B
We’ve all been there:in a lift, in line at the bank or on an airplane, surrounded by people who are, like us, deeply focused on their smartphones or, worse, struggling with the uncomfortable silence.What’s the problem? It’s possible that we all have compromised conversational intelligence. It’s more likely that none of us start a conversation because it’s awkward and challenging, or we think it’s annoying and 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 benefits.
Dismissing small talk as unimportant is easy, but we can’t forget that deep relationships wouldn’t even exist if it weren’t for casual conversation. 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, associate professor of psychology at UBC, invited people on their way into a coffee shop. One group was asked to seek out an interaction(互动)with its waiter; the other, to speak only when necessary. The results showed that those who chatted with their server reported significantly higher positive 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 significantly greater sense of belonging, a bond with others. Carducci believes developing such a sense of belonging starts with small talk. “Small talk is the basis of good manners,”he says.
4.What phenomenon is described in the first paragraph?
A.Addiction to smartphones.
B.Inappropriate behaviors in public places.
C.Absence of communication between strangers.
D.Impatience with slow service.
5.What is important for successful small talk according to Carducci?
A.Showing good manners. B.Relating to other people.
C.Focusing on a topic. D.Making business deals.
6.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.
7.What is the best title for the text?
A.Conversation Counts B.Ways of Making Small Talk
C.Benefits of Small Talk D.Uncomfortable Silence
B
4.C 细节理解题。题干句意:第一段描述的是什么现象?根据第一段描述(无论我们身在何处,在电梯里、在银行排队或者在飞机上,我们周围的人或是像我们一样在埋头看智能手机,或是更坏,在和令人不安的沉默做斗争)可知,C项“陌生人之间缺乏交流”和首段描述一致,故答案为C项。A项“手机控”只是该段描述现象时举的例子;B项“公共场合的不恰当行为”与首段意思不符;D项“对缓慢的服务缺乏耐心”和第一段的描述无关。
5.B 细节理解题。题干句意:根据Carducci的说法,对于成功的闲聊来说什么是重要的?根据第三段最后一句(成功的闲聊的关键是学会如何同他人建立联系而不仅仅是同他们交流)可知,B项“能够理解并认同他人”符合题意,故答案为B项。本题干扰项为A“显示良好的行为举止”,错因在于锁定的句子“最后一段最后一句(闲聊是良好举止的基础)”和题干要求不一致,答非所问;D项“做生意”受第三段第三句(几乎每一个伟大的爱情故事和每一单大的生意都源于闲聊)的影响,犯了逻辑推理错误;C项“聚焦一个话题”在文中没有涉及。
6.D 推理判断题。题干句意:关于闲聊,咖啡店调研表明了什么?根据第四段中的内容(结果表明那些同服务生闲聊的人明显有更高的积极情感和较好的咖啡店体验。不是同服务生交谈比和你的丈夫交谈更好,而是同社交网络的边缘人员的互动也对我们的健康和幸福很重要)可知,D项“它使得人们感觉良好”与题意相符,故答案为D项。A项“它改善家庭关系”、B项“它提升人们的自信” 和C项“它和正式交谈一样重要”在文章中没有涉及,属于主观臆断。
7.C 主旨大意题。题干句意:文章最好的标题是什么?根据第二段最后一句(专家说闲聊是一种可带来巨大益处的极有价值的社交行为)以及最后一段最后一句(闲聊是良好举止的基础)可知,C项“闲聊的益处”与题干要求一致,故答案为C项。A项“会话很重要”为干扰项,错在偷换概念,conversation(会话, 交谈)和small talk(闲谈)不是一个概念;文章没有就闲聊的方式或方法做具体的解释,故排除B项“进行闲聊的方式”;D项“令人不安的沉默”只是第一段提到的现象之一,而不是文章的主旨。
