【推荐1】请认真阅读下列短文，并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入一个最恰当的单词．注意：每个空格只填1个单词．请将答案写在答题纸上相应题号的横线上．

Mastering Storytelling Fundamentals

Whether you're telling a joke， telling a fairy tale， or trying to persuade someone with a little empirical evidence， telling a story well is an important skill． While it comes naturally to some， for others this skill is a learned one． Never fear． Just get started with the steps below．

1. Engage your audience．

Interact （互动） with your audience or do something to grab their attention． Ask them a question， even if it's just rhetorical， that relates to the conclusion， twist， or context for the story you’re going to tell． Alternatively you can make a grabbing statement that catches their attention （setting your hook， the equivalent of a click﹣bait headline）． This forces their attention to focus on the idea of your story and makes them want to hear more．

2. Build the scene．

Throughout your storytelling， you want to create an immersive experience． You want to tell your audience the story in a way that makes them feel like they're there． Start by giving them context when you start your story． Continue to create the scene by using details which help them picture the action and feel the things you felt． You'll also want to carefully tailor your language: use words which create very strong， very specific emotions．

3. Build tension and release tension．

Of course， the entire are of a story should be building tension and releasing tension， until the climactic point in the story and the falling action of the conclusion． But what you need to remember is that a release of tension should come between the tension points． Without this release of tension， a story can feel rushed or too list﹣like． Real life includes moments between the things that happen to us． Stories should too． This release can be a description of the scene， and quick filling in of semi﹣relevant details， or a joke if the story is meant to be a bit funny．

4. Focus on what's important．

When telling a story， it is important to include details， to create that sense of immersion． However， you don't want the story to take on a "rambling" feel． This is why it's very important to focus on what's important． Cut the details that aren't important for the story， leave the ones that make the story．

5. Keep the flow logical．

This is where knowing your story and practicing become important． You know that person that tells a story and they get partway in and then they're like， "Oh， I forgot to mention…"？ Yeah， don't be that guy． Don't stop to back up． This breaks the listener's experience of the story． Tell the story in a way that is logical and flows smoothly．

6. Make it feel conclusive．

It's awkward when an audience isn't sure if you're done or not so make the conclusion of your story feel conclusive． There are a number of ways to do this， for example：

Ask a question and give an answer． "How crazy is that？ I know I'm sure not going to try that again．"

Mastering Storytelling Fundamentals

Introduction	The skill of telling a story _______ a lot to many people， whether in telling a joke， a fairy tale or persuading someone with a little empirical evidence． Some people are _______ with storytelling skill， while others should acquire it by learning．
_______ to improving your storytelling skill	Engage your audience． You can _______ with your audience or do something to attract them when you start your storytelling． As an alternative， you keep them interested in your story by making a grabbing statement that attracts their _______.
	Build the scene． Building the scene means that you create a scene where your audience can picture the action and feel the things you felt． Remember to carefully tailor your language．
	Build tension and release tension． In order not to make your story feel rushed or too list﹣like， you'd better let the release of tension come between the tension points because real life includes moments between the things _______ to us．
	Focus on what's important． Omit the unnecessary _______ and leave the important ones to help you create a sense of immersion．
	Keep the flow logical． _______ stopping to back up， which breaks the listener's experience of the story． Instead， tell the story in a logical and smooth way．
	Make it feel conclusive． You feel _______ when an audience doesn't realize that your story come to an ________ so you'd better make a conclusion．

【推荐3】Are you doing it right? Writing a thank-you note

I have always been a big advocate of thank-you notes. People will always think better of you for saying thank you properly.     1     For example, we can all send a WhatsApp message. However, it is not the same as sitting down, putting pen to paper, getting a first-class stamp and sending it off in the post.     2     A thank-you note like this is less likely to get lost in the digital noise.

    3     You are supposed to send your thank-you note as soon as possible after the event has taken place, or after you have received your gift. Christmas is the only occasion where you have a week or so to respond. Princess Diana supposedly started her thank-you letters before the event.     4    

Don’t start with “thank you”, though: it is dull and predictable.     5     And then go on to the thank you. The more kindness you have received, the longer the message should be. Try to make sure the stationery (文具) is fairly nice; some people use postcard-sized cards, so their notes are only a couple of lines long. If you are using paper, go for A5 and write a maximum of two separate pieces of paper. Never write on the back.

A．It meant she never forgot.

B．What is the best time to send it?

C．Many occasions require thank-you notes.

D．At modem times, we may have many choices.

E．In fact, that will mean a lot more to a person.

F．Being thankful for the kindness of others is natural.

G．Start something personal about the experience or gift.