview. But we found that the first impression begins with a handshake that sets the tone for the rest of the interview. We don't consciously remember a person's handshake but it is one of the first non-verbal clues we get about the person's overall personality, and that impression is what we remember."
Women were less likely to have a highly rated handshake, partly because traditionally they shake hands less than men. But when women did possess a firm handshake, they were likely to be evaluated more favorably than their male counterparts.
Body language experts warn, however, that the firmness needs to be just right, - as an over enthusiastic "bone crusher" handshake can indicate self-importance, a controlling personality and a lack of trustworthiness.
The handshake is thought to have originated in medieval Europe as a way for kings and knights to show that they did not intend to harm each other and possessed no hidden weapons.
小题1:The passage is probably intended for ______.
A．job-hunters
B．an undergraduate
C．employers
D．handshake raters小题2:From the first paragraph we know that in an interview ______.
A．dressing smartly is more important than a firm handshake
B．smile has no effect on impressing potential employers
C．a firm handshake is more important than dressing smartly, and smile
D．dressing smartly, smile and a firm handshake are of the same importance小题3:Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
A．The firmer your handshake is the better impression you leave.
B．The undergraduates without a firm handshake are thought to be less impressive.
C．Generally speaking, women shake hands less with others.
D．It's said that the handshake dates back to medieval Europe.小题4:What is the main idea of the passage?
A．Women with a firm handshake were likely to leave a better impression than men.
B．A successful job interview starts with a firm handshake.
C．Dressing, smile and a firm handshake are all important to a successful job interview.
D．Job interview success depends on interviewees' body language.
小题1:A
小题2:C
小题3:A
小题4:B
题目分析:
小题1:推理题，由第一段第一行As any serious job-hunter knows可以推出答案，故选A。
小题2:推理题。由第一段第一句A firm handshake is key to interview success. 可以推出答案，所以选C。
小题3:推理题，由倒数第三段最后一句But when women did possess a firm handshake, they were likely to be evaluated more favorably than their male counterparts. 可以推出答案，所以选A
小题4:推理题，第一段第一句A firm handshake is key to interview success是本文的主题句，所以选B
点评：本文说明了一个坚定的握手是面试成功的关键。推断题测试考生在阅读基础上的逻辑推理能力，要求考生根据文章所述事件的逻辑关系，对未说明的趋势或结局作出合理的推断；或根据作者所阐述的观点理论，对文章未涉及的现象、事例给以解释。考生首先要仔细阅读短文，完整了解信息，准确把握作者观点。