Question

2．Pup 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 hired．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 （贊美） the other person to make himor her feel comfortable，and ask questions to show interest．
Third，keep eye contact （接觸）．When you look people in the eye，they feel you appreciate what they are saying．It makes you appear honest and builds 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 talk 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）first meet people．
（78）Advantages/Benefits	?Small talk can help people form （79）New friendships．
	?Small talk can also help people get a （80）job/position/post．
Advice	?Find some topics （81）shared with the other person．
	?Keep the talk going by making compliments and （82）asking/rasing questions． ?Keep eye contact in conversation to build （83）trust．
	?（84）Practice/Practise more in order to make small talk easier．
Conclusion	Small talk really （85）matters/means a lot to us．

Answer 1

分析 本文主要講的是簡短對話的重要性，素不相識的人通常以討論天氣和交通狀況來開始他們的談話．

解答 76．答案：Deal．根據最后一段"However，when you think about it，small talk is anything but small．In fact，it is actually a very big deal!"可知．
77．答案：first．根據第一段第一句"First．Pup a group of strangers in a room together，and they'll probably start a conversation．"可知．
78．答案：Advantages/Benefits．根據第三段可知，簡短的對話可以幫助人們建立友誼，幫助人們找到工作，說明這一段說的是好處．
79．答案：New．根據第三段第一句"Research suggests that small talk can buildnewfriendships．"可知．
80．答案：job/position/post．根據第四段"Proper small talk can make that first impression get you the job．"可知答案．
81．答案：shared．根據第五段"Select something around you that you share with the other person．"可知答案，這里用過去分詞作后置定語．
82．答案：asking/rasing．根據第六段"and ask questions to show interest"可知，通過提問問題來表示自己感興趣，by后跟動名詞．
83．答案：trust．根據第七段"It makes you appear honest and builds trust．"可知，眼神接觸能使人顯得真誠，并建立信任．
84．答案：Practice/Practise．根據倒數第二段"Some experts say with more practice， small talk does get easier．"可知，簡短對話經過多加練習之后就會變得容易．
85．答案：matters/means．根據最后一段"small talk is anything but small．In fact，it is actually a very big deal!"可知，簡短對話絕非不起眼，事實上，簡短對話很重要．matter重要，相當于count．Mean a lot to sb對某人來說意義重大．

點評 做此類題時，注意聯系上下文提取有用信息，并注意是否需要進行詞性轉換．