Question

Experts have recently found that making conversation plays an essential part in connecting with people and building closer relationships. Although most people can hold a conversation, only a few are smooth when they talk. If you have dreamed about being a good talker, or you just want to make some change, then listen up!

●Talk slowly

Generally, good talkers don’t rush into a conversation. 1. They act as if they have all the time in the world. This makes them come off as centered and collected. Model this way of talking and you will create the same effect.

●Hold more eye contact

Most people keep eye contact about 2/3 of the time or less when they talk. 2. This will convey confidence and interest in interacting with them.

3.

People with good conversation skills are more likely to notice the kind of things that the average person doesn’t notice, and to bring such details into the conversation. They may notice and point out an interesting ring on the other person’s hand, a certain foreign accent, or a certain voice tone they use when saying a name. All these details help to leave a deep impression.

●Express Your emotions

4. Express your feelings about those facts. Keep in mind that it is at the emotional (情感) level that people connect best.

●Use the best words

The ability to talk smoothly has a lot to do with choosing the precise(精确的) words to convey your precise feelings or thoughts. 5. It will help you develop a way with words and allow you to express yourself more easily.

Conversational skills don’t improve just like that. It takes time, practice and the ability to learn at a rapid rate from your own experiences.

A. Notice the details.

B. Offer interesting news.

C. Improve conversational skills.

D. Don’t just present the facts—you’re not a newspaper.

E. It’s a very good idea to hold eye contact just a bit more than that.

F. Develop your vocabulary and practice communicating as accurately as possible.

G. They take their time when they think over something and when they say it out loud.

Answer

1. G

2. E

3. A

4. D

5. F

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文。讲话是一门艺术，在本文中作者就如何和别人沟通，给人们提出了一些有效的建议。比如，讲话速度要慢，要有目光的对视，要善于表达自己的感情，而且还要使用合适的词汇。

1.考查对上下文的理解和推理判断能力。根据本段小标题Talk slow判断在本段中作者建议人们要说话时放慢语速，给自己一个思考的时间，而G选项内容They take their time when they reflect on something and when they say it out loud.也提到了给自己反应的时间，内容符合语境，故填G。

2.考查对上下文的理解和推理判断能力。本段小标题Hold more eye contact建议人们要有目光的接触，而E选项It’s a very good idea to hold eye contact just a bit more than that.也是给出同样的建议，故答案选E。

3.考查对上下文的理解和推理判断能力。根据本段中and to bring such details into the conversation.可以判断内容和细节有关，提醒读者在讲话时要注重细节。由此判断A选项内容可以概括本段中心，故选A。

4.考查对上下文的理解和推理判断能力。从后句Express your feelings about those facts.判断D选项内容Don’t just present the facts you’re not a newspaper.符合语境，facts是提示信息，故选D。

5.考查对上下文的理解和推理判断能力。本段是建议人们要使用最佳词汇，而F选项内容Develop your vocabulary and practice communicating as accurately as possible.也是建议人们要扩大词汇，要用词准确，内容可以承接上下文，故选F。