A
Small talk is a kind of conversation, typically about meaningless topics such as the weather or local sports, shared usually between two people. Small talk may occur to avoid awkwardness between two strangers (such as on a long elevator ride)．People may also engage in small talk if they do not know each other well, because small talk allows safe and comfortable conversation topics as opposed to more debatable ones, such as politics and religion.The act of making small talk is considered polite.
Small talk has several possible functions.People can engage in small talk to express an interest in others' lives when they have a limited amount of time to speak because of work, family or social commitments.Some also choose to engage in small talk to ease potentially awkward situations.Small talk is also an acceptable means of establishing boundaries in conversation.
Small talk includes banal (平淡乏味的) or meaningless everyday topics; it does not include philosophical topics, discussion of controversial topics or the divulging of details otherwise considered too personal.Common topics of small talk include sports, weather, local events, polite discussion of mutual acquaintances, and exchanging compliments on articles of clothing.
Small talk is ideal for social situations requiring only a short time frame for a conversation.Conversations containing small talk usually do not exceed a few minutes.Examples of situations requiring small talk include bus rides, greeting an associate before discussing business，talking to coworkers before work or speaking with an acquaintance while waiting for a mutual friend to return to the dinner table.
People who can hold small talk conversations are generally considered polite and sociable.One can also slowly get to know another by having a series of small talk conversations.This allows people to discover others' interests at a slow pace.
Small talk generally revolves around topics that are unremarkable, socially acceptable and experienced by all.The weather, for example, is not an unusual topic，though snow is an appropriate small talk topic as others can discuss how it has affected their days.
【语篇解读】 本文主要讲了什么是闲聊，以及闲聊有助于打破陌生人之间的尴尬局面。
1．How does the writer put forward the subject of the passage?
A．By providing examples.
B．By making comparisons.
C．By analyzing causes.
D．By giving a definition.
D [细节理解题。从第一段的开头可以知道，作者是通过给small talk下定义的方式提出文章的主题的。]
2．In what situation may small talk most probably occur?
A．When people want to know better about each other.
B．If two people have different opinions on a topic.
C．When strangers want to break the embarrassment.
D．If people want to talk about something debatable.
C [细节理解题。从第一段中的 “Small talk may occur to avoid awkwardness between two strangers(such as on a long elevator ride)．”可知，有时候陌生人之间为了打破尴尬的局面而闲聊一些无关紧要的话题。]
3．The underlined word in Paragraph 3 probably means “ ”．
A．giving away B．making up
C．speaking out D．thinking about
A [词义猜测题。由前句“it does not include philosophical topics，discussion of controversial topics”可知，闲聊的话题不能包括哲理性的以及有争议性的问题，以及后面的considered too personal(被认为是太私人的问题)，可以判断，这里指的是不能泄露私人问题。]
4．We can learn from Paragraph 4 that ．
A．small talk needs few requirements
B．small talk doesn't need much time
C．people need small talk in everyday life
D．small talk is useful in business deal
B [段落大意题。本段开头第一句话“...requiring only a short time...”点明了段落大意，接着进一步用“...usually do not exceed a few minutes”回应了主题。后面用在公交车上、在谈生意之前、在上班之前跟同事之间以及在餐桌旁等朋友这些具体的事例说明了“闲聊不需要很多的时间”这个主题。]
