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 along with the rapid development of society, we all focus on our phone and desktop, and therefore it results in our compromised conversational intelligence. However, 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 small 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 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.
1. What does the underlined word “compromised” in paragraph 2 mean?| A．Weakened. | B．Enhanced. | C．Secret. | D．Natural. |
| A．Showing good manners. | B．Relating to other people. |
| C．Focusing on a topic. | D．Making business deals. |
| A．It made the coffee taste better. | B．It reduced waiting time in line. |
| C．It improved people’s mood and experience. | D．It helped them bond with the server deeply. |
| A．Elevator manners. | B．The importance of small talk. |
| C．Smartphones and social media. | D．Developing deep relationships. |
1. 社交能力的重要性；
2. 提高学生社交能力的建议。
注意：
1. 写作词数应为80个左右；
2. 请按如下格式在相应位置作答。
Enhancing Social Skills in Students
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________3 . Initial conversations can have a huge impact on how relationships develop over time. People are often stuck in the impressions they think they might have made the minute they finish speaking with someone for the first time: “Did they like me or were they just being polite?” “Were they deep in thought or deeply bored?”
To find out whether these worries are necessary, we have conducted nearly 10 years of research. In our studies, participants in the UK talked with someone they had never met before. Afterward, they were asked how much they liked their conversation partner and how much they believed that their conversation partner liked them. This allowed us to compare how much people believed they were liked to how much they were actually liked.
Time and time again, we found that people left their conversations with negative feelings about the impression they made. That is, people systematically underestimate how much their conversation partners like them and enjoy their company — a false belief we call the “liking gap”.
This bias (偏见) may seem like something that would occur only in initial interactions, but its effects extend far beyond a first impression. Surprisingly, the liking gap can constantly affect a variety of relationships, including interactions with coworkers, long after the initial conversations have taken place. Having a larger liking gap is associated with being less willing to ask workmates for help, less willing to provide workmates with open and honest feedback, and less willing to work on another project together.
There are numerous strategies to minimize your biased feelings. One place to start is shifting your focus of attention. Try to direct your attention to your conversation partner, be genuinely curious about them, ask them more questions, and really listen to their answers. The more you’re zeroed in on the other person, and the less you’re focused on yourself, the better your conversation will be and the less your mind will turn to all the things you think you didn’t do well.
1. Why did the author carry out 10 years of research?| A．To dismiss national concerns. | B．To check out a potential bias. |
| C．To enhance human communication. | D．To develop harmonious relationships. |
| A．Fewer chances of new projects. | B．Underestimation of their ability. |
| C．Bad relationships with people around. | D．Low willingness to interact with others. |
| A．Restate opinions. | B．Deliver warnings. | C．Give suggestions. | D．Make a summary. |
| A．Liking Gap May Influence Work Performances |
| B．First Impressions Rely On Initial Conversations |
| C．People Probably Like You More Than You Think |
| D．How People Like You Matters Less Than You Assume |
4 . So many things can keep you from seeing your loved ones in person, from busy schedules to long distances. Fortunately, thanks to modern technology, the people you miss are often only a phone call or a text message away. According to science, if you want to feel more connected to the people you’re talking to, you should call them instead of texting.
In a study, researchers did various experiments. In one, they asked 200 people to imagine what it would be like to reconnect with an old friend by email or by phone, and they asked people to do one or the other at random. Although people thought that a phone call would be more mortifying, it actually made the experience better. “People reported they did form a stronger bond with their old friends on the phone versus email, and they did not feel uncomfortable,” co-author Amit Kumar said.
In another experiment, researchers had strangers connect by texting, talking over video chat, or talking using only audio (音频). They found that both forms of voice communication — whether video or audio only — made the strangers feel more connected than when they communicated via text.
Sabrina Romanoff, a psychologist, says people tend to text instead of calling because of convenience, as they can organize information exactly in the way they intend without unexpected additions by the other person.
Romanoff says that in reality, texting can make it hard to determine the true meaning behind a conversation. “A phone call is actually more convenient considering the effects of the message,” she explains. “Each part is more present, and therefore, it is able to figure out the meaning behind the conversation quickly without thinking on the endless possible meanings behind words.”
1. What does the underlined word “mortifying” in Paragraph 2 mean?| A．Puzzling. | B．Exciting. | C．Embarrassing. | D．Satisfying. |
| A．It takes more patience. | B．It brings people closer. |
| C．It proves more relaxing. | D．It makes people more friendly. |
| A．They can make themselves clear without being disturbed. |
| B．They would easily keep the messages for future use. |
| C．They can freely express their good or bad feelings. |
| D．They would avoid some unpleasant topics. |
| A．It is easy to express one’s meaning through texting. |
| B．It is necessary to guess the meaning behind words. |
| C．People can understand each other more easily by phone calls. |
| D．People should use simple words to express themselves in emails. |
5 . Active Listening: A Key Skill for Effective Communication
Active listening is a communication skill that goes beyond simply hearing words and involves fully taking part and understanding the speaker’s message. Importantly, it is a significant part in effective communication.
Give full attention to the speaker. Active listening requires being fully present in the conversation, observing the speaker’s body language, and facial expressions to avoid negative responses. It also requires listening to the speaker with all your senses, including sight, sound and so on.
Maintain good eye contact with the conversation partner. When taking part in active listening, making eye contact is especially important.
By actively listening, we can create stronger connections, and promote trust and respect in our relationships. Remember, active listening goes beyond simply hearing.
| A．Respond properly to the speaker. |
| B．Reflect on the responses of the speaker. |
| C．It focuses on the way you answer the speaker. |
| D．It shows that you are truly interested in what they say. |
| E．The fact, however, is that many people often fail in active listening. |
| F．It also involves improving communication quality and connecting with others. |
| G．To use this technique effectively, we’d better not do other things at the same time. |
6 . Trust is the basic of any relationship in both a professional and a personal capacity (能力). Here are some ways to build trust and be trustworthy.
Be always honest. Honesty is a quality that must be developed fully if you desire to build trust with others. Half-truths and white lies result in disasters.
Communicate effectively. Poor communication is one of the main reasons why trust is unable to be developed in any environment.
Do not be too quick in making decisions. There is no need to take too much pressure if you’re faced with a tough situation.
Take the necessary time.
| A．Keep your word. |
| B．Don’t take everything for sure. |
| C．Trust can’t be built in a short time. |
| D．Therefore, avoid them if you are trying to build trust. |
| E．The failure to explain your stand may cause unpleasant results. |
| F．You’d better take the time to consider your way from every aspect. |
| G．Make sure you are paying attention to old and new relationships equally. |
7 . Have you ever argued with a friend, and said or done something you regretted? Sometimes it can be hard to put things right, especially when feelings have been hurt. Knowing how to apologise can help you become friends again and to understand why you fell out in the first place.
We argue for all kinds of reasons. You might think your football team is fantastic but your friend disagrees; or maybe your sister is being really annoying. Sometimes, especially if you’re angry, things can spiral out of control and you’ll say or do something you regret. Arguing and disagreeing with others occasionally is normal — we all do it — but it’s important to resolve your differences afterwards so bad feelings don’t get worse. This is where an apology can help.
We all make mistakes, and apologising is a way of admitting we’ve got something wrong and will try not to do it again. Dr. Jennifer Thomas, a psychologist and author, believes an apology needs to show the other person that we’re genuinely (真诚地) sorry, we accept responsibility for our actions and we want their forgiveness.
Sometimes another person may pressure you into taking the blame when it’s not your fault. If you feel this is happening, try talking about why you argued in the first place and explain how it made you feel. If you still can’t agree, you could ask a parent or teacher to help you resolve the problem.
Sorry on its own might not always be enough, so try to ask the other person how they felt while you were arguing. Explain your side too, and make it clear you’ll try not to repeat the same mistake again. A genuine apology isn’t a magic wand (魔杖); it may take some time for someone to understand and forgive. Even after you’ve said sorry, you could still feel bad but you can feel good about trying to fix things and promising yourself to do better next time.
1. Why is it important to resolve differences after an argument?| A．To ensure that bad feelings worsen over time. | B．To maintain relationship and prevent damage. |
| C．To avoid taking responsibility for one’s action. | D．To establish leading power over one’s friends. |
| A．Stop. | B．Decrease. | C．Increase. | D．Win. |
| A．Both parties will forget the argument. | B．Forgiveness could take quite a while. |
| C．The person apologizing can calm down. | D．Relationships will improve immediately. |
| A．The Power of Apologies | B．The Causes of Arguments |
| C．The Significance of Forgiveness | D．The Benefits of Communication |
8 . We often think about relationships on a scale from positive to negative. We are drawn to loving family members, caring classmates and supportive mentors. We do our best to avoid the cruel uncle, the playground bully and the jerk boss.
But the most toxic relationships aren’t the purely negative ones. They’re the ones that are a mix of positive and negative. We often call them frenemies, supposed friends who sometimes help you and sometimes hurt you. But ifs not just friends. It’s the in-laws who volunteer to watch your kids but belittle your parenting. The manager who praises your work but denies you a promotion.
Everyone knows how relationships like that can tie your stomach into a knot. But groundbreaking research led by the psychologists Bert Uchino and Julianne Holt-Lunstad shows that ambivalent (矛盾情绪的) relationships can be damaging to your health — even more than purely negative relationships.
I had assumed that with a neighbor or a colleague, having some positive interactions was better than all negative interactions. But being cheered on by the same person who cuts you down doesn’t reduce the bad feelings; it increases them. And it’s not just in your head: It leaves a trace in your heart and your blood.
Even a single ambivalent interaction can cause harm. In one experiment, people gave impromptu speeches on controversial topics in front of a friend who offered feedback. The researchers had randomly assigned the friend to give ambivalent or negative comments. Receiving mixed feedback caused higher blood pressure than pure criticism. “I would have gone about the topic differently, but you’re doing fine” proved to be more distressing than “I totally disagree with everything you’ve said.”
The evidence that ambivalent relationships can be bad for us is strong, but the reasons can be harder to read — just like the relationships themselves.
The most intuitive reason is that ambivalent relationships are unpredictable. With a clear enemy, you put up a shield when you cross paths. With a frenemy, you never know whether Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde is going to show up. Feeling unsure can disrupt the body’s calming system and activate a fight-or-flight response. It’s unsettling to hope for a hug while also preparing for a likely quarrel.
Another factor is that unpleasant interactions are more painful in an ambivalent relationship. It’s more upsetting to be let down by people you like sometimes than by people you dislike all the time. When someone stabs you in the back, it stings more if he’s been friendly to your face.
1. Which of the following can be counted as a frenemy?| A．Your neighbour’s kid who advises you to study hard but idles away his own time. |
| B．Your classmate who admires your diligence at first, but doubts your intelligence later. |
| C．Your mother’s friend who encourages you to spend more time on homework but less on smart phones. |
| D．Your father’s colleague who proposes you to do a moderate amount of homework while ensuring adequate sleep. |
| A．Ambivalent relationships have a permanent effect on your well-being. |
| B．The common cause for high blood pressure is ambivalent relationship. |
| C．Ambivalent interactions will be more painful if it is done consciously. |
| D．The negative impact of ambivalent interactions is direct and strong. |
| A．devalue | B．appreciate | C．respect | D．abuse |
| A．Some Negative Relationships Are Bad for Your Health |
| B．Your Most Ambivalent Relationships Are the Most Toxic |
| C．The Reasons for Ambivalent Relationships Are Unpredictable |
| D．Some Positive Relationships Are Better than All Negative Ones |
9 . You might have ever noticed how some people can effortlessly talk to anyone they meet, no matter how different their backgrounds are. Or you may have seen that one person always offends someone, no matter what the topic of conversation is. These two situations describe how we can differ in our abilities to interact, get along with, and relate to others around us. In the same way that we vary in traditional academic competencies, we can vary in how socially competent we are. After years of academic research and development, this social ability is now commonly referred to as “social intelligence.”
Social intelligence is the ability to understand other people, how they work, what motivates them, and how to work cooperatively with them. It is a relationshipbased construct that centers on the way we understand others, interact with others, and present ourselves to others. As an example, you would not speak in the same way toward your 70-year-old mother as you would to your 16-yearold daughter. In our working lives, we come across different social groups including those from different countries, varying age groups and cultural identities. Being able to acknowledge and understand people’s different backgrounds is a key way to connect with them.
Our ability to navigate successfully through our lives relies heavily on our levels of social intelligence. It can affect the relationships we form with our partners and children, the friendship circles that we build, and our ability to progress in our careers and ambitions. Given the importance of social intelligence in multiple aspects of life, it is therefore in our best interest to better understand the concept of social intelligence and take the following ways to improve it.
1. What is the first paragraph intended to show?| A．Academic research varies from person to person. |
| B．Social competencies are crucial to academic research. |
| C．Social competencies are of difference person to person. |
| D．Academic research shows people’s social competencies. |
| A．To present a fact. | B．To justify an idea. |
| C．To introduce a topic. | D．To draw a conclusion. |
| A．It is difficult to develop social intelligence. |
| B．Our relationship circles should be enlarged. |
| C．Better understanding a concept is important. |
| D．Social intelligence has great effects on our lives. |
| A．How to define social intelligence. | B．How to classify social intelligence. |
| C．How to improve social intelligence. | D．How to deal with social intelligence. |
10 . A year after Benjamin Canlas died at 17，his love of helping others lives on. Through a foundation
In the Philippines，many jobs have been lost
At first，their
Among the
There are people still in need and much more
| A．given up | B．set up | C．held up | D．brought up |
| A．still | B．already | C．ever | D．yet |
| A．at the cost of | B．in spite of | C．as a result of | D．in case of |
| A．extra | B．temporary | C．dangerous | D．suitable |
| A．completely | B．regularly | C．aimlessly | D．severely |
| A．sell | B．rent | C．give away | D．pay for |
| A．plan | B．dream | C．program | D．duty |
| A．models | B．designs | C．girls | D．applications |
| A．invented | B．intended | C．required | D．arranged |
| A．assistants | B．travelers | C．visitors | D．winners |
| A．challenging | B．measuring | C．covering | D．finishing |
| A．valuable | B．convenient | C．enjoyable | D．spare |
| A．money | B．joy | C．help | D．freedom |
| A．projects | B．actions | C．jobs | D．courses |
| A．ordering | B．persuading | C．forcing | D．urging |
