Question

20．Put a group of strangers in a room together，and they'll probably start a conversation．"Hot today，isn't it？"one might say．"You said it，"another replies．
Why do we talk so much about the weather？When we meet new people，we don't begin by telling them our life story．We start with small talk，a polite conversation about something like traffic or weather．
Research suggests that small talk can build new friendships．When we begin conversations with new people，we want to feel comfortable，and so do they．We use small talk to find common interests．Once we have a common interest，a friendship can begin．
Small talk even helps people get a job．In order to impress at a job interview，you need to bond with the interviewer right away．Proper small talk can make that first impression get you the job．
So，how can you make small talk lead to a new friendship or job？First off，find common ground．Select something around you that you share with the other person．
Next，keep the conversation going．Compliment （赞美） the other person to make him or her feel comfortable，and ask questions to show interest．
Third，keep eye contact．When you loop people in the eye，they feel you appreciate what they are saying．It makes you appear honest and build trust．
Naturally，shy people might not have enough confidence to start up conversations with strangers．Talking to someone you don't know is not the easiest thing to do!Some experts say with more practice，small take does get easier．
Some people avoid small talk because they dislike discussing things like traffic or weather．For them，they are just too small．However，when you think about it，small talk is anything but small．In fact，it is actually a very big deal!

Title	Small Talk：A Big （76）Deal
Introduction	We are likely to make small talk when we （77）firstmeet people．
（78）Benefits/Advantages	Small talk can help people form （79）newfriendships．
	Small talk can also help people get （80）hired/employed．
Advice	Find some topics （81）sharedwith the other person．
	Keep the talk going by making compliments and （82）askingquestions．
	Keep eye contact in conversation to build （83）trust．
	（84）Practice/Practisemore in order to make small talk easier．
Conclusion	Small talk really （85）matters/meansa lot to us．

Answer 1

分析 本文讲述了闲聊的重要性，它可以使你开展一段新的友谊，甚至助你应聘成功．

解答 76．Deal  考查信息概括．此题可以从全文以及最后一句话提炼得出答案．故填Deal．
77．first  考查信息转换．由文中第二段的"When we meet new people"以及表格中的"when we （77）meet people"可知，此空应填入词义为"最初"之类的副词，故first较为合适．故填first．
78．Benefits/Advantages   考查概括总结．文章第三、四段讲述的是闲聊的好处，此题属于概括总结题．故填Benefits/Advantages．
79．new   考查信息提取．由第三段中的"small talk can build new friendships"小的交谈可以创建新的友谊，可知答案．故填new．
80．hired/employed  考查信息转换．由第四段的"Proper small talk can make that first impression get you the job"可知，答案应为job/position/post．
81．shared  考查信息转换．由文中"Select something around you that you share with the other person"可知，share是及物动词，同时表格中的share和topics之间是被动关系，故用shared作后置定语．故填shared
82．asking  考查信息转换．由文中"ask questions to show interest"提问可以表现出兴趣，以及表格中的"by making compliments and （82）questions"可知，此处应为动词的-ing形式．故填asking．
83．trust   考查信息提取．由文中"It makes you appear honest and builds trust"这使你展现诚实建立信任，可知答案．故填trust．
84．Practice/Practise  考查信息提取．由文中的"with more practice，small talk does get easier"更多练习可以使闲聊变得简单，可知答案．故填Practice/Practise．
85．matters/means  考查信息转换．由文中最后一段的"small talk is anything but small．In fact，it is actually a very big deal"闲聊虽小却有重大的意义，可知答案．matter/mean a lot"意义重大"．故填matters/means．

点评 考生需要通读文章知道大意，然后随着表格整理出的脉络细致阅读，找出空格所在句子，对应填词，还要注意形式时态等问题．