A firm handshake is the 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.
A US research looked at 98 undergraduates taking part in mock（模拟）interviews with businesses. As each undergraduate was graded on their general performance, five “handshake raters（评估人）” 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（胆怯的）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（非语言的）clues we get about the person’s general 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 overenthusiastic “bone crusher” handshake can indicate self-importance, a controlling personality and a lack of reliability.
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:Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
| A．The firmer your handshake is the better impression you leave. |
| B．The undergraduates without a firm handshake are less competitive. |
| C．Generally speaking, women shake hands less with others. |
| D．The handshake dates back to medieval Europe. |
小题3:What is the main idea of the passage?
| A．The handshake determines a person’s personality. |
| B．A successful job interview starts with a firm handshake. |
| C．The first few minutes of the interview really counts. |
| D．Job interview success depends on a number of factors. |