Question

【題目】Small talk

Americans often have short conversations, called small talk, about unimportant things with strangers or people they know but not very well. They may have small talk at parties, while waiting in line at the store, at family events or work. It's a way to say hi and express friendliness.

Small talk is very useful. It can avoid uncomfortable silences and build stronger relationships. For example, when you first meet someone or talk to someone you don't know well, you can break the ice by making small talk. Small talk with a colleague(同事) about his child may help you to understand more of his life outside the office.

In 2013 , researchers from the University of Essex asked some people to make small talk in a study. They found small talk can make people happier. People who talked briefly(短暫地) with a waiter in a coffee shop felt happier than those who simply went in ,ordered and left.

However some people are not good at small talk. Here are some tips to improve your small-talking ability.

Firstly, find common ground. When you have something similar with your speaking partner, that means you have something to talk about.

Secondly, ask open-ended questions. They are suitable(合適的) for small talk. For example, if you ask visitors whether they like your city, they may simply say "Yes. "But if you ask "What do you think of our city," they will have more freedom in how they answer.

Thirdly, become a student. Nobody knows everything. So, as someone is answering one of your open-ended questions, they bring up something about which you know nothing. So, tell them! This lets the other person become the teacher. They feel good about sharing their knowledge and you get to learn something. It's a win-win situation.

Finally, practice makes perfect. Like anything, getting good at making small talk takes practice.

If you make small talk in your native language, you might become happier. If you are making small talk using English, you will most surely improve your speaking and listening skills.

【1】Do Americans often have small talk?

【2】Why is small talk useful?

【3】What did some researchers from the University of Essex find in 2013?

【4】What kind of questions are suitable for small talk?

【5】What does the writer tell us about small talk in the passage?

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】Yes/Yes, they do

【2】Because it can avoid uncomfortable silence and build stronger relationship.

【3】Small talk can make people happier.

【4】Open-ended questions.

【5】What small talk is, the benefits of it and how to improve small-talking ability.

【解析】

美國人經(jīng)常進行較短的對話，他們叫“閑聊”。閑聊是和陌生人或者不熟悉的人聊一些不重要的事。本文列舉了閑聊的一些好處，同時也給不會閑聊的人一些提示。

【1】此問題是一個一般疑問句，意為“美國人經(jīng)常閑聊嗎？” 根據(jù)Americans often have short conversations, called small talk…可知美國人經(jīng)常進行短對話，也就是閑聊。因此答案應(yīng)該為肯定的，用Yes回答。故答案為Yes/Yes, they do。

【2】問題意為“為什么閑聊是有用的?”根據(jù)Small talk is very useful. It can avoid uncomfortable silences and build stronger relationships.可知閑聊很有用，它可以避免讓人不舒服的安靜，同時建立更強的友誼關(guān)系。故答案為Because it can avoid uncomfortable silence and build stronger relationship.。

【3】問題意為“2013年埃塞克斯大學(xué)的研究者發(fā)現(xiàn)了什么？”根據(jù)They found small talk can make people happier.可知他們發(fā)現(xiàn)閑聊會讓人更快樂。故答案為Small talk can make people happier.。

【4】問題意為“哪類問題適合于閑聊？”根據(jù)Secondly, ask open-ended questions. They are suitable(合適的) for small talk.可知開放性的問題是和閑聊。故答案為Open-ended questions.。

【5】問題意為“在這篇文章里作者告訴我們關(guān)于閑聊的什么？” 縱觀全文，第一段引出閑聊的概念；第二段說明閑聊很有用；第三段講述閑聊會讓人開心；之后給出一些關(guān)于閑聊的提示。因此文章是告訴我們閑聊的好處以及叫我們怎樣閑聊。故答案為What small talk is, the benefits of it and how to improve small-talking ability.。