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.
我们都曾经历过这样的时刻：在电梯里，在银行排队，或者在飞机上，周围都是像我们一样，全神贯注于他们的智能手机，或者更糟糕的是，忍受着令人不舒服的沉默。

What’s the problem? It’s possible that we all have compromised conversational intelligence. 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.
问题出在哪里？可能我们所有人都在某种程度上损害了我们的交谈智能。更有可能的是，我们没有人开始交谈，因为交谈尴尬且具有挑战性，或者我们认为它是烦人且不必要的。但是下次当你发现自己置身于陌生人之中时，考虑一下，闲聊是值得麻烦的。专家表示，这是一种宝贵的社会实践，能带来巨大的好处。

Dismissing small talk as unimportant is easy, but we can’t forget that deep relationships wouldn’t even exist if it weren’t for casual 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.＂
将闲聊视为不重要很容易，但我们不能忘记，如果没有闲聊，深厚的关系甚至都不会存在。印第安纳大学东南分校羞涩研究中心主任贝尔纳多·卡杜奇说：“几乎每一个伟大的爱情故事和每一个大的商业交易都是从闲聊开始的。”他解释说：“成功的闲聊的关键是学会如何与他人建立联系，而不仅仅是与他们交流。”

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(互动) 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.＂
在2014年的一项研究中，英属哥伦比亚大学的心理学副教授伊丽莎白·邓恩邀请人们进入咖啡店。一组人被要求与服务员进行互动；另一组则只在必要时说话。结果显示，那些与服务员聊天的人报告说，他们有更高的积极情绪和更好的咖啡店体验。邓恩说：“这并不是说与服务员交谈比与你的丈夫交谈更好。但是，与我们社交网络边缘成员的互动对我们的幸福感也很重要。”

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.
邓恩相信，那些主动与陌生人接触的人会感到更强烈的归属感，与他人的联系。卡杜奇认为，培养这种归属感始于闲聊。“闲聊是良好礼仪的基础，”他说。

1. What phenomenon is described in the first paragraph?
   A. Addiction to smartphones.
   B. Inappropriate behaviours in public places.
   C. Absence of communication between strangers.
   D. Impatience with slow service.
   答案：C

2. What is important for successful small talk according to Carducci?
   A. Showing good manners. B. Relating to other people.
   C. Focusing on a topic. D. Making business deals.
   答案：B

3. 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.
   答案：D

4. What is the best title for the text?
   A. Conversation Counts B. Ways of Making Small Talk
   C. Benefits of Small Talk D. Uncomfortable Silence
   答案：C