1 . We’ve all been there: in a lift, in line at the bank or on an airplane, surrounded by people who are, like us, deeply focused on their smartphones or, worse, struggling with the uncomfortable silence.

What’s the problem? It’s possible that we all have compromised conversational intelligence. It’s more likely that none of us start a conversation because it’s awkward and challenging, or we think it’s annoying and unnecessary. But the next time you find yourself among strangers, consider that small talk is worth the trouble. Experts say it’s an invaluable social practice that results in big benefits.

Dismissing small talk as unimportant is easy, but we can’t forget that deep relationships wouldn’t

even exist if it weren’t for casual conversation. Small talk is the grease(润滑剂) for social communication, says Bernardo Carducci, director of the Shyness Research Institute at Indiana University Southeast. ＂Almost every great love story and each big business deal begins with small talk,＂ he explains. ＂The key to successful small talk is learning how to connect with others, not just communicate with them.＂

In a 2014 study, Elizabeth Dunn, associate professor of psychology at UBC, invited people on their way into a coffee shop. One group was asked to seek out an interaction(互动) with its waiter; the other, to speak only when necessary. The results showed that those who chatted with their server reported significantly higher positive feelings and a better coffee shop experience. ＂It’s not that talking to the waiter is better than talking to your husband,＂ says Dunn. ＂But interactions with peripheral(边缘的) members of our social network matter for our well-being also.＂

Dunn believes that people who reach out to strangers feel a significantly greater sense of belonging, a bond with others. Carducci believes developing such a sense of belonging starts with small talk. ＂Small talk is the basis of good manners,＂ he says.

When someone has     1     (deep) hurt you, it can be very difficult to let go of your anger. But forgiveness is possible and it can be surprisingly     2     (benefit) to your physical, and mental health. So far research     3     (show) that people who forgive can have more energy, better appetite and better sleep. “People who forgive show     4     (little) anger and more hopefulness,” says Dr. Frederic Luskin, who wrote the book Forgive for Good. “So it can help reduce the tiredness out of the immune system and allow people to feel more energetic.”

So when someone has hurt you, cool down first. Take a couple of breaths and think of something     5     gives you pleasure: a beautiful scene in nature, or someone you love. Don’t wait for them     6     (apologize). “Many times the person who hurt you may never think of apologizing.” says Dr. Luskin. “They may have wanted to hurt you or they just don’t see things in     7     same way. So if you wait for people to say sorry, you could be waiting a very long time.”

Next, keep in mind that forgiveness does not necessarily mean     8     (accept) the action of the person who upsets you. Instead, learn to look for the love, beauty and     9    (kind) around you.Finally, try to see things from the other person’s perspective (视角). You may realize that he or she was acting out of ignorance. To gain perspective, you may want to write a letter    10     yourself from that person’s point of view.

Shyness is avoiding human contact, often because of a feeling of not being as good as others and fear of taking risks. Shyness is a force     1     prevents us from realizing our potential and     2     (enjoy) the company of other people. Shyness is often associated     3     low emotional control and high negative emotions.

On the basis of research that he     4     (do) for the past six years, Dr. Zimbardo estimates that about 40 percent of all Americans, around 84 million people, consider     5     (they) shy. They include not only ordinary people but also a number of     6     (celebrity) who define themselves as shy. Research shows that a quarter of the people who are shy as adults were not shy as children.

Shyness makes it difficult     7     (meet) new people and make friends. It prevents     8     individual from expressing opinions and values. With authorities such as a boss or a teacher, the shy are less     9     (like) to stand up for their rights or express reasonable criticism. They’re more willing to obey and unwilling to be     10     (cooperate).

Have you ever heard the old saying,“Never judge a book by its cover? This is     1     good rule to follow when trying to judge the intelligence of others. Some people have minds     2     shine only in certain situations. A young people with an     3     (usual) gift for writing may find himself speechless in the presence of a pretty girl when he speaks. He may not be able to find the right words. But don’t make the mistake of thinking him stupid. With a pen and a piece of paper, he can express     4     (he) better than anybody.

Other people may fool you into overestimating their intelligence by     5     (put) up a good front. A student listening attentively and taking     6     (note) in class is sure to make a favourable impression     7       his teachers. But he may score near the bottom of the class when it     8     (come) to exams.

The only way     9     (determine) a person’s intelligence is to get to know him. The     10     (much) situation you see, the better your judgment is likely to be. So take your time. Don’t judge a book by its cover.

6 . One way to prevent anxiety from getting out of control is to recognise its benefits. It is a mistake to think that we’d make better decisions if only we keep our feelings under control. Instead, a mix of feelings like anxiety and logical thinking leads to sound decision-making. It’s true that there is plenty of research showing that higher levels of anxiety can make us more likely to avoid risks in our decision-making. There is also evidence that anxiety can increase the attention you pay to relevant information.

Recent studies have shown that people who are anxious about their relationships (for example,   they fear to be abandoned) tend to be better at recognising people who tell lies and are more likely to raise the alarm when danger is present.

In the real world though, it’s worth realising that feeling anxious once in a while is extremely common. It communicates to others that you care, and what’s more, it’s probably a sign that you are intelligent. At least two published studies have identified that people who score higher on measures of anxiety also tend to perform better on intelligence tests. This seems reasonable: if you’re a thinker, you are sure to be always thinking about the future and imagine possible plots, including bad ones.

The important thing, if you are a worrywart (杞人忧天者), is not to let your fear destroy your dreams. And don’t bury your head in the sand. Instead, act on your fears—do the research as well as preparation, so rather than walking blindly into that which you fear, you meet the challenge in full readiness.   

When anxiety beats you, or casts a shadow over your life, this is a serious problem. No one is denying that. But like everyday anxiety of this kind that you feel before a presentation or an interview,   you needn’t see it as your enemy. Anxiety is an important feeling, developed through evolution. As for people who are fairly anxious by nature, there is reason for cheer, too. Your nerves are a sign of your watchfulness. Listen to them and act on them. Then you can turn your nervousness into your advantage.

Every culture has its own way to show friendship. On     1     islands of Hawaii, friendship is part of the “aloha spirit”. In the language of the Hawaiians who first     2     (settle) on the islands long ago, aloha has a very special meaning: to be with happiness. Hawaiians believe that once somebody loves the land, they are ready to love their people or community. This is one of the     3    ( important ) signs of friendship . It is called lokahi in the Hawaiian language,which means oneness(和谐)with all people.     4    (enjoy)the land,you should not be selfish. The land is     5     everyone who lives on it. Today many different peoples call Hawaii their home. Indeed, Hawaii is a place     6     people make one big community from many smaller     7     ( community ) . Each person gives kokua ( help ) to other people so that all feel stronger. It is believed that the islands can be a paradise(天堂)when people live peacefully. People are told that their actions should be as gentle as the wind that blows from the sea. When problems happen, people     8    (ask) to solve them with understanding. So when the people of Hawaii talk about family, they are     9     (actual) talking about all those     10    (live)on the islands.