1、Module 1课时跟踪检测（一） Introduction & Reading Pre- reading阅读理解ASmall talk is a very short conversation used by individual to kill time and make the other person feel comfortable in his presence. However, sometimes you should be careful of your topics.There are certain “safe” topics that people usually di
2、scuss.The weather is probably the number one thing that people who do not know each other well discuss. Sometimes even friends and family members discuss the weather when they meet or start a conversation.Another topic that is generally safe is current events. As long as you are not discussing a con
3、troversial_issue,_such as a recent law concerning equal rights, it is usually safe to discuss that. Entertainment and sports news is another good topic. If there is something that you and the other person have in common, that may also be acceptable to talk about. For example, if the bus is extremely
4、 full and there are no seats available, you might talk about the reasons why. Similarly, people in an office might casually discuss the new paint or furniture.There are also some subjects that are not considered acceptable when making small talk.Discussing personal information such as salaries or a
5、recent divorce is unacceptable between people who do not know each other well. Compliments on clothing or hair are acceptable; however, you should never say something (good or bad) about a persons body.Negative comments about another person not involved in the conversation are also not acceptable. W
6、hen you do not know a person well you cannot be sure who their friends are. You do not talk about private issues either, because you do not know if you can trust the other person with your secrets or personal information. Lastly, it is not wise to continue talking about an issue that the other perso
7、n does not seem comfortable with or interested in.语篇解读：本文主要讲了人们进行闲聊时安全的和不被接受的话题。1What does the passage mainly tell us?AWhy do people make small talk?BWhat topics do people choose when making small talk?CWhat is small talk?DIn which situations do people make small talk?解析：选B主旨大意题。文章主要讲了人们进行闲聊时安全的和不被接
8、受的话题。故选B。2Which of the following is NOT the best topic when you make small talk?ABeautiful day, isnt it?BDid you watch the news today?CHave you got a boyfriend?DWhat do you think of the new computers?解析：选C细节理解题。根据文章最后一段第三句可知，在不太熟悉的人们之间不要谈论有关私人问题的话题。故选C。3The underlined part “controversial issue” in t
9、he fourth paragraph most probably means “_”Adebatable questionBacceptable questionCprivate questionDinteresting question解析：选A词义猜测题。从该词后面所给的例子：比如关于人权的法律方面的问题，可知其意为“有争议的问题”。故选A。BAre you sick of feeling your tongue turn to a lump of (一块) coal whenever you meet a small talk situation? Follow these smart
10、 tips, and youll become a great conversationalist making lasting impressions wherever you go.Debra Fine, author of The Fine Art of Small Talk, says that connecting with people through conversation doesnt always come instinctively(出于本能地). That means you need much training to improve your speaking abi
11、lities. First, have around three things to talk about before you head for an interview. Second, think of four questions you can ask that will make the other person chat. Finally, if youve met the person before, mention something of the previous conversation or introduction to show your interest.The
12、awkward moment when the other person didnt recognize you may make you feel hurt. Before you put too much pressure on a new relationship, be the first to say “hello”. You can release (释放) some pressure by saying, for example，“Stephanie Pratt? Hi, good to see you again.” Another way to put strangers a
13、t ease is to smile and shake their hands when you greet them.Small talk is always challenging at conferences or large events, especially when you dont know anyone. Theres a reason why millions of people read the New York Times every day: to stay knowledgeable about the world they live in. If you fin
14、d reading a daily newspaper too tedious,_find special topics that interest you. Learn the general news from News, CNN, or Google News. Build a conversation by asking, “Have you heard about .？”Last, listening is an important part of small talk, especially when youre entering a conversation thats alre
15、ady in progress. If you want to leave a lasting impression, one of the best ways is to be a great listener. As you listen to others experiences and opinions, youll enlarge your knowledge about other cultures and nations, and finally become a more fascinating conversationalist.语篇解读：本文主要讲述了在闲聊时的一些技巧。4
16、According to Debra Fine, _.Amany people dont like small talkBpeople with a good memory are good at talkingCshowing interest is the key to a good conversationDconversation is a skill that needs training解析：选D细节理解题。根据第二段中的“Debra Fine . says that connecting with people through conversation doesnt always
17、 come instinctively (出于本能地). That means you need much training to improve your speaking abilities.”可知，通过谈话来联系他人是一种技巧，这种技巧不会自然出现，需要进行训练。5The purpose of small talk is to _.Areduce the pressure during a conversationBbuild a connection and make a good impressionCmake a conversation more interestingDenla
18、rge the knowledge about other cultures解析：选B推理判断题。根据第一段中的“making lasting impressions wherever you go”以及第二段中的“says that connecting with people through conversation”可知，闲聊的目的是联系他人并给对方留下好印象。6The underlined word “tedious” in Para. 4 means “_”AshortBlimitedCboring Dformal解析：选C词义猜测题。根据画线词后面的“find special to
19、pics that interest you”可知，如果觉得看报纸对你来说有些乏味，那么找些你感兴趣的话题来阅读，故可知画线词的含义。CAnyone who passes regularly through busy public spaces knows that one victim of our obsession (痴迷) with digital devices such as smartphones has been small talk. With our eyes focused on our smartphones, fewer of us make conversation
20、 with strangers. But are we missing something in this loss of relaxing small talk?A growing body of research suggests that small talk has surprising benefits. In a study published in 2014 in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, researchers found that daily interactions with casual acquain
21、tances can contribute to daytoday wellbeing. Participants were asked to record their daily interactions with people connected to them by “strong ties” (family and friends) and “weak ties” (acquaintances). On days when participants had more “weak tie” interactions than usual, they reported a greater
22、sense of belonging and happiness.In a study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology in 2014, another group of researchers looked at interactions among strangers. They invited 118 commuters (通勤者) at a Chicagoarea railway station and gave them one of three roles: to start a conversation on
23、 the train, to avoid any conversation and enjoy the solitude (loneliness) or to do whatever they normally do on their commute. In surveys completed afterward, those who were instructed to make conversation with strangers reported “notably more positive” commutes than those who rode in solitude.“Talk
24、ing with a stranger may not offer the same benefits as talking with a close friend, but we underestimate (低估) its importance to us，” says the studys coauthor, Nicholas Epley, a professor of behavioral science at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Dr. Epley traded in his own smartpho
25、ne for an old featureless phone, which has made him, he says, more open to “wonderful, short conversations with strangers”People overestimate the social risks involved in small talk, adds Dr. Epley, “Most people not only want to talk to you, but theyll tell you secret things they may not even tell a
26、 family member”语篇解读：文章通过一些重要研究结果说明了闲谈的益处。7The first study got the findings from the participants by comparing their _.Astrong and weak tie interactionsBcasual and close acquaintancesCprivate and public interactionsDfamily members and friends解析：选A推理判断题。细读第二段可知，这项研究通过比较参与者的“强联系”交际和“弱联系”交际得出了结论。8What d
27、id the study done on the train find out?APeople are likely to ride in solitude on the train.BFew commuters like to chat with strangers.CThere are three kinds of train commuters.DChats with strangers bring joy to people.解析：选D细节理解题。根据第三段中的“In surveys completed afterward . who rode in solitude”可知，这项研究发
28、现，与陌生人的交谈会给人们带来愉快。9Which of the following would Dr. Epley probably agree with?AIt is nicer to talk with strangers than friends.BSmartphones may kill small talk with strangers.CPeople fail to realize the importance of friendship.DMost strangers prefer to spend time on their phones.解析：选B推理判断题。根据第四段中的“
29、Dr. Epley traded in his own smartphone for an old featureless phone, which has made him, he says, more open to wonderful, short conversations with strangers”可推断，Epley博士应该会认为，智能手机可能会扼杀与陌生人的闲谈。10What does the text mainly discuss?AThe interactions with strangers.BThe loss of relaxing small talk.CThe influence of smartphones.DThe important role of small talk.解析：选D主旨大意题。通读全文可知，本文主要论述了闲谈的益处。文章的中心句为第二段首句“A growing body of research suggests that small talk has surprising benefits”。
