1 . As our lives become more closely connected with the digital age, it’s more important than ever to keep the spark of human connections, a key part of which is making small talk.     1     Here’s how to master the art of small talk.

The cornerstone of effective small talk lies in developing genuine interest. Genuine interest is about actively seeking to understand the other person, valuing their perspectives and appreciating the uniqueness they bring to the conversation.     2    

Small talk extends beyond spoken words; it includes the art of observation. As you engage in conversation, pay attention to the speaker’s body language, facial expressions and tone of voice.     3     Being familiar with them not only helps you navigate the conversation with sensitivity but also enables you to establish a deeper connection by respecting the slight differences of the other person’s communication style.

Actually listening and connecting with someone is essential for a conversation. By providing your undivided attention, you convey respect and interest in what the other person has to say.     4     Ask follow-up questions to show that you value their insights. This depth of engagement lays the foundation for a more meaningful connection.

At the heart of successful small talk lies the authenticity (真实性) of your engagement. Authenticity fosters a sense of trust and connection, making the conversation more meaningful and memorable. Avoid the temptation to project an image or use scripted responses.     5     In the world of small talk, authenticity is the key that unlocks the door to deeper connections and more fulfilling interactions.

A．Instead, let your true self shine through.

B．Some accessible topics are great for small talk.

C．Active listening involves fully engaging with the speaker.

D．Focus on understanding their viewpoints beyond simply hearing words.

E．The signals provide valuable insights into their emotions and intentions.

F．Small talk may be a gateway to building rich and meaningful relationships.

G．By expressing authentic curiosity, you make the other person feel seen and heard.

2 . In conversations with strangers, people commonly tend to think they should speak less than half the conversation time to be likable. But we’ve discovered this idea is wrong. Our data shows that people tend to think they should speak about 45% of the time to be likable in a one-on-one conversation with someone new. However, it appears speaking up a bit more is actually a better strategy.

In our research, we randomly assigned people to speak for 30%, 40%, 50%, 60% of the time in a conversation with someone new. We found that the more they spoke, the more they were liked by their new partners. This was only one study with 116 participants, but the outcome is supported by other researchers’ findings. For example, a previous study randomly assigned one in a pair to take on the role of “speaker” and the other to take on the role of “listener. ” After engaging in 12-minute interactions, listeners liked speakers more than speakers liked listeners because listeners felt more similar to speakers than speakers did to listeners. This outcome suggests the reason people prefer those who speak up: Learning more about a new partner can make you feel like you have more in common with him or her.

Further, we assigned people to speak for up to 70% and even 90% of the time. The result shows it is not an ideal strategy. Our research does not suggest people hold down a conversational partner but rather that they feel comfortable speaking up more than they usually might.

Research like ours can help people gain a ‘more reasonable understanding of social interactions with new people and become more confident about how to make a good first impression. It has the obvious benefit of allowing us to carefully control speaking time. However, it does not reflect more natural conversations. Future research should figure out whether our findings generalize to more natural interactions.

1. What is the common belief concerning conversations with strangers?

A．Speaking a little less is preferred.

B．Speaking half the time is the best.

C．Listeners are more likable than speakers.

D．Listeners fail to control the conversations.

2. How was the research carried out?

A．By analyzing speaking habits.

B．By making comparisons.

C．By listing examples.

D．By collecting data.

3. What is the disadvantage of the research?

A．The conversation time is limited.

B．Further study is hard to continue.

C．The findings are less widely appliable.

D．Interactions with strangers are missing.

4. In which situation can the research finding be applied?

A．Attending a family gathering.

B．Partying with your friends.

C．Meeting a new teacher.

D．Making a public speech.

3 . Perhaps you know two people would get on well—if only they would speak to each other. Your shy friends aren’t intentionally avoiding one another; it is just not in their nature to strike up a conversation. You can help things along by greasing (润滑) the wheels of social interaction.     1     In fact, they might both be grateful that you helped them get past the initial awkwardness.

Make Introductions

The first step to getting two shy people to talk to one another is to offer an introduction.     2     If you see two shy people sitting together but not talking, walk over and offer an ice breaker. A brief introduction with a piece of information that ties the two shy people together will be most helpful.

Ease Anxiety

    3     As they talk, an inner thought tells them that they are not good enough, smart enough or funny enough. They think that everyone else is judging them and that they never measure up. You may be able to help two shy people overcome this social hurdle by building their social confidence and belief that they are mutually (相互地) liked.

Find Mutual Interests

Give your shy friends a reason to talk. Figure out what they have in common and let them know about it. For example, if Josh and David are both into watching the UFC, make an introduction and a comment about the latest fight.     4     But once the two shy people are absorbed in their favorite topic, you can quietly slip away.

Get Active

Shy people have trouble living in the moment. They tend to think about past weaknesses or worry about future social obstacles rather than focus on the current situation. Put your shy friends in a situation that forces them to stop thinking so much and have a little fun. Ideally, your shy acquaintances should have to work together to overcome an obstacle—similar to what happens at company party.     5    

A．Some shy people are their own worst critics.

B．Most shy people are hesitant to offer a handshake or a name.

C．You might need to include yourself in the conversation at first.

D．Don’t worry that your shy friends will feel that you are interfering.

E．Promote the conversation by easing the anxiety shared by your shy friends.

F．They will come away with a shared experience and hopefully a tighter bond.

G．Getting to know the likes and dislikes of your shy friends will make this easier.

4 . In an incredible display of compassion and kindness, a man from Turkey was spotted trying to warm a pigeon in the most creative way.

Sabahattin Yılmaz was at home one chilly day. After a rain shower had passed, he noticed something landed on the sill (窗台) outside his window—a cold and wet pigeon. The animal was trembling and soaked; it clearly didn’t have the chance to seek shelter before the rain began. Feeling for the poor pigeon, Yılmaz thought of a way to dry him off.

Rather than pick him up and take him inside to warm up, Yılmaz plugged in a hairdryer and used it to dry off the bird. Little did he know that his neighbor captured the whole moment on video. In the video, Yılmaz can be seen leaning out of his window. He was stretching his arm as far as he can so the hot air can reach the pigeon. The bird willingly let the man warm him up, crouching (蹲伏) to let his outer feathers dry.

Yılmaz told the media that he spent about fifteen minutes drying off the bird. He said he had just opened his window when he saw the pigeon around the corner of the sill. He described it as wet and “about to freeze” from the cold and rainy weather.

After fifteen minutes, Yılmaz gave the pigeon birdseed, which he ate happily. However, the bird remained wet still. “I saw that it was still there so I warmed it up again, after the pigeon recovered again, and after eating a good amount of seed, it flew away,” Yılmaz recalled.

He also didn’t know that he was being recorded at the time and that the video was shared online. He simply did it out of the kindness of his heart. “The pigeon is a living creature and deserved to continue living, that is why I did it,” he said.

1. What is the text mainly about?

A．An online video about a pigeon became a hit.

B．A man warmed up a wet and cold pigeon.

C．A man invented a creative way to help birds.

D．A man lives in harmony with a pigeon.

2. What was the bird’s reaction to Sabahattin Yılmaz’s behavior?

A．It was scared and flew away.

B．It was annoyed and refused his help.

C．It was ready to accept his assistance.

D．It was happy to settle in his home.

3. What can we see from the video?

A．A man was filming Yılmaz’s kindness.

B．A pigeon was jumping back and forth when dried off.

C．Yılmaz was warming a pigeon in a novel way.

D．Yilmaz was stretching his arms to catch a pigeon.

4. Which of the following words can best describe Sabahattin Yılmaz?

A．Indifferent but creative.	B．Patient and ambitious.
C．Talented but careless.	D．Sympathetic and warm-hearted.

5 . Criticism from others can be difficult to take, especially if the person delivering the criticism isn’t exactly subtle(含蓄的)about it. So how should we deal with it?     1    

Try to separate the criticism from the environment in which it was given.     2     However, you should also try to calmly look at what’s being said and see if there are clues for your personal growth. Pretend the person isn’t talking about you, and try to read between the lines.

    3     This is where you listen and say“okay, that makes sense, ”or“I can come up with a plan to do that. ”Remember, haters gonna hate, but even they sometimes hate for reasons worth considering. All you need to do is keep what’s applicable and ignore the rest.

Turn those useful opinions into goals.     4     If someone complains that your writing is too long, for example, set a to-do to remove the fat from your work. If your boss complains you always wait until the last minute to complete tasks, set your due-dates a day earlier than they’re really due, so you get to work sooner.

Adjust your attitude. You can do all of this and still get depressed when someone tells you how you can improve. Attitude is the key here.     5     It’s easier said than done, but knowing your strengths and being ready to hear and accept your weaknesses is the most powerful thing you can do.

A．Focus on the meaningful part of the criticism.

B．Look at criticism as a chance to grow and get better.

C．Here are some ways you can get benefits from criticism.

D．Vaw your reaction to criticism depending on its intention.

E．It’s important to never let the opportunity for criticism pass you by.

F．It’s normal to be defensive when criticized and to react accordingly.

G．Once you have specific, practical tips, turn them into measurable to-dos.