We've all been in a situation where we ask our friend to the restaurant for lunch and find ourselves waiting at a table alone. We look around the room, notice all the other customers dining with someone, and suddenly become insecure that we're alone. Instead of starting a conversation with someone, we rush to grab our phones and stare at the screen until we are finally rescued by our late friend.
Long gone are the days when we start a conversation with the person next to us while sitting on the subway during the morning or evening commute. However, small talk, as well as the willingness to engage in it, is very important.
When humans engage in small talk, it actually provides a feeling of happiness. Those who socially interact are likely to increase their happiness and health, while others who shy away from social interaction are reported to feel disappointed and unhealthy, according to the Huffington Post. And small talk not only keeps us feeling happy and healthy, but teaches us how to stay calm in situations that we might not normally find ourselves in. Instead of feeling anxious and nervous, starting a conversation with people you don't know helps calm the nerves and provides a feeling of inclusion. An unfamiliar event with people you don’t know suddenly becomes gratifying.
But perhaps the most important reason why everyone should learn to engage in small talk is that it teaches us how to listen and truly form relationships. By asking a stranger some questions and showing interest in them, it helps establish new relationships, whether they are personal or business-related.
You should learn how to connect with someone and identify with people you don't know. So next time you're alone in a public place, try to reach out to others and start a conversation. It’s really not that hard.
1.What does the writer intend to describe through Paragraph 1?
A.Anxiety of being alone. B.Impatience with waiting for friends.
C.Addiction to smart phones. D.Absence of communication between strangers.
2.How many benefits of small talk are mentioned in the passage?
A.Two. B.Three. C.Four. D.Five.
3.Which does the writer think most valuable for taking small talk?
A.Developing new relationships. B.Avoiding negative emotions.
C.Having more people to turn to. D.Learning some social skills.
4.Which word can replace the underlined one in Paragraph 4?
A.Typical. B.Peaceful. C.Enjoyable. D.Instructive.
5.Which might be the best title?
A.Let's Start Small Talk. B.How to Make Friends.
C.Drive Away Shyness. D.How to Start Small Talk.
Mindy Scheier is on a mission to make fashionable clothing accessible to everyone. In 2014, she started the Runway of Dreams Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps bring adaptive clothing to disabled people.
Scheier explained the inspiration behind her efforts. ''My son, Oliver, was born with rigid spine muscular dystrophy, '' she said. ''His lack of strength created challenges with typical clothing. After spending years in the fashion industry, I decided that there was an opportunity to combine my fashion experience with my others. ''
Scheier began to create trendy clothing that her son could wear with ease. For example, she used magnets and elastics(松紧带) in place of buttons and zippers. Those adjustments have enabled Oliver to wear the same style as his friends do, even jeans.
Scheier's vision extends beyond just helping her own son. ''I soon realized that millions of disabled people were also struggling to access fashionable clothing that meets their needs, '' she said. That was why she started the Runway of Dreams Foundation.
On September 5, 2018, the foundation held its annual fashion show during New York Fashion Week. The event showcased the foundation's new adaptive clothing. The show featured several disabled models, including Cole Gottlieb and Maddie Hostetter. Cole, a 9-year-old boy born with cerebral palsy, loves to play baseball and soccer. He was excited to participate in the fashion show. ''It lets me be a role model to others, '' he said. Maddie, aged 8, was born with only one full arm. ''I heard about Runway of Dreams from my mom, '' explained Maddie. ''Even though I can button clothes with one arm, the magnets have made it much easier for me. ''
Scheier-whose TED Talk was released in January 2018-credits her passion with the progress Runway of Dreams has made in the last few years. ''Passion allows you to not take no for an answer, '' she encourages. ''It allows you to keep going when faced with challenges. ''
1.What motivated Scheier to start Runway of Dreams?
A.Her fashion experience. B.Her talent for designing clothing.
C.Her sympathy for the disabled. D.Her son's special needs in clothing.
2.What most features Runway of Dreams?
A.It is a non-profit organization.
B.It employs the disabled as models.
C.It produces trendy clothing for the disabled.
D.It decorates its clothing with buttons and zippers.
3.Why does the author mention Cole and Maddie in Paragraph 5?
A.To draw people's attention to disabled models.
B.To promote the foundation's new adaptive clothing.
C.To call on models to participate in the fashion show.
D.To stress the influence of the foundation on the disabled.
4.What can we infer from what Cole and Maddie said?
A.They accepted the fact of being disabled. B.They were hopeful for their future.
C.They were grateful to Runway of Dreams. D.They dreamed of being role models.
5.What's essential in the growth of the foundation according to Scheier?
A.Dreams. B.Passion. C.Progress. D.Challenges.
Olivia Ries was just seven years old when she and her eight-year-old brother Carter adopted a cheetah(猎豹) in South Africa.
''When my sister and I first learned back in 2009 that species like the cheetah may be extinct in the wild by the time we have kids, it scared us. We knew we had to do something to help them, '' says Carter. ''There are so many people (young and old alike) who just don’t know what is happening to so many species, just like we didn't. Olivia and I want to make sure we reach as many people around the world as possible and help them to understand how serious the situation really is. ''
To do that, the kids started One More Generation (OMG), an organization with the motto: ''Preserving endangered species for one more generation and beyond. ''
Now, ten years later, Olivia and Carter have traveled all over the world spreading their message. They've been interviewed on national television, participated in marches and fundraisers and won awards for their work. In 2015, they were invited to Vietnam by the United States Embassy to participate in a program to save rhinos. All that they've accomplished for animals and the environment is much too long to list!
''Our number one message to everyone we meet is 'Remember, anyone can make a difference... if we can, you can too, '' says Olivia. ''We want all people to understand that what Carter and I are doing is not necessarily something special; it is something that we all should be doing. You can start small by simply adopting an animal. Do some research on the species you are interested in, and find a good organization offering adoptions. My brother and I take our birthday money and allowance money and adopt animals all the time. ''
1.How did Olivia and Carter feel when learning cheetahs faced extinction?
A.Angry and guilty. B.Shocked and concerned.
C.Anxious and helpless. D.Hopeful and determined.
2.What does the underlined ''that'' refer to in Paragraph 3?
A.Helping endangered species survive.
B.Telling people the situation cheetahs face.
C.Making the situation of dying species known.
D.Calling on people to adopt endangered species.
3.What does Paragraph 4 mainly tell about Olivia and Carter?
A.They organized activities to raise money. B.They took measures to save rhinos.
C.They made efforts to list extinct species. D.They contributed a lot to dying species.
4.What do Olivia's words suggest?
A.Anyone can help by starting small.
B.Anyone can do something special.
C.Anyone should do research on species.
D.Anyone should donate to adoption organizations.
5.If you're to offer Olivia a gift, which might she expect most?
A.''Adopting a panda in name of both her and me. ''
B.''Making her a furry dog with my own hands. ''
C.''Buying her a doll of the latest style. ''
D.''Mailing her a handmade postcard. ''
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.Which might be the feeling of those standing while working?
A.Being more sleepy. B.Being concentrated. C.Time going by faster.
2.What is the outcome of the study mentioned in the passage?
A.Standing while working improves working efficiency.
B.Sitting for over 6 hours a day is harmful to health.
C.Sitting comfortably does some good to health.
3.What do some professors suggest?
A.Doing as leaders and colleagues do.
B.Moving around instead of just standing.
C.Finding a natural way to stand while working.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Where did the woman find the job advertisement?
A.In the newspaper. B.On the Internet. C.From her hostess.
2.How many hours will the woman have to work a day?
A.2 hours. B.3 hours. C.4 hours.
3.What can be said about the job?
A.It offers￡75 a day. B.It needs no experience. C.It involves preparing lunch.
4.When will the woman take the interview?
A.At 2:00 this afternoon.
B.At 10:00 a.m. next Wednesday.
C.At 2:30 p.m. next Wednesday.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What does the woman intend to do?
A.Build her shape. B.Do homework in time. C.Change her eating habits.
2.What will the woman be offered?
A.A personal training plan. B.Personal equipment. C.A custom-made diet.
3.What’s the woman’s decision?
A.Having a try for a month.
B.Learning a new technique.
C.Trying another fitness center.
