Question

【题目】Security guard, truck driver, salesperson—year after year, these jobs appear on lists of the unhappiest careers. Although many factors can make a job unhappy, unusual hours, low pay, no chance for advancement — these three gigs stand out for another reason: a lack of small talk.

Psychologists have long said that connecting with others is central to well-being, but just how much conversation we require is under investigation. In one study, researchers eavesdropped(窃听) on undergraduates for four days, then cataloged each overheard conversation as either small talk (What do you have there? Popcorn?(Yummy!) or serious (So did they get divorced soon after?). They found that the second type related with happiness—the happiest students had roughly twice as many serious talks as the unhappiest ones. Small talk, meanwhile, made up only 10 percent of their conversation, versus almost 30 percent of conversation among the least content students.

However, don't just consider chat worthless yet. Scientists believe that small talk could promote linking. Chatting with strangers could brighten your morning. In a series of experiments, psychologists gave Chicago travelers varying directions about whether to talk with fellow train passengers something they typically avoided. Those told to chat with others reported a more pleasant journey than those told to enjoy your being alone or to do whatever they normally would. None of the chatters reported being rejected. And the results held for introverts(内向者) and extroverts(外向者) alike which makes sense, since acting extroverted has a positive effect on introverts.

Small talk can also help us feel connected to our surroundings. People who smiled at, made eye contact with, and briefly spoke with their Starbucks reported a greater sense of belonging than those who rushed through the business. Similarly, one not yet published paper found that when volunteers broke the silence of the Tate Modern to chat with gallery goers, the visitors felt happier and more connected to the exhibit than those who were not approached.

So go ahead, pry. Chitchat needn’t be idle. And nosiness isn’t all bad.

【1】The author attributes the unhappiness felt by security guards, truck drivers and sales people to ________.

A. unusual hours and low pay

B. a lack of small talk

C. no chance for advancement

D. an absence of serious conversation

【2】What was the conclusion of the study mentioned in the second paragraph?

A．Connecting with others is central to our well-being.

B．We require 30 minutes of conversation every day to be happy.

C．Serious conversation is linked to happiness.

D．Small talk cannot help make us feel happy.

【3】The author used the Tate Modern example to demonstrate that ________.

A. connecting with others is key to our happiness

B. unserious conversation could promote bonding

C. small talk can help us feel connected to our surroundings

D. smiling can help people gain a great sense of belonging

【4】Which of the following shows the development of ideas in this passage?

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】B

【2】C

【3】C

【4】B

【解析】

试题分析：一项研究表明，经常和他人进行深度交流的大学生，比只会闲话家常的同龄人更有满足感。所以，也不要小看闲聊哦。

【1】B 细节理解题。根据文章第一段第一、二句Security guard, truck driver, salesperson—year after year, these jobs appear on lists of the unhappiest careers. Although many factors can make a job unhappy, unusual hours, low pay, no chance for advancement—these three gigs stand out for another reason: a lack of small talk. （当保安、开卡车、做营业员，年复一年，这样的职业在最不快乐的职业名单上出现。尽管造成某个工作不快乐的因素有很多——不规律的工作时间、工资待遇不佳、晋升机会渺茫……，但还有一个原因比这三个因素更突出：从事这些职业的人往往都缺乏与他人的交流。）可知，故选B。

【2】C 细节理解题。根据第二段中In one study, researchers eavesdropped(窃听) on undergraduates for four days, then cataloged each overheard conversation as either small talk (What do you have there? Popcorn?(Yummy!) or serious (So did they get divorced soon after?). They found that the second type related with happiness——the happiest students had roughly twice as many serious talks as the unhappiest ones.可知，他们发现进行有内容的交流使人快乐。调查中，最快乐的学生所进行的有内容交流，是最不快乐的学生的两倍。故选C。

【3】C 细节理解题。根据第四段最后一句Similarly, one not yet published paper found that when volunteers broke the silence of the Tate Modern to chat with gallery goers, the visitors felt happier and more connected to the exhibit than those who were not approached.可知，闲聊能帮助我们感受与周围环境的联系。故选C。

【4】B推理判断题。根据第一句最后一句Although many factors can make a job unhappy, unusual hours, low pay, no chance for advancement — these three gigs stand out for another reason: a lack of small talk.（尽管造成某个工作不快乐的因素有很多——不规律的工作时间、工资待遇不佳、晋升机会渺茫……，但还有一个原因比这三个因素更突出：从事这些职业的人往往都缺乏与他人的交流。）；根据第二段第一句Psychologists have long said that connecting with others is central to well-being, but just how much conversation we require is under investigation. （心理学家早就说过，与他人的联系关乎一个人的幸福。但是，多少交流最合适还没有定论）；第三段第一句However, don't just consider chat worthless yet.（然而，不要只考虑聊天毫无价值）；第四段第一句Small talk can also help us feel connected to our surroundings. (闲聊也能帮助我们感受与周围环境的联系。)；最后一段So go ahead, pry. Chitchat needn’t be idle. And nosiness isn’t all bad.（所以大家不妨大胆八卦吧！谁说闲聊非得是漫无目的、空耗时间的无聊之举？好打听事儿也无妨！）可知，第一段引出话题，第二段进一步指出交流的作用，第三、四段证明第二段观点，最后一段总结，故选B。

【学法指导】

整合全文（段）信息进行推断。做推理题时，有时需要在弄懂全文意思的基础上，整合与题目相关的有用信息，综合起来去推理判断，确定最佳结论。【4】B推理判断题。根据第二段第一句Psychologists have long said that connecting with others is central to well-being, but just how much conversation we require is under investigation. 心理学家早就说过，与他人的联系关乎一个人的幸福。但是，多少交流最合适还没有定论；第三段第一句However, don't just consider chat worthless yet.然而，不要只考虑聊天毫无价值；第四段第一句Small talk can also help us feel connected to our surroundings. 闲聊也能帮助我们感受与周围环境的联系.；最后一段So go ahead, pry. Chitchat needn’t be idle. And nosiness isn’t all bad. 所以大家不妨大胆八卦吧！谁说闲聊非得是漫无目的、空耗时间的无聊之举？好打听事儿也无妨！通过上面的分析可知选B。