Question

【題目】Security guard, truck driver, salesperson—year after year, these jobs appear on lists of the unhappiest careers. Although many factors can make a job unhappy, unusual hours, low pay, no chance for advancement — these three gigs stand out for another reason: a lack of small talk.

Psychologists have long said that connecting with others is central to well-being, but just how much conversation we require is under investigation. In one study, researchers eavesdropped(竊聽) on undergraduates for four days, then cataloged each overheard conversation as either small talk (What do you have there? Popcorn?(Yummy!) or serious (So did they get divorced soon after?). They found that the second type related with happiness—the happiest students had roughly twice as many serious talks as the unhappiest ones. Small talk, meanwhile, made up only 10 percent of their conversation, versus almost 30 percent of conversation among the least content students.

However, don't just consider chat worthless yet. Scientists believe that small talk could promote linking. Chatting with strangers could brighten your morning. In a series of experiments, psychologists gave Chicago travelers varying directions about whether to talk with fellow train passengers something they typically avoided. Those told to chat with others reported a more pleasant journey than those told to enjoy your being alone or to do whatever they normally would. None of the chatters reported being rejected. And the results held for introverts(內(nèi)向者) and extroverts(外向者) alike which makes sense, since acting extroverted has a positive effect on introverts.

Small talk can also help us feel connected to our surroundings. People who smiled at, made eye contact with, and briefly spoke with their Starbucks reported a greater sense of belonging than those who rushed through the business. Similarly, one not yet published paper found that when volunteers broke the silence of the Tate Modern to chat with gallery goers, the visitors felt happier and more connected to the exhibit than those who were not approached.

So go ahead, pry. Chitchat needn’t be idle. And nosiness isn’t all bad.

【1】The author attributes the unhappiness felt by security guards, truck drivers and sales people to ________.

A. unusual hours and low pay

B. a lack of small talk

C. no chance for advancement

D. an absence of serious conversation

【2】What was the conclusion of the study mentioned in the second paragraph?

A．Connecting with others is central to our well-being.

B．We require 30 minutes of conversation every day to be happy.

C．Serious conversation is linked to happiness.

D．Small talk cannot help make us feel happy.

【3】The author used the Tate Modern example to demonstrate that ________.

A. connecting with others is key to our happiness

B. unserious conversation could promote bonding

C. small talk can help us feel connected to our surroundings

D. smiling can help people gain a great sense of belonging

【4】Which of the following shows the development of ideas in this passage?

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】B

【2】C

【3】C

【4】B

【解析】

試題分析：一項研究表明，經(jīng)常和他人進行深度交流的大學生，比只會閑話家常的同齡人更有滿足感。所以，也不要小看閑聊哦。

【1】B 細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)文章第一段第一、二句Security guard, truck driver, salesperson—year after year, these jobs appear on lists of the unhappiest careers. Although many factors can make a job unhappy, unusual hours, low pay, no chance for advancement—these three gigs stand out for another reason: a lack of small talk. （當保安、開卡車、做營業(yè)員，年復一年，這樣的職業(yè)在最不快樂的職業(yè)名單上出現(xiàn)。盡管造成某個工作不快樂的因素有很多——不規(guī)律的工作時間、工資待遇不佳、晉升機會渺�！�…，但還有一個原因比這三個因素更突出：從事這些職業(yè)的人往往都缺乏與他人的交流。）可知，故選B。

【2】C 細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第二段中In one study, researchers eavesdropped(竊聽) on undergraduates for four days, then cataloged each overheard conversation as either small talk (What do you have there? Popcorn?(Yummy!) or serious (So did they get divorced soon after?). They found that the second type related with happiness——the happiest students had roughly twice as many serious talks as the unhappiest ones.可知，他們發(fā)現(xiàn)進行有內(nèi)容的交流使人快樂。調(diào)查中，最快樂的學生所進行的有內(nèi)容交流，是最不快樂的學生的兩倍。故選C。

【3】C 細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第四段最后一句Similarly, one not yet published paper found that when volunteers broke the silence of the Tate Modern to chat with gallery goers, the visitors felt happier and more connected to the exhibit than those who were not approached.可知，閑聊能幫助我們感受與周圍環(huán)境的聯(lián)系。故選C。

【4】B推理判斷題。根據(jù)第一句最后一句Although many factors can make a job unhappy, unusual hours, low pay, no chance for advancement — these three gigs stand out for another reason: a lack of small talk.（盡管造成某個工作不快樂的因素有很多——不規(guī)律的工作時間、工資待遇不佳、晉升機會渺�！�…，但還有一個原因比這三個因素更突出：從事這些職業(yè)的人往往都缺乏與他人的交流。）；根據(jù)第二段第一句Psychologists have long said that connecting with others is central to well-being, but just how much conversation we require is under investigation. （心理學家早就說過，與他人的聯(lián)系關乎一個人的幸福。但是，多少交流最合適還沒有定論）；第三段第一句However, don't just consider chat worthless yet.（然而，不要只考慮聊天毫無價值）；第四段第一句Small talk can also help us feel connected to our surroundings. (閑聊也能幫助我們感受與周圍環(huán)境的聯(lián)系。)；最后一段So go ahead, pry. Chitchat needn’t be idle. And nosiness isn’t all bad.（所以大家不妨大膽八卦吧！誰說閑聊非得是漫無目的、空耗時間的無聊之舉？好打聽事兒也無妨！）可知，第一段引出話題，第二段進一步指出交流的作用，第三、四段證明第二段觀點，最后一段總結，故選B。

【學法指導】

整合全文（段）信息進行推斷。做推理題時，有時需要在弄懂全文意思的基礎上，整合與題目相關的有用信息，綜合起來去推理判斷，確定最佳結論�！�4】B推理判斷題。根據(jù)第二段第一句Psychologists have long said that connecting with others is central to well-being, but just how much conversation we require is under investigation. 心理學家早就說過，與他人的聯(lián)系關乎一個人的幸福。但是，多少交流最合適還沒有定論；第三段第一句However, don't just consider chat worthless yet.然而，不要只考慮聊天毫無價值；第四段第一句Small talk can also help us feel connected to our surroundings. 閑聊也能幫助我們感受與周圍環(huán)境的聯(lián)系.；最后一段So go ahead, pry. Chitchat needn’t be idle. And nosiness isn’t all bad. 所以大家不妨大膽八卦吧！誰說閑聊非得是漫無目的、空耗時間的無聊之舉？好打聽事兒也無妨！通過上面的分析可知選B。