I always think my daughter Kendall is the best—that's just what parents do. When she was only three, she sang for the people, like a little angel.

When Kendall was five, we noticed that she sometimes had a tic (面部抽搐). When the problem got worse, we took her from doctor to doctor. During the treatment, Kendall continued to sing. Surprisingly, her tics disappeared when she sang.

When Kendall was sixteen, we thought she would be cured soon. However, a terrible thing happened.

At a party, Kendall jumped on a friend for a piggyback ride. He bent lower than she expected, and she jumped higher than he expected. Kendall flew over his back and landed on the floor—on her neck. She was rushed to hospital, paralyzed(瘫痪) from the neck down. She couldn't move. But her biggest worry wasn't whether she would walk again, but was whether she could try out for a show called American Idol.

As the days went on, feeling on her left side returned, but she was still paralyzed on the right. We weren't sure how much of her movement would come back. A friend brought a microphone and put it on her bed. Every day, Kendall tried hard to pick it up. It was more important for her to pick up that microphone than a spoon or fork.

Sometimes she had to bite a toothbrush to take her mind off the pain. We all cried because of the pain we witnessed. But on the day—only three months after her accident—we cried full of joy when she sang, though she didn't enter the Top 24 of American Idol.

When she was a little girl, she asked me why it was she that had tics. My heart hurt, but I told her, "Kendall, you have a pure heart, a fantastic voice, a strong mind. And you are a beautiful presence.”

1.When did they notice that Kendall sometimes had a tic?

A.When she was five. B.When she was sixteen.

C.When she sang. D.When she saw the doctor.

2.What was a surprise during the treatment in Paragraph 2?

A.She had a tic. B.Her tics disappeared when she sang.

C.She was cured soon. D.She sang for the people.

3.Why was it more important for Kendall to pick up that microphone than a spoon or fork?

A.Because Kendall loved singing.

B.Because Kendall didn't like a spoon or fork.

C.Because Kendall's friend brought the microphone for her.

D.Because that microphone was more beautiful for her than a spoon or fork.

4.What is the best title of the passage?

A.An American Idol.

B.A paralyzed girl.

C.The girl who had a tic.

D.A beautiful girl.

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

What’s the problem? It’s more likely that none of us start a conversation because it’s challenging, or we think it’s 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 advantages.

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, professor of psychology at UBC, invited people on their way into a coffee shop. One group was asked to look for an interaction (互动) with its waiter; the other, to speak only when necessary. The results showed that those who chatted with their waiter reported higher positive (积极的) 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 greater sense of belonging (归属感), a relationship 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’s the main idea of Paragraph 1?

A.Interest in smartphones. B.Unsuitable behaviours in public places.

C.Absence of communication between strangers. D.Impatience with slow service.

2.What does the coffee-shop study suggest about small talk?

A.It improves family relationships. B.It raises people’s confidence.

C.It matters as much as a formal talk. D.It makes people feel good.

3.What is the best title for the text?

A.Conversation Counts B.Advantages of Small Talk

C.Uncomfortable Silence D.Ways of Making Small Talk

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