1 . Brief and pleasant small talk can promote learning, expand your horizons, and contribute to a sense of belonging.     1     We asked experts to share their favorite strategies for getting better at small talk.

Take advantage of “free information”.

Find help from your surroundings, says Debra Fine, an expert on communication skills. If you’re standing next to someone at a baby shower, for example, the fact that you’re both there is what she calls “free information” — so ask the person how they know the mum-to-be.     2    

Skip sensitive questions.

Get rid of controversial topics and potentially sensitive matters (such as religion, relationship status, kids and work).     3     You might ask a high school senior to fill you in on their college search, for example, rather than inquiring if they will get into a famous college.

Respond generously.

Think of conversation as a game-and aim to be an active player, which requires investing energy in it. If someone asks how you are and you’ simply respond “Good”, you’re being a “lazy conversationalist”.     4     That gives the person you’re talking to plenty to work with if they’d like to continue to chat.

Exit the chat gracefully.

    5     Consider introducing the person to someone else, suggests Diane Windingland, and leaving time for them to know each other. Besides, Windingland recommends concluding like this: “Please excuse me, I have to talk to so-and-so.”

A．Don’t spend too long on meaningless topics.

B．You can maximize these benefits by mastering some techniques.

C．Rather than a single-word response, offer a full sentence in return.

D．Your shared reality is a terrific entry point for deeper conversation.

E．Instead, questions like “What keeps you busy outside of work?” are suggested.

F．Some conversations may drag on because people can’t figure out how to end them.

G．One key to changing that is to first accept that these casual chats are impossible to avoid.

2 . How to communicate complex information?

Did you ever have to read a presentation where you felt like you’re lost in confusing terms, data and concepts? Are you giving others this same experience?     1     But there are ways you can simplify your presentation and reengage your audience. Here’s how you can get complex information across.

Use interactive content. It gets the readers more involved in your presentation by letting them play an active part.     2     Beyond that, questionnaires and chatbots provide personalized and specific answers to readers as part of your presentation. Making your presentation interactive used to be hard, but now you can just use Storydoc. Go make your first interactive presentation. It’s easy as pie.

    3     No one will read a presentation with a thousand words. Do everyone a favor and use images. Images can be super effective at communicating complex information and save you a lot of needless text. In fact, visual representation of data and concepts can often convey what words cannot. Use diagrams and images to illustrate your points and simplify the complex.

Narrate your content.     4     Whether it’s through text to speech Al or video bubbles, centering your presentation around a story can help guide your audience through the complexity, making it more digestible, engaging, and memorable.

Use examples and fables. They can help explain clearly the complexity of ideas for they are what we’ve already known and understood.     5     More importantly, the real secret lies in selecting examples that are not just familiar but also deeply relevant-those are the ones that will truly ring with your listeners

A．Show, don’t tell

B．Make every word count.

C．This makes the complex concepts less new and more familiar

D．If you don’t sound excited, the listeners won’t feel excited either

E．Storytelling is another powerful tool for communicating complex concepts.

F．Communicating complex information is a common challenge in presentations

G．For example, allow them to choose the content route they wish to take and control the pace.

3 . Maria stared thoughtfully at the tree fort. It was the first thing her grandpa had built for her. She had been little — it was_________ her younger brothers had been born. Of all her brothers, Maria felt that she was most like her grandpa. Grandpa had been a carpenter. Maria had always loved visiting him in his workshop. Only she had been_________ because she was the oldest. He could do anything with his own two hands, she thought_________.

Recently, Maria had decided that she was going to build a tree swing. Now she was standing_________ the tree, with her rope, seat, and tools, thinking about the best way to_________ the swing. She could throw the ropes_________ the branch. But then how could she tie the knot? She would probably need to_________ a ladder.

“Hey, what’re you doing?” called a voice from a little distance away. Maria_________ and saw her little brother Ricardo ran up to her. “None of your business,” she_________. Then, thinking better of it, she said, “__________ a swing.” “Really? Can I help?” Ricardo asked. Maria thought it over — it would be__________ to have some help. But she was the__________ in the family now, so she would have to solve her own problems.

“No,” Maria said. “I don’t need any help.” Suddenly, her other brother, Emil, came running towards them. “Hey, what’re you guys doing?” “We’re building a swing,” Ricardo said. “No, we’re not,” Maria said. “I am!” “Can I help? “Emil asked. “No!” Maria was turning red. “This is my__________. Not yours. You__________ even knew Grandpa.” She ran into the house, leaving Ricardo, Emil, and her__________ beneath the tree.

“What’s wrong, Maria?” Grandma asked. “Ricardo and Emil are bothering me,” Maria explained the__________. “They’re just trying to help. And how are you going to do it all by yourself?” “Grandpa didn’t need anyone’s help,” Maria said. “Who do you think helped him cut the boards for your tree fort?”

Grandma asked. Maria was__________. “But I don’t remember...” “Maria, Grandpa was a great carpenter, but even great carpenters need help sometimes. __________ he needed a second pair of hands, he’d ask me to help.” Grandma glanced out the window. “And it looked like you need help, too.” Maria hurried outside.

Ricardo and Emil were__________ the ladder in the yard, waving at Maria. Smiling, she began to wonder if she might not be the only one to__________ Grandpa.

1.

A．when

B．until

C．before

D．after

2.

A．forced

B．inspired

C．persuaded

D．allowed

3.

A．slowly

B．proudly

C．clearly

D．anxiously

4.

A．in

B．on

C．around

D．under

5.

A．use

B．hang

C．provide

D．hold

6.

A．over

B．by

C．into

D．down

7.

A．take

B．fetch

C．buy

D．create

8.

A．turned

B．fell

C．nodded

D．waved

9.

A．cheered

B．replied

C．warned

D．complained

10.

A．Repairing

B．Moving

C．Checking

D．Making

11.

A．annoying

B．surprising

C．nice

D．hard

12.

A．explorer

B．supporter

C．owner

D．builder

13.

A．career

B．research

C．project

D．discovery

14.

A．barely

B．surely

C．precisely

D．possibly

15.

A．collections

B．machines

C．experiments

D．materials

16.

A．action

B．procedure

C．situation

D．schedule

17.

A．confused

B．ashamed

C．disappointed

D．nervous

18.

A．Wherever

B．Whenever

C．Unless

D．While

19.

A．carrying

B．catching

C．rolling

D．climbing

20.

A．take on

B．take in

C．take after

D．take to

4 . After eight years of construction, the Padma Multipurpose Bridge in Bangladesh opened to the public on June 26, reducing travel time from parts of the southwest of the country to the capital Dhaka from seven to eight hours to as little as just 10 minutes.

The 21.5-meter-wide, 6.15-kilometer-long bridge built over the Padma River, the main branch of the Ganges, has two levels with the upper tier having a four-lane highway and the lower tier a single-track railway, according to Wuhan-based China Railway Major Bridge Engineering Group, or MBEC, one of China’s biggest bridge makers. Before that, travelers and goods were transported via boat or ship because of the vast width and fast-flowing nature of the river, and the tendency of the area to flood.

In 2014, the Bangladeshi government awarded MBEC a $1.54-billion contract to build the core structure of the bridge, making it the country’s largest infrastructure(基础建设) project as well as the largest foreign bridge project undertaken by Chinese companies in terms of total cost.

“The construction was much harder than expected as the complex geological conditions brought multiple challenges to us,” said Shen Tao, deputy general manager of the project. “The bridge is located above a river with banks on loose soil, and downpours in the rainy season often caused flooding, bringing us numerous difficulties we had never experienced before.” “During the construction, we had to adjust the design plan to adapt to environmental changes whenever necessary,” he added.

“However, through continuous learning and adaptation, construction teams have greatly improved their abilities including technology, communication and adaptability.” said Wen Wusong, chairman of MBEC. “They demonstrated the strength of China’s road bridge construction to the whole world and the bridge is a model of international cooperation.”

Over the past eight years, the project has created over 50,000 jobs for local residents, according to MBEC.

1. What do we know about the bridge?

A．It is over the Ganges.

B．It is across the Padma River.

C．The upper tier has a single-track railway.

D．The lower tier has a four-lane highway.

2. What did Shen Tao mainly express in paragraph 4?

A．Costs of building the bridge.

B．Features of the newly-built bridge.

C．Benefits the bridge can bring about.

D．Difficulties in constructing the bridge.

3. Which can replace the underlined word “demonstrated” in paragraph 5?

A．Measured

B．Adapted.

C．Showed.

D．Preserved.

4. What can be the best title for the news report?

A．China-made bridge opens in Bangladesh

B．Eight years of China’s constructing a bridge in Bangladesh

C．Constructing a bridge creates over 50,000 jobs in Bangladesh

D．Bangladeshi government awards MBEC $1.54-billion contract

5 . Let’s be real: apologizing can be difficult. Nobody likes to admit that they were wrong, or that they offended somebody. However, you still have agreed-upon ways to acknowledge that you did something wrong and to express your remorse to others. When you have harmed someone, a genuine, well-given apology demonstrates that you care about them, allows you to take responsibility for your actions, rebuilds trust, and prevents the further deterioration of relationships. It can also help you avoid the shame and guilt of wronging someone from eating away at your self-esteem.

A proper apology should express your understanding that you've done something wrong. Telling somebody “I'm sorry you feel that way!” is not an adequate apology. You should also be aware of over apologizing; it can have negative effects, too. So try to make an effective apology when the situation calls for one.

As Professor Karen A. Cerulo from the University of New Jersey explained, an effective apology has several elements. Number one: don't wait. Forget your ego. Unless you're involved in a legal situation, where you're advised not to speak, you should make an apology right away. Second, don't apologize for what people thought. Instead of saying, “Tm sorry that you misunderstood me!” or “I'm sorry that you misinterpreted or misread my actions!”, apologize for what you did—not for what other people might have thought about it. Third, don't give context. The “why” of what you did is less important to people than your regret and remorse. Finally, there's really a successful formula that you need to use: identify your victim right up front, then express remorse, and, if possible, make restitution.

Dr. Ben Ho, an associate professor of economics at Vasser College, says that people often want to see an apology that costs something. This cost doesn't have to be financial; it can come in the form of admitting your incompetence in making the previous error or promising to do better in the future.

As for promises, avoid the ones that can't be kept. Don't say that you’ll ensure that this will not happen again if you not confident it won't. It could come back to bite you, Martin Stone of Public Relation agency Tank explains. And do remember that the use of "but” can hugely change the tone of an apology. As Stone points out, “I'm sorry but …” sounds like you are making excuses and aren't actually taking any form of responsibility.

1. What is the purpose of the first paragraph?

A．To tell you not to harm others.	B．To persuade you to make apologies.
C．To remind you to reflect on your behaviors.	D．To advise you to improve relationships with others.

2. What should a good apology be like?

A．As formal as possible.	B．As positive as possible.
C．Neither serious nor forced.	D．Neither inadequate nor excessive.

3. On what condition does Cerulo advise people not to apologize quickly?

A．When people misunderstand you.	B．When you are held legally responsible.
C．When you are forced to do something wrong.	D．When you don't know whom you have harmed.

4. What does the underlined word refer to?

A．A previous error.

B．A weak apology.

C．A false promise.

D．A terrible excuse.

6 . Simple Ways to Improve Your Social Skills

Being friendly and social with your coworkers is a big part of most jobs.     1     , as you may not know them as well as close friends. Thankfully, there’s something you can do to improve your social skills at work.

Greet everyone with a smile. Try smiling at your coworkers and greeting them each day when you get to work. Even if you’re a little nervous, it only takes a few seconds, and it can make you seem more friendly and approachable.     2     , smile, and add a personalized hello to break the ice with your coworkers.

Use general conversation starters. Talk about the weather or something you notice in the room. This gives the conversation a nice starting point with whoever you're talking with.

● Any casual small talk is fine — the most important thing is to engage with the people around you.

● Remember to give people time to talk.     3     . If you’ve been doing most of the talking, pause so that your coworker can get a word in or share their opinion.

●    4    . If you notice a natural stopping point in the conversation, politely excuse yourself from the conversation and leave your coworker with an invitation to talk again soon.

Respect your coworkers’ boundaries.     5    . Everyone has their limits on how much they want to socialize. Read your coworkers’ body language to understand their boundaries, and respectfully give them the space they need.

A．Keep a certain distance

B．Make direct eye contact

C．End conversations on a good note

D．A good conversation is about taking turns

E．It will be a disaster to get too close to anyone

F．It can be a little tense to socialize with colleagues, though

G．Not everyone wants to be best friends with their coworkers

7 . Whether you want to impress a new teacher, or just chat with a new acquaintance, knowing how to start a conversation can help you feel more comfortable and confident.

    1    . To take an example, when you go into a room full of strangers, most people there are just like you in their hopes and fears. So when you approach someone to start a conversation, you’re helping him, because he wants someone to talk to as much as you do.     2    , you can acknowledge and accept them, which will be to your advantage.

No matter what the situation is, you can find something positive to say. Comment on the weather, the food, or the event itself. Saying something as simple as you hope your conversation partner has a good time also is a good way to get a conversation rolling. People tend to respond better to a positive subject rather than a negative one. Staying positive also helps put others at ease.     3    .

It can be difficult to try to talk to someone when it feels that you have little in common. In these situations, getting the other person to talk about his or her own interests, work, or expertise can be a useful way.     4    , so expressing a genuine interest in the things that other people enjoy can be excellent fuel for a great conversation.

Learning how to start a conversation is an important skill that can help you build social connections. It can be difficult initially, particularly if you struggle with shyness or social anxiety.     5    . The more often you start to interact with others, the stronger your conversational skills will become.

A．If you put the skills into practice

B．Instead of pushing your fears away

C．Everyone feels some level of fear in social situations

D．Eye contact will make your partner feel embarrassed

E．Try to think of every interaction as a practice session

F．People often enjoy talking about things they are passionate about

G．People will be more interested in continuing a conversation with you

8 . By day, Robert Titterton is a lawyer. In his spare  time though he goes on stage beside pianist Maria Raspopova — not as a musician but as her page turner. “I’m not a trained musician, but I’ve learnt to read music so I can help Maria in her performance.”

Mr Titterton is chairman of the Omega Ensemble but has been the group’s official page turner for the past four years. His job is to sit beside   the pianist and turn the pages of the score so the musician doesn’t have to break the flow of sound by doing it themselves. He said he became just as nervous as those playing instruments on stage.

“A lot of skills are needed for the job. You have to make sure you don’t turn two pages at once and make sure you find the repeats in the music   when you have to go back to the right spot.” Mr Titterton explained.

Being a page turner requires plenty of practice. Some pieces of music can go for 40 minutes and require up to 50 page turns, including back turns for repeat passages. Silent onstage communication is key, and each pianist has their own style of “nodding” to indicate a page turn which they need to practise with their page turner.

But like all performances, there are moments when things go wrong. “I was turning the page to get ready for the next page, but the draft wind from the turn caused the spare pages to fall off the stand,” Mr Titterton said, “Luckily I was able to catch them and put them back.”

Most page turners are piano students or up-and-coming concert pianists, although Ms Raspopova has once asked her husband to   help her out on stage.

“My husband is the worst page turner,” she laughed. “He’s interested in the music, feeling every note, and I have to say: ‘Turn, turn!’ Robert is the best page turner I’ve had in my entire life.”

1. What should Titterton be able to do to be a page turner?

A．Read music.	B．Play the piano.
C．Sing songs.	D．Fix the instruments.

2. Which of the following best describes Titterton’s job on stage?

A．Boring.	B．Well-paid.
C．Demanding.	D．Dangerous.

3. What does Titterton need to practise?

A．Counting the pages.	B．Recognizing the “nodding”.
C．Catching falling objects.	D．Performing in his own style.

4. Why is Ms Raspopova’s husband “the worst page turner”?

A．He has very poor eyesight.	B．He ignores the audience.
C．He has no interest in music.	D．He forgets to do his job.