How did your friendships begin? Most start with a short conversation on a random day. Asking about a homework assignment in class or complaining about your painful legs after playing in a soccer game, you found your best pal by accident.
“Small talk is where all your relationships begin,” Forbes magazine summed up.
The following is a five-step guide to making small talk from Bernardo J. Carducci, the director of the Shyness Research Institute at Indiana University Southeast, US. Let’s have a look.
Getting started
Begin by talking about the setting, such as the weather outside or the room you are in (“It’s cold in here, isn’t it?”). The purpose of talking about the setting is to show the other person that you are willing to make a conversation.
②The personal introduction
You should mention something about yourself, such as your name. A good personal introduction helps move the conversation forward.
③Looking for topics
At this point, you and your conversation partner need to find common ground. This is a good time to ask questions or to refer back to things you’ve said or heard earlier. Don’t worry if it gets quiet. The other person is probably just thinking of something to say.
④Expanding the topic
The goal is to keep the conversation going. At every stage, you should be careful not to talk too much. But don’t let the other person dominate the conversation either. If that starts to happen, mention something about yourself when he or she takes a breath.
⑤A polite ending
When ending a conversation, let the person know you’ll be leaving soon, express gratitude for the conversation and set the stage for a future conversation. For example, you could say, “I really must be going soon, but I had a great time chatting with you. I really liked hearing your opinion about that new movie. Here’s my phone number. Call or text me if you know of any other movies you think I might enjoy.”
1.According to the article, starting by talking about the setting is meant to ________.
A. find common ground B. impress the other person
C. make a conversation D. make the room warmer
2.What does the underlined word “dominate” mean in Tip④?
A. interrupt B. control C. adapt D. simplify
3.When ending a conversation, you’d better ________.
A. talk about how much you want to keep talking
B. show that you’ve not enjoyed the talk
C. mention a specific movie that you love
D. give your opinion about the other person’s earlier comments
4.The main purpose of the article is to ________.
A. encourage students to make more friends
B. give students tips on making small talk
C. introduce popular topics for students
D. teach students how to create friendships
“How did Norman know, Sister Emma?”
“He overheard you and Aryan arguing. I suspect that he purposely overheard on you. Norman knew or concluded what profession Aryan practiced. He might well have followed Aryan on his explorations. Whether he did or not is beside the point. When Aryan came back yesterday afternoon, Norman certainly decided that he had made some find, for Aryan told Norman that he would be leaving for the capital to meet the detective the next morning. He probably followed Aryan to your room and overheard what passed between you.
“Since you could not act against the law of man and God, he would serve a natural justice in his own way. He took the jar of poison hemlock from the chemistry shop and when Aryan asked for a drink, he supplied it. Norman did not know the precise quantity needed and so Aryan did not suffer the full effects until after the bell called the community into the dining hall for the evening meal.”
Abbess was following Sister Emma closely.
“And then?”
“Then I began my investigation, and then the detective arrived seeking Aryan for an explanation for his death.”
“But who killed Norman?”
“Norman knew that sooner or later he would be discovered. But more importantly in his guileless (坦率的) mind there was also the guilt of having taken a man’s life to be considered. Norman was a simple man. He decided that he should accept the punishment—the honor-price of a life. What greater honor-price for the life of Aryan could he offer than his own? He also took a draught of poison hemlock.”
There was a pause.
1.What may have happened to Aryan?
A. He was killed by poison. B. He was found missing.
C. He was poisoned but saved. D. He went away with what he had found.
2.What did Abbess do according to Sister Emma when Aryan came back?
A. She talked with Aryan about Norman’s strange actions. .
B. She secretly discussed with Aryan about something secret.
C. She followed the two men and found what they were doing.
D. She let Sister Emma help find out the two men’s secret.
3.What can we conclude from the above story?
A. Abbess served the detective.
B. Emma knows all the people mentioned.
C. Aryan was sent to kill Abbess but failed.
D. Norman seemed very devoted to Abbess.
4.Which of the following might be true according to the above passage?
A. Abbess hired Norman to fight against Aryan.
B. Norman told everything to Emma.
C. Aryan worked for the detective.
D. All the people came from the capital.
The world has never faced so much trouble before. People are within themselves about natural resources, territories and especially religions. In my opinion, laughter is a universal language, which has the ability to humanity without religions. Laughter can build a common connection between various religions and create a new world . The idea may sound over-ambitious, and maybe it is. But maybe it is not. It is our deep that laughter and only the laughter can unite the world, holding up a sense of brotherhood and friendship.
Studies also show that laughter helps your body to do the following: lower blood pressure; lighten depression; reduce stress; work out the heart, for those who are unable to perform exercise. So in life, when you can laugh, you should laugh loudly and with your entire body—because it’s good for you.
1.A. in peace B. in difficulty C. at war D. among challenge
2.A. unite B. unfold C. release D. handle
3.A. position B. ruler C. size D. order
4.A. belief B. advice C. intention D. plan
5.A. safe B. humorous C. common D. global
6.A. partly B. intensively C. especially D. universally
7.A. mental B. heart C. physical D. morning
Maybe you know the saying, “When you point one finger, there are three fingers pointing back to you.” One wise man had a version of this when he said, “Don't focus on the dust in your brother's eye while the dirt in your own eye.” Why do we do this? Because criticisms are always ourselves. When we criticize others, we do not expose them, but expose ourselves. We our own weakness and smallness.
A story in the old tales the difference in wisdom between the good and the bad. Once a king both Nelson and Dick. The king asks Nelson to go out into the kingdom and after finding someone less qualified than himself. Then he asks Dick to go out into the kingdom and return after finding someone than himself.
When Fool Dick returns, he tells the king that he couldn't find anyone better than himself. Wise Nelson says that he was to find anyone less qualified than himself on his return.
Moral of the story is something about human . Good people always look at their own and faults and consider themselves less qualified than others. Whereas bad people always look at the shortcomings and faults of others and themselves more qualified than others.
1.A. problem B. wisdom C. idea D. action
2.A. dropping B. holding C. ignoring D. neglecting
3.A. centered on B. put up with C. dealt with D. moved out
4.A. forget B. kill C. broadcast D. express
5.A. cancels B. explains C. doubts D. illustrates
6.A. meets with B. questions about C. worries about D. looks after
7.A. leave B. return C. wait D. stay
8.A. better B. faster C. higher D. shorter
9.A. But B. Although C. Moreover D. Therefore
10.A. happy B. quick C. disabled D. unable
11.A. side B. life C. thought D. psychology
12.A. shortcomings B. excuses C. worries D. advantages
13.A. consider B. take C. have D. keep
Some so-called climate travelers _______ in one place for a few months and then move on to some other places as the weather changes.
A. have stayed B. are staying C. stay D. stayed
The game was so exciting to play that the boy kept his eyes and attention ________ on it, ruining both a lot.
A. fixing B. fixed C. to fix D. fix
