無錫市2018屆高三上學(xué)期期中檢測英語-Word版

無錫市普通高中2017年秋學(xué)期高三期中基礎(chǔ)性檢測英語2017.11命題單位：江陰市教師發(fā)展中心 制卷單位：無錫市教育科學(xué)研究院注意：本試卷分第一卷（選擇題）和第二卷（非選擇題）兩部分。答案全部做在答題卡上?？偡譃?20分，考試時(shí)間120分鐘。第I卷（選擇題，共85分）第一部分聽力（共兩節(jié)，滿分20分）做題時(shí)，先將答案標(biāo)在試卷上。錄音內(nèi)容結(jié)束后，你將有兩分鐘的時(shí)間將試卷上的答轉(zhuǎn)涂到答題卡上。第一節(jié)（共5小題，每小題1分，滿分5分）聽下面5段對話，每段對話后有一個(gè)小題，從題中所給的A、B、C三個(gè)選項(xiàng)中選出最佳選項(xiàng)，并標(biāo)在試卷的相應(yīng)位置。聽完每段對話后，你都有10秒鐘時(shí)間來回答有關(guān)小題和閱讀下一小題。毎段對話僅讀一遍。1.Wheredoesthisconversationmostprobablytakeplace?A.Atschool. B.Inadepartmentstore. C. AttheLostandFound.2.Whatdoesthewomansuggest?A.Waitingatthecomer.B.Ignoringthemistake. C. Callingthehotel.3.What’sthemainreasonforbuyingajacketnow?A.Itwillbecold.B.Theywillhavenomoneyleft.C.Shemaynotfindhersizelater.4.Wherewillthemanstaywhenstudyingabroad?A.Inahostfamily. B.Inanapartment. C. Inadormitory.5.Whatarethewomanandthemandoing?A.Theyarevisitinganothertown.B.Theyarewaitingforsomeone.C.Theyaretalkingaboutanaccident.第二節(jié)（共15小題；每小題1分，滿分15分）聽下面5段對話或獨(dú)白。每段對話或獨(dú)白后有幾個(gè)小題，從題中所給的A、B、C三個(gè)選項(xiàng)中選出最佳選項(xiàng)，并標(biāo)在試卷的相應(yīng)位置。聽每段對話或獨(dú)白前，你將有5秒鐘閱讀各個(gè)小題，聽完后，每個(gè)小題將給出5秒鐘的作答時(shí)間。每段對話或獨(dú)白讀兩遍。聽第6段材料，回答第6至7題。6.WhatdoesthemotherwantDavidtodo?A.Togetthebottleonthetopoftheshelf.B.Togetthecoveroffthebottle.C.Topickupsomeclothes.7.WhywasDavid’sfatherout?A.Becausehewasworking.B.Becausehewentouttotakehisumbrella.C.Becausehewenttothecleaner’s.聽第7段材料，回答第8至10題。8.Whatisthepossiblerelationshipbetweenthemanandthewoman?A.Teacherandstudent. B.Closefriends. C. Doctorandpatient.9.Whyisithardforthewomantoreducesomeweight?A.Becauseherhusbandisfeedingher.B.Becausesheisstillworking.C.Becauseshehasnotimeforphysicalexercise.10.WhatdoesJessica’shusbandthinkofher?A.Sheistoofat.B.Sheworkstoohard.C. Shecouldchangeherjob.聽第8段材料，回答第11至13題。11.Whatdopeopleusuallyagreeon?A.Richchildrenhavemoreresourcesandadvantages.B.Manyrichchildrenarequalifiedtodomanyjobs.C.Richchildrenarebornwithoutpressure.12.WhyisTonysad?A.Peoplethinkhewasbornlucky.B.Peoplethinkheistooproud.C.Hehasfewadvantages.13.WhatdoesTonythinkofhimself?A.He’stoonervoustospeakbeforethehostess.給的A、B、C、D四個(gè)選項(xiàng)中，選出最佳選項(xiàng)，并在答題卡上將該項(xiàng)涂黑。21.Withnaturalresourcesbecomingfewerandfewer,howtomakeuseofenergy,suchassunlightandwind,hasbecomeourtoppriority.A.primary B.alternative C. instant D. unique22.Duringthepresidentialcampaign,DonaldTrumprepeatedlyvowedtotearuptheagreementof“TheParisClimateAccord”，he saidwashurtingAmericanworkers.A，which B，what C. where D. when23.Onceagain,terroristshaveusedvehiclesto.deadlyattacks-thistimeinSpain.A.holdout B.bringout C. carry out D. pickout24.—Personally,it’shisthrillforsuccessinthebeginningthatresultedinhisfinalfailure.一Youbet.Justasweallknow, . A.Nopains,nogains B.ReadinessisallC.Pridegoesbeforeafall D.Everylittlemakesamickle25.Good,better,best.Neverletit. Till good is betterandbetterbest.A.sink B.submit C. ripen D. rest26.Ifweloseloveandself-respectforeachother,thisiswefinally die.A.what B.how C. when D. where27.NooneIknow anyreliablewaytopreventthecrushingpainbutsomebookssaytotrystretchingexercisingandwarmbaths.A.lookedbackonB.came upwith C. stood upfor D. splitofffrom28.Butforthesurvivalinstinctthatnearlyallcreatureshave，morespecies from the earth.A.coulddisappear B. mighthavedisappearedC.shoulddisappear D. willhavedisappeared29.Onlyinyou togoonliving一justonedayintheyear,softly,quietly,asIhavealwayslivednearyou.A.doIwish B. Iwish C. haveIwishedD.Ihavewished30.TyphoonHatobroughtpowerfulwindsandfloodingtotheregionofsoutheastChinaandseveraldeaths onthestorminAugust,2017,A.wereblamed B. wouldbe blamed C.hadbeenblamedD.havebeenblamed31.Lifeaffordsnohigherpleasurethanthatofovercomingdifficulties,_fromonestepofsuccesstoanother.A.topass B. havingpassed C.passedD.passing32.Wuxiisnowamodemcitywithmanyattractions,mostof approachedwithin30minutesbypublictransportfromthecitycentre.A.that B. them C. whichD.whom33.whitesymbolizespurityandinnocence,itisusedinmanyimportantsituations.A.While B. Once C. Since D.Though34.Asisknowntousall,BritishSummerTimeisonehour Greenwich MeanTime.A.inadvanceof B. intermsof C. incontrastto D.inrelationto35. says that school yearsarethebesttimeofone’slifeisprobablyanadult-onewho’sforgottenthehardworkofbeingatschool.A.Whatever B. Whichever C. Whomever D.Whoever第二節(jié)完形填空（共20小題；每小題1分，滿分20分）請認(rèn)真閱讀下面短文，從短文后各題所給的A、B、C、D四個(gè)選項(xiàng)中，選出最佳選項(xiàng)，并在答題卡上將該項(xiàng)涂黑。Mostpeopleneedtohearthose‘threelittlewords”一Iloveyou.Onceinawhile，theyhearthemjustintime.ImetConnieonthedaywhenshewas36tothehospiceward(病房)，whereIworkedasavolunteer.Herhusband,Bill,stood37nearbyasshewas38fromthegumey(輪床）tothe hospitalbed.39Connie was inthefinalstagesofherfightagainstcancer,shewasoptimisticandcheerful.Ifinished 40 hernameonallthehospitalsuppliesshewouldbeusing.Conniewasaromantic.Aswebecame41 .sheexpressedhow42itwastobemarried32yearstoacarpenterwhooftencalledher“asillywoman”.“I’dgiveanythingifhe’dsay‘Iloveyou’，butit’sjustnotinhis43 ,shesighed.BillvisitedConnieeveryday.Oneday,overcoffeeinthecafeteria,Igothimonthe44ofwomenandhowweneed45inourlives;howwelovetogetsentimental(富有情感的）cardsandloveletters.“DoyoutellConnieyouloveher?”Iasked,andhelookedatme46Iwascrazy.“Idon’thaveto.”hesaid，“SheknowsIdo!”“I’msuresheknows,”Isaid，reachingoverandtouchinghis47hands,“butsheneedstohearit,Bill，sheneedstohearwhatshehas48toyoualltheseyears.”TwodayslaterIwalkeddown the hospicewardatnoon.TherestoodBill,leaningupagainstthe 49inthehallway,50at thefloor.IalreadyknewfromtheheadnursethatConniehaddiedat11A.M.WhenBillsawme，he51himselftocomeintomyarmsforalongtime.Hisfacewaswetwithtearsandhewas52.Finally,heleanedbackagainstthewallandtookadeepbreath.“Ihavetosaysomething，”hesaid.“Ihavetosayhow53Ifeelabouttellingher.”Hestoppedtoblowhisnose.“ThismorningItoldherhowmuchIlovedhertoher.You54haveseenhersmile!”IwentintotheroomtosaymyowngoodbyetoConnie.There,onthebedsidetable,wasalargeValentinecardfromBill.Youknow,thesentimentalkindthat55,“Tomywonderfulwife...Iloveyou.'36.A.objectedB.determined C.forced D.admitted37.A.numblyB.casually C.impatiently D.nervously38.A.transferredB.transformed C.prevented D.protected39.A.AsB.Since C.Though D.Because40.A.sculpturingB.marking C.announcing D.signing41.A.acquaintedB.consistent C.arbitrary D.considerate42.A.crazyB.delighted C.satisfied D.upset43.A.characterB.talent C.nature D.virtue44.A.targetB.subject C.point D.object45.A.sympathyB.warmth C.comfort D.romance46.A.evenifB.asthough C.ifonly D.incase47.A.roughB.smooth C.delicate D.clumsy48.A.appealedB.taken C.meant D.submitted49.A.windowB.wall C.bed D.table50.A.glancingB.staringC.weeping D.praying51.A.involvedB.occupied C.allowed D.devoted52.A.tremblingB.mourning C.regretting D.aching53.A.sorryB.confused C.doubtful D.relieved54.A.wouldB.should C.could D.might55.A.writesB.explains C.conveys D.underlines第三部分閱讀理解(15小題：每小題2分, 滿分30分） 請認(rèn)真閱讀下列短文，從短文后各題所給的A、B、C、D四個(gè)選項(xiàng)中，選出最佳選項(xiàng)，并在答題卡上將該項(xiàng)涂黑。AJoiningyoufortwodaysinVienna,KristinaandIanwillsharetheirexperttipsduringaprivateQ&AperiodandrevealtheirtalentsinaprivateperformanceatthewonderfulPalaisLiechtenstein.FromBudapesttoNurembergviathegreenbeautyoftheWachauHighlightsEventswithKristinaRihanoffandIanWaite.JoinStrictlyComeDancingstarsKristinaRihanoffandlanWaite,whowilldeliverawonderfulprivatedanceperformancesetagainstthebackgroundofPalaisLiechtenstein.YouwillalsohavetheopportunitytoraiseyourownquestionsduringtheQ&Aperiodwiththedancers.SailaboardtheScenicAmberLaunchedin2016,theluxurious(奢華的）ScenicAmberfeaturessixcabin(客艙）classes，includingthebestbalconysuiteswithsuperbminibar，asuitebathroomwithL’OccitaneToiletries,individualclimatecontrolandanall-weathergreenhouse.Youwillalsoenjoyfacilitiesincludingapool,spa,fitnesscentreandfinediningintheCrystalDiningRoom.DiscoverViennaandBudapestDiscoverBudapest’shistorichighlightsincludingHeroes’SquareandBudaCastle，visitthecity，swarmbathsandexplorethesecretHospitalinTheRock.InVienna,delightintheexcellenceofSch6nbrunnPalace,enjoyaprivateclassicalmusicconcertatPalaisLiechtensteinandvisittheworld-famousSpanishAchoiceofculturalexperiencesThroughoutthetouryouwillenjoyawidevarietyofculturalexperiencesthatwillbringeachcountryanddestinationtolife.ExploreMelkAbbey,discoverCeskyKrumlov,theancientjeweloftheCzechRepublic,orlakeaguidedtourofSalzburg,settingfortheSoundofMusic.YouwillalsohavethechancetoexploreRegensburg’shistoricOldPricefrom￡2,395perpersonfor8daysDatesJuly25-Aug.1andOct.25-Nov.I,2018Interested?Pleasecallat01372593756.56.WhilestayingwithKristinaRihanoffandIanWaite，you’reto -A.shareyoursuggestionsonthisspecialtourB.witnesstheirgreatsuccessatPalaisLiechtensteinC.experiencethecultureofsplendidnaturalsceneryD.keepsilentduringaprivateQ&Aperiod57.IfyouorderthistripinSeptember,you’ll .A.liveintheluxuriousbalconysuiteswithsuperbminibaratonly￡2,395B.enjoyabigdinnerintheCrystalDiningRoomC.learntorideintheworld-famousSpanishD.YouwillexploreRegensburg’shistoricOldBAnewappistryingtomakeitsimplertohelpyoureacttophotosandvideosthatyourfriendspostonline—it’susingAItocapture(捕捉）yourfacialexpressionsandautomaticallytranslatethemintoarangeofemojifaces.Polygram,whichisfreeandavailableonlyfortheiPhonefornow,isasocialappthatletsyousharethingslikephotos,videos,andmessages.UnlikeonFacebook，though,whereyouhaveasmallrangeofpre-setreactionstochoosefrombeyondclickingalittlethumbs-upicon，Polygramusesaneural(神經(jīng)的）networkthatrunslocallyonthephonetofigureoutifyou'resmiling,bored,embarrassed,surprised,andmore.MarcinKmiec,oneofPolygram’sfounders,saystheapp’sAIworksbycapturingyourfacewiththefront-facingcameraonthephoneandanalyzingtheimagesasquicklyaspossible,ratherthanjustlookingatspecificpointsonthefacelikeyoureyesandnose.Thisisdonedirectlyonthephone,usingtheiPhone’spictureprocessingunit，hesays.Whenyoulookatapostintheapp,youseeasmallyellowemojionthebottomofthedisplay,itsexpressionchangingalongwithyourrealone.There’saslightdelay—20milliseconds,whichisjusthardtonotice-betweenwhatyou’reexpressingonyourfaceandwhatshowsupintheapp.Theapprecordsyourresponse(s)inalittlelogofcmojionthesideofthescreen,alongwiththoseofotherswho'vealreadylookedatthesamepost.Theappismeanttoappealtothosewhoreallycareabouthowthey’reunderstoodonsocialmedia.Userscanseearecordoftheemojireactionstoeachphotoorvideotheyposttotheapp,aswellasdetailsaboutwholookedatthepost,howlongtheylookedatit,andwherethey'relocated.Eventually,thefounderssay,(heymayreleasesoftwaretoolsthatletotherdeveloperscomeupwiththeirownapplicationsforthetechnology.58.Asanewsocialapp,whichcharacteristicofPolygramisTrue?A.ItischeapandavailableonlyfortheiPhonefornow.B.Iteventuallytransferscmojifacestofacialexpressionsautomatically.C.Itspecializesinaneuralnetworkthatrunsoriginallyonyourphone.D.Itneedstochoosefrommanyreactionsthathavebeensetpreviously.59.Thosewho will beobviouslyattractedbythisnewApp.A.arenewtechnologyfansB.areaddictedtonewiPhonesC.havegreatpassionforemojisD.areconcernedaboutself-evaluation60.What’sthepurposeofthepassage?A.Topromoteandsellanewsoftware.B.Tointroducetousanewandpopularapp.C.Torevealthesignificanceofnewtechnology.D.Toinformusofthepopularityofanewapp.CTherecession(經(jīng)濟(jì)衰退）of2008-2009wasremarkableinrichcountriesandthefollowingrecoveryisweak.Thelabormarkethasalsobrokentherules,asnewresearchfromtheOECDshowsinitsannualEmploymentOutlook.Youngpeoplealwayssufferinrecessions.Employersstophiringthem;andtheyoftengetridofnewyoungpeoplebecausetheyareeasiertofire.Butinthepreviousrecessionsofthe1970s,1980sand1990s,olderworkerswerealsokickedout.Thistimeisdifferent.Duringthefinancialcrisisin2008,andsince,theyhavedonebetterthanotheragegroups.Theresearchersfocusonchangesin“non-employment”asashareofthetotalpopulationofthreeagegroupsbetweenthefinalquartersof2007and2012.Thismeasurehastheadvantageofincludingnotjustunemployment,wherepeoplearelookingforwork,butalsoinactivity,wherepeoplearenotseekingjobs.Whiletheaveragenon-employmentrateintheOECDhasrisenbyfourpercentagepointsamongyoungpeopleandbyone-and-a-halfpointsamong25to54-year-olds,ithasfallenbytwopointsamongthe55-64agegroup.Whyhaveolderemployeesdonesowefl?InsomesouthernEuropeancountriestheybenefitfromjobprotectionnotaffordedtoyoungerworkers,butthatdidnotreallyhelptheminthepastrecessions.“Whathaschanged,”saysStefanoScaq>etta,headoftheOECD,“isthatfirmsnowbearthefullcostsofgettingridofolderstaff.”Thepastearly-retirementschemes(方案）providedbygovernments(inthemistakenbeliefthatthesewouldhelpyoungpeople)madeitcheapertopushgrey-hairedworkersoutofthedoor.Thesehavelargelybeenstopped.Joblossesamongolderworkershavealsobeenmorethanoffset(抵消）byfallsininactivity,reflectingpressuresthatwerealreadyobviousbeforethecrisis.Olderworkersnowhaveasharpermotivationtostayinemploymentbecauseoftheimpactofthecrisisonwealth.Besides,olderworkersarehealthierthantheyusedtobeandworkislessphysicallydemanding.Theyarealsomoreattractivetoemployersthanpreviousgenerations.Today’s55to64-year-oldsaretheadvancegroupofthepost-wargenerationswhobenefitedfrombettereducationthantheirpreviousones.Manywillarguethatolderworkershavedonebetterattheexpenseottheyoung‘Thatviewisabsurd.First,itisafallacythatajobgainedforonepersonisajoblostforanother:thereisnofixed“l(fā)umpoflabor(勞動(dòng)合成)”.Andsecond,asthereportshows,youngandoldpeopleareingeneralnotreplaccrsintheworkplace.Theydodifferenttypesofworkindifferenttypesofoccupation;youngerpeoplearemoreattractedbyITfirms,forexample,whileolderfolkstendtobeemployedinmoretraditionalindustries.Thereareplentyofthingsthatshouldbedonetohelptheyoungjobless,butgettingolderworkersoutoftheworkplaceisnotoneofthem.61.Theoriginalpurposeofthepastearly-retirementschemesprovidedbygovernmentsisto.A.cutthehighcostoftheelderly B. makeroomforyoungpeopleC.establishgoodsocialwelfaresystem D. guaranteetheretirementlifeoftheelderly62.Whydoolderworkershavealowernon-employmentratethantheyoungpeople?A.Theirhealthconditionisbetterthanthatoftheyoungpeople.B.Theyhavebettereducationbackgroundthantheyoungpeople.C.Thepresentretirementschemeensuresthemmorebenefitsthanthepreviousone.D.Theireducationbackgroundcaterstoemployersmorethanthatoftheyoungpeople.63.Whichofthefollowinghastheclosestmeaningtotheunderlinedword“fallacy”inthelastparagraph?A.Wrongbelief. B. Commonassumption.C.Simpletruth. D. Beautiful dream.64.Whatcouldbethebesttitleofthepassage?A.Unfairinemployment? B. Jobdiscrimination?C.Youngpeoplesuffer? D. Gladtobegrey?DChinasufferschokingsmog,massdestructionofhabitatsandfoodpoisonedwithheavymetals.Butaskanenvironmentalistwhatisthecountry’sbiggestproblem,andtheanswerisalwaysthesame.“Wateristheworst,”saysWangTao,oftheCarnegieTsinghuaCentreinBeijing,“becauseofitsshortage,andbecauseofitspollution.”“Withoutwater，”agreesPanJiahua,oftheChineseAcademyofSocialSciences,“peoplecannotsurviveinadesert.”WangShucheng，aformerwaterminister,oncesaid,“Tofightforeverydropofwaterordie.ThatisthechallengefacingChina.”Hewasnotexaggerating(夸大).Chinauses600billioncubicmetersofwaterayear.Thenationalaveragehidesanevenmorealarmingregionaldifference.FourfifthsofChina’swaterisinthesouth,particularlytheYangtzeriverbasin.Halfthepeopleandtwothirdsofthefarmlandareinthenorth,includingtheYellowRiverbasin.BeijinghasthesortofwatershortageusuallyassociatedwithChinaisusingupwateratanunsustainable(無法可持續(xù)的）rate.Asifthatwerenotbadenough,. TheYellowRiverisoftencalledthecradleofChinesecivilization.However,athirdofthewaterisunfitevenforagriculture.Fourthousandpetrochemicalfactoriesarcbuiltonitsbanks.Thewateravailableforuseisthussobad.SongLanhe,chiefengineerforurbanwaterqualitymonitoringatthehousingministry,saysonlyhalfthewatersourcesincitiesaresafetodrink.MorethanhalfthegroundwaterinthenorthChinaplaincannotbeusedforindustry,whilesevententhsisunfitforhumancontact,evenforwashing.Thebestanswerwouldbetoimprovetheefficiency(效率）withwhichwaterisused.Onlyabout40%ofwaterusedinindustryisrecycled，halfasmuchasinEurope.Therestisdumpedinriversandlakes.WangZhanshengofTsinghuaUniversityarguesthatChinaisneglectingitsurbanwaterinfrastructure(基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施)、leadingtomorewaste.WaterpricesinmostcitiesareonlyaboutatenthofthelevelinbigEuropeancities,yetthegovernmentisunwillingtoraisethem,forfearofapopularcriticism.TheresultisthatChina’s“waterproductivity”islow.Ratherthanmakingwisereformsinpricingandwaterprotection,Chinaisfocusingonincreasingsupplies.ThebestknownsuchprojectistheThreeGorgesdamontheYangtze.Butthisyearanevenvasterproject一theSouthNorthWaterDiversionProject(南水北調(diào)工程）-isduetostart.ItwilllinktheYangtzewiththeYellowRiver,takingwaterfromthewetsouthtothedrynorth.Whenfinished,itisintendedtodeliver45billioncubicmetersofwaterayearandtocostatotalof486billionyuan($79.4billion).Theenvironmentaldamagecouldbehuge.TheYangtzeisalreadyseriouslypolluted.TheprojectsofarhasreducedthequantityofunderwaterlifeintheYangtzebyovertwothirds.Andthatwasbeforeitevenopened.MaJun.China'sbestknownenvironmentalactivist,saysthegovernment’spreferenceforgiantengineeringprojectsonlymakesmattersworse,“causingustohitthelimitsofourwaterresources”.ThewatercrisisisdrivingChinatodesperatebuteventuallyunhelpfulmeasures.65.Fromthefirsttwoparagraphsweknowthat A.waterisbadlypollutedinmostoftheareaofChinaB.thewaterinChinaisunfitforpeopletosurviveinadesertC.WangShuchengwassadaboutChina’sfutureD.peopleinNorthChinaarefacingamoreseriouswatershortage66.WhichofthefollowingmayhelpcompletethemissingsentenceinPara.3?A.Chinaispollutingwhatlittlewaterithasleft.B.Thebiggestdamageofthewatershortagecouldbepolitical.C.300deadbodieswerefoundfloatingintheYellowRivernearLanzhou.D.TheChinesegovernmenthavereacted,towaterproblemsbyhugebutharmfillprojects.67.HowdoesSongLanheconvinceusthatthewateravailableforuseissobad?A.Bylistingdata. B.Bygivingexamples.C.Bymakingcomparisons. D.Bydeliveringwarnings.68.Chinacanraise“waterproductivity”by .A.offeringdiversewatersuppliesandconservation B.strengtheningconstructionofwaterinfrastructureandrecyclingC.raisingwaterpricesinbigcitiesasEuropeancountriesD.buildingupmoregiantwaterprojectsandcooperatingwithneighbors69.Accordingtotheauthor,theSouthNorthWaterDiversionProjectis .A.avastandsignificantproject B. ahugeandpromisingprojectC.agiantbutunsuccessfulproject D. acostlybuteffectiveproject70.Bysaying“ThewatercrisisisdrivingChinatodesperatebuteventuallyunhelpfulmeasures”inthelastparagraph,theauthorimpliesA.thereisnogoodwayforChinatosolvetheproblemofwatercrisisB.moregiantprojectsliketheThreeGorgesshouldbebuiltC.itisurgentforChinatodealwiththecrisisofwatershortageandpollutionD.Chinashouldputforwardotherefficientwaysinsteadofthosegiantengineeringprojects第Ⅱ卷（兩部分，共35分）第四部分任務(wù)型閱讀（共10小題；每小題1分，滿分10分）請認(rèn)真閱讀下面短文，并根據(jù)所讀內(nèi)容在文章后表格中的空格里填上一個(gè)最恰當(dāng)?shù)脑~。SmallTalkMayMakeUsHappierSmalltalk.Chitchat.Thesearetheshortconversationswehaveatparties,whilewearewaitinginlineatthestore,atfamilyeventsoratwork.Sometimeswemakesmalltalkwithpeoplewealreadyknowbutnotwell.Oftenwehavetomakesmalltalkwithcompletestrangers.Manypeoplefindthesesmallconversationsaboutrandomtopicsdifficult.Somepeoplesaytheyhateit.Otherssaysmalltalkisawasteoftime.Theymayevencallitinactivechitchatorinactivechatter,meaningitdoesn’tdoanything.Theyconsidersmalltalkunimportant.However,smalltalkisimportant.Theseexchangescanopendoorsthatmayleadtolarger,moremeaningfulconversations.Whenyoufirstmeetsomeoneortalktosomeoneyoudon’tknowwell,itwouldbeawkwardtobeginaconversation.However,smalltalkdoeshelp.Smalltalkalsogivesyouthechancetodecideifyouwanttogettoknowthatpersonbetter一ornot.Chitchatcanalsoincreaseyourfeelingofunderstandingtowardpeopleyouknowbutnotwell.Chattingwithacolleagueabouttheirchildmayhelpyoutounderstandmoreoftheirlifeoutsidetheoffice.Thiscouldhelpbuildhealthyworkrelationships.Smalltalkcouldevenhelpourlargercommunities-ourrelationshipswithneighborsandcolleagues.However，somepeoplearenotgoodatsmalltalk.Makingsmalltalkdoesn’thavetobeeitherawkwardorboring.Herearesometipstoimproveyoursmall-talkingability.Havesomeconversationstartersready.Ifyouhaveseenareallygoodmovieorhavereadareallygoodbook,youcantalkaboutthat.Youcantalkaboutsomethingthatyourecentlylearned.Whenyouaresharingthesameexperiencewithsomeone,it’seasytostartaconversation.Yousimplynoticeandcommentonwhat’sgoingonaroundyou.Forexample,ifyouarcatapartyandasongcomesonthatyoulikeorthatremindsyouofsomething,youcantalkaboutthat.Askopen-endedquestions.Thesetypesofquestionsrequiremorethoughtandmorethanasimpleone-wordanswer.Ifyouaskquestionsthatneedmoredetailstoanswer，theconversationwillgoonlonger.Forexample,ifyouareatasummerpoolparty,don’taskapersoniftheylikesummer.Instead,askthemwhattheylikeordislikeabou