2018_2019学年高中英语Module1SmallTalk课下能力提升(一)(含解析)外研版选修6

Module 1 课下能力提升（一）
阅读理解
A
Small 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 pe ople usually discuss.
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 controversial_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 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 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 person’s body.
Negative comments about another person not involved in the conversation are also not acceptable. When 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 person 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。

1．What does the passage mainly tell us?
A．Why do people make small talk?
B．What topics do people choose when making small talk?
C．What is small talk?
D．In 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受的话题。

故选B。

2．Which of the following is NOT the best topic when you make small talk?
A．Beautiful day, isn’t it?
B．Did you watch the news today?
C．Have you got a boyfriend?
D．What 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。

3．The underlined part “controversial issue” in the fourth paragraph most probably means “________”．
A．debatable question
B．acceptable question
C．private question
D．interesting 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。

4．How is the text organized?
A．①②③④/⑤⑥⑦B．①②③④/⑤/⑥⑦
C．①/②/③④/⑤⑥⑦D．①/②③④/⑤⑥⑦
解析：选D 篇章结构题。

第一段定义 small talk, 第二至四段讲闲谈时的保险话题，第五至七段讲一些闲谈时不能提及的话题。

故选D。

B
Are you sick of feeling your tongue turn to a lump of (一块) coal whenever you meet a small talk situation? Follow these smart tips, and you’ll 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 conversat ion doesn’t always come instinctively(出于本能地). That means you need much training to improve your speaking abilities. 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 t he other person chat. Finally, if you’ve met the person before, mention something of the previous conversation or introduction to show your interest.
The awkward moment when the other person didn’t 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 at 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 don’t know anyone. There’s a reason why millions of people read the New York Times every day: to stay knowledgeable about the world they live in. If you find 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 you’re entering a conversation that’s already in progress. If you want to leave a lasting impression, one of the best ways is to be a great listener. As you list en to others’ experiences and opinions, you’ll 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。

5．According to Debra Fine, ________.
A．many people don’t like small talk
B．people with a good memory are good at talking
C．showing interest is the key to a good conversation
D．conversation 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 doesn’t always 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。

6．The purpose of small talk is to ________.
A．reduce the pressure during a conversation
B．build a connection and make a good impression
C．make a conversation more interesting
D．enlarge 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。

7．The underl ined word “tedious” in Para. 4 means “________”．
A．short B．limited
C．boring D．formal
解析：选C 词义猜测题。

根据画线词后面的“find special topics 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。

8．What would be the best title for the passage?
A．Purpose of small talk
B．Topics of small talk
C．Smart tips on small talk
D．Art of listening in small talk
解析：选 C 标题归纳题。

文章第一段中的“Follow these smart tips, and you’ll become a great conversationalist making lasting impressions wherever you go.”点明主旨，故C项最适合做本文的标题。

C
Anyone 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 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 acquaintances 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 participa nts had more “weak tie” interactions than usual, they reported a greater 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 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.
“Talking 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 study’s co­author, Nicholas Epley, a professor of behavioral science at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Dr. Epley traded in his own smartphone for an old featureless phone, which has mad e 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 they’ll tell you secret things they may not even tell a 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。

9．The first study got the findings from the participants by comparing their ________.
A．strong and weak tie interactions
B．casual and close acquaintances
C．private and public interactions
D．family 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。

10．What did the study done on the train find out?
A．People are likely to ride in solitude on the train.
B．Few commuters like to chat with strangers.
C．There are three kinds of train commuters.
D．Chats 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，这项研究发现，与陌生人的交谈会给人们带来愉快。

11．Which of the following would Dr. Epley probably agree with?
A．It is nicer to talk with strangers than friends.
B．Smartphones may kill small talk with strangers.
C．People fail to realize the importance of friendship.
D．Most strangers prefer to spend time on their phones.
解析：选B 推理判断题。

根据第四段中的“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。

12．What does the text mainly discuss?
A．The interactions with strangers.
B．The loss of relaxing small talk.
C．The influence of smartphones.
D．The 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”。