We’ve all been there: in a lift, in line at the bank or on an airplane, around by people who are, like us, deeply look at their smartphones or, worse, fighting with the uncomfortable silence.
What’s the problem? It’s more likely that none of us start a conversation because it’s challenging, or we think it’s unnecessary. But the next time you find yourself among strangers, consider that small talk is worth the trouble. Experts say it’s an invaluable social practice that results in big advantages.
Small talk is the grease (润滑剂) for social communication, says Bernardo Carducci, director of the Shyness Research Institute at Indiana University Southeast. “Almost every great love story and each big business deal begins with small talk,” he explains. “The key to successful small talk is learning how to connect with others, not just communicate with them.”
In a 2014 study, Elizabeth Dunn, professor of psychology at UBC, invited people on their way into a coffee shop. One group was asked to look for an interaction (互动) with its waiter; the other, to speak only when necessary. The results showed that those who chatted with their waiter reported higher positive (积极的) feelings and a better coffee shop experience. “It’s not that talking to the waiter is better than talking to your husband.” says Dunn. “But interactions with peripheral (边缘的) members of our social network matter for our well-being also.”
Dunn believes that people who reach out to strangers feel a greater sense of belonging (归属感), a relationship with others. Carducci believes developing such a sense of belonging starts with small talk. “Small talk is the basis of good manners.” he says.
1.What’s the main idea of Paragraph 1?
A.Interest in smartphones. B.Unsuitable behaviours in public places.
C.Absence of communication between strangers. D.Impatience with slow service.
2.What does the coffee-shop study suggest about small talk?
A.It improves family relationships. B.It raises people’s confidence.
C.It matters as much as a formal talk. D.It makes people feel good.
3.What is the best title for the text?
A.Conversation Counts B.Advantages of Small Talk
C.Uncomfortable Silence D.Ways of Making Small Talk
How to clean the keyboard
Turn off your laptop before you do any cleaning. Even though you won’t be putting water directly onto your laptop, you should turn off the power to make sure nothing gets damaged if a little moisture does get inside.
Turn the laptop upside down and gently tap or shake it. This will remove big pieces of dirt, crumps (碎屑) or other debris (碎片) that’s hiding in your keyboard.
Tip: It may help to spread a towel under the laptop before you shake it, to make cleanup easier.
Spay between the keys with compressed air to remove dust. The air of the force will blow the dust that’s trapped between and under the keys.
Remove dirt with a cotton ball and alcohol (酒精). Alcohol evaporates (蒸发)quickly, making it a safe alternative to using water on your laptop. Alcohol is especially good at removing the dirt left by your fingers. In addition, alcohol is good at removing germs (细菌).
1.To remove big pieces of dust in our keyboard, we can ________.
A.put the keyboard under the tap and wash it
B.shake the laptop hard until the dirt falls out
C.turn the laptop upside down and gently shake it
D.remove the dirt with a cotton ball and alcohol
2.Using alcohol is safer than using water on keyboard because ________.
A.alcohol can remove germs B.alcohol can disappear faster when it is used
C.alcohol can protect our fingers D.alcohol is good for cleaning oil
3.Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the steps?
A.What should we do before cleaning.
B.How to remove big pieces of dirt.
C.How to remove the dust between the keys.
D.How should we clean the screen.
I argued with my grandfather again because he was drinking beer, which his doctor told him not to do.
I knew I _______ too far, but I could not bring myself to apologize at the time. I tried for hours to sleep. Finally, about an hour before dawn, I found a piece of paper and wrote:
Pappy,
I’m sorry about last night. It’s just that I don’t want you to leave me yet. What am I _______ to do without my Pappy?
Love,
Terra
Then I went outside and spent the whole day wandering around the countryside. My sleepless night caught up with me as I lay under the trees. I _______ mostly of Pappy. I was never sure what he was doing or saying, _______ I was sure that he kept disappearing. That worried me. I awoke to a cool wetness on my face.
I hurried home before sunset. I called out Pappy’s name. There was no _______ but a noise came from his bedroom. He was shuffling (胡乱收拾) papers into an old shoebox as quickly as he could.
“What are you doing, Pappy?” I asked quietly. He looked up, _______ to have been caught.
“Sorting through your literary (文字的) junk.”
He said it as he quietly laughed, but _______ laughing with him I wanted to cry. Here in the golden light of the setting sun was my sweet, loving Pappy, sitting on the edge (边缘) of his bed sorting through my letters.
“Come here and look at this. You were four. Your handwriting was _______ readable. Your mum had to help you with most of it.”
In his hands he held a piece of paper. On it were the _______ , “I am sorry Pappy, Terra.”
“Why did you save that?”
“I’ve saved every apology letter you’ve left me. For that matter, I’ve saved every letter you’ve written me, in the shoebox.”
I knew what he said was true. I gave Pappy a hug (拥抱) and told him I was still ________
1.A.had walked B.had left C.had gone D.had become
2.A.imagined B.thought C.guessed D.supposed
3.A.thought B.reminded C.happened D.dreamt
4.A.but B.therefore C.however D.so
5.A.voice B.answer C.return D.sign
6.A.surprised B.afraid C.excited D.frightened
7.A.without B.instead of C.not D.out of
8.A.hardly B.nearly C.mostly D.almost
9.A.topic B.saying C.word D.words
10.A.happy B.sad C.pleased D.sorry
—Would you please come to our picnic next Sunday morning?
—_______! But I have to join in another one that day. Thank you all the same.
A.With pleasure B.What a pity C.My pleasure D.Go ahead
–I am wondering ________.
–Whatever the result is, don’t be too hard on yourself.
A.why I can pass the test
B.when I have prepared for the test
C.if I can get high marks in the test
D.that I am getting ready for the test these days
Sometimes I feel stressed because what my parents want me to do has gone __________my power.
A.through B.against C.above D.beyond
