Question

Small talk is the short conversations we have at parties, while we wait in line at the store, at family events or work. Sometimes we make small talk with people we already know but not well. Often we have to make small talk with complete strangers. 1. Here are some tips to improve your small-talking ability.

1. 2.

If you have seen a really good movie or have read a really good book, you can talk about that.

When you are sharing the same experience with someone, it’s easy to start a conversation. You simply notice and comment on what’s going on around you. For example, if you are at a party and a song comes on that you like or that reminds you of something, you can talk about that.

2. Ask open-ended questions

These types of questions require more thought and more than a simple one-word answer. 3., the conversation will go on longer.

3. 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. 4.. It’s a win-win situation.

Like anything, getting good at making small talk takes practice. 5., you might become happier. If you are making small talk using English, you will most definitely improve your speaking and listening skills.

A. Have some conversation starters ready

B. If you make small talk in your native language

C. However, some people are not good at small talk

D. If you ask questions that need more details to answer

E. You can talk about something that you recently learned

F. Many people find these small conversations about random topics easy

G. They feel good about sharing their knowledge and you get to learn something

Answer

1.C

2.A

3.D

4.G

5.B

【解析】

本文是一篇议论文。本文作者针对如何提高闲聊能力，给出了自己的一些窍门。

1.根据下文Here are some tips to improve your small-talking ability.提到了提高你闲聊能力的一些窍门，所以上文会说“然而，一些人不擅长闲聊”，故选C。

2.在it’s easy to start a conversation.捕捉到关键词start a conversation，可知这一段主要讲了开始谈话的一些具体内容，故选A。

3.根据下文the conversation will go on longer.提到了这次谈话进行的时间会更长，所以上文会说“如果你提问需要回答更多细节的问题”，这样谈话进行的时间会长一点，选D。

4.根据上文This lets the other person become the teacher.提到让其他人成为老师，下文It’s a win-win situation.提到了这是一种双赢的情况，中间需要一个承上启下的句子，所以应该填“他们感觉分享他们的知识很好，并且你也可以学到一些东西”，选G。

5.根据上文Like anything, getting good at making small talk takes practice.提到和任何事情一样，善于交谈也需要练习；根据下文If you are making small talk using English, you will most definitely improve your speaking and listening skills.提到了用英语闲聊，你一定可以提高你的听说技能，所以B项“如果你用母语闲聊”，你可能会变得更开心，是交谈练习，与下文是并列关系，都为举例，选B。