Small Talk, Large Effect
Have you ever found yourself waiting at the stop for your bus to arrive and have a stranger ask an ordinary question? Perhaps you’ve stood in line waiting for a coffee and feel the need to just look over to the person next to you and ask about the weather.
(This is small talk, and despite the name) it’s actually a big part of daily life.
“Small talk may seem trivial (微不足道的), but it’s a natural way for people to connect. It may seem like a waste of time. But it serves an important role in our social interactions (交往). Big relationships are built on small talk,” Lindy Pegler, who has a master’s degree in psychology, wrote on Medium.
In fact, we spend a lot of our time making small talk. Often, we find ourselves making small talk with the same people on a regular basis. Coming up with small conversations is the foundation (基础) of these relationships.
The benefits of such conversations can actually contribute to our happiness and benefit our lives as a whole. In a recent study, researchers found that having a healthy amount of acquaintances ( 相识的人) and keeping these relationships contribute to one’s sense of belonging to a community.
So how does one start making small talk? It can be as simple as admiring one’s shirt, asking about their day or commenting on the traffic. “First and foremost, small talk is an act of politeness,” Pegler noted. “Our small talk at our first meeting is our chance to show who we are,” she added.
Who knows where this can lead? Nowadays, the small connections we make can lead to big results. You might find someone who has a common interest, or maybe even someone who turns out to be a close friend.
There is one thing for sure: Making small talk can brighten our day, even if it’s just a nice comment or a thoughtful question.
So the next time you find yourself waiting for the bus or checking your watch while you wait in a line, take the opportunity to look up and talk to someone around you. After all, it takes a small connection to lead to a larger one.
1. What is actually a big part of daily life?2. What did the researchers find in a recent study?
3. According to Pegler, why do we make small talk?
4. Would you like to try to make small talk in your daily life? Why or why not?
The Lin family has a son and a daughter, Lin Ming and Lin Fang. Lin Ming is seven and Lin Fang is two years
| A．From England. | B．Tall and strong. | C．A math teacher. |
—You can book one through our official APP.
| A．how I can buy an air ticket | B．when I can buy an air ticket | C．where can I buy an air ticket |
| A．Pink. | B．Apples. | C．Tea. |
One day, I found a notice on the noticeboard. It said that women’s basketball players were
In the school basketball team, I learned many new skills and practiced hard with my teammates. Later, I became one of the best players in the basketball team.
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| A．success | B．patience | C．knowledge | D．excitement |
| A．interviewed | B．surprised | C．supported | D．refused |
| A．same | B．relaxing | C．creative | D．healthy |
| A．Suddenly | B．Luckily | C．Actually | D．Finally |
| A．hanging out | B．talking back | C．lining up | D．lying down |
| A．offered | B．failed | C．managed | D．afforded |
| A．turn | B．race | C．plan | D．trip |
| A．turned | B．handed | C．bought | D．made |
| A．broke out | B．helped out | C．went off | D．paid off |
| A．order | B．ordered | C．was ordering | D．will order |
| A．studies | B．studied | C．has studied | D．was studying |
| A．gets up | B．got up | C．will get up | D．has got up |
