第三部分  閱讀理解（共20小題；每小題2分，滿分40分）

      閱讀下列短文，從每題所給的A、B、C、D四個選項中，選出最佳選項，并在答題卡上將該項涂黑。

A

How did your friendships begin? Most start with a short conversation on a random day. Asking about a homework assignment in class or complaining about your sore legs after playing in a soccer game, you found your best pal by accident.

“Small talk is where all your relationships begin,” Forbes magazine summed up.

The following is a five-step guide to making small talk from Bernardo J. Carducci, the director of the Shyness Research Institute at Indiana University Southeast, US. Let’s have a look.

1. Getting started

Begin by talking about the setting, such as the weather outside or the room you are in (“It’s cold in here, isn’t it?”). The purpose of talking about the setting is to show the other person that you are willing to make a conversation.

2. The personal introduction

You should mention something about yourself, such as your name. A good personal introduction helps move the conversation forward.

3. Looking for topics

At this point, you and your conversation partner need to find common ground. This is a good time to ask questions or to refer back to things you’ve said or heard earlier. Don’t worry if it gets quiet. The other person is probably just thinking of something to say.

4. Expanding the topic

The goal is to keep the conversation going. At every stage, you should be careful not to talk too much. But don’t let the other person dominate (支配) the conversation either. If that starts to happen, mention something about yourself when he or she takes a breath.

5. A polite ending

When ending a conversation, let the person know you’ll be leaving soon, express gratitude for the conversation and set the stage for a future conversation. For example, you could say, “I really must be going soon, but I had a great time chatting with you. I really liked hearing your opinion about that new movie. Here’s my phone number. Call or text me if you know of any other movies you think I might enjoy.”

61. According to the article, starting by talking about the setting is meant to ______.

A. find common ground

B. impress the other person

C. make the room louder

D. show your eagerness to make a conversation             

62. What is the reader advised to do when making small talk?

A. Turn the conversation to your advantage.

B. Never cut in when the other person is talking.

C. Do whatever you can to avoid quiet moments.

D. Focus on topics both sides are interested in.

63. Which tip is about dealing with silent moments?

A. Tip No. 1  B. Tip No. 3.

C. Tip No. 4.  D. Tip No. 5.

64. When ending a conversation, you’d better ______.

A. talk about how much you want to keep talking

B. show that you’ve enjoyed the talk

C. mention a specific movie that you love

D. give your opinion about the other person’s earlier comments

65. The main purpose of the article is to ______.

A. encourage students to make more friends at school

B. give students tips on making small talk

C. introduce popular topics for students to have daily conversations about

D. teach students how to keep their friendships alive
英語學習  http://szenemacher.com/english/