Amanpullsintotheparkinglot,turnsofftheengine,andsitsfor...

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问题详情：

A man pulls into the parking lot, turns off the engine, and sits for a minute feeling anxious about the next two hours. An important client(客户) has invited him to an open house in celebration of their new downtown office. He hates these things. He doesn’t know what to say. He doesn’t know anyone except the client, and he always feels like he’s trying not to look lost. He sinks deeper into the seat, making a tough decision about when to leave.

Casual conversation happens at least a dozen times a day. Yet for some of us, many occasions that involve small talk don’t ever get any easier, and may even increase anxiety and cause some people to feel on edge about social events, business lunches, and chance meetings with neighbors. Unfortunately, as we are suffering our own discomfort, our neighbors, friends, and workmates generally consider us distant, cold and proud.

If your conversations disappear almost as soon as they’ve begun, or if you’re an unwilling participant at social and business get-togethers, you’ll need some skills. Just get involved in a meaningful dialogue, try your best to introduce an interesting topic when there’s a silence, and develop business friendships whenever and wherever possible.

Small talk isn’t the lowly stepchild of real conversation. Without it, you rarely get to the real conversation. Small talk is the icebreaker that clears the way for a deeper conversation. People who excel at small talk are experts at making others feel included, valued, and comfortable. And that goes a long way toward furthering a business relationship, or making a friend.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that all those other people you see who are smiling and happily chatting come by it naturally. Sure, some are natural-born talkers, but most have had to work at it. They’ve practiced, attended courses and read books. You don’t think so? Believe me, I know. I used to be a single-minded, unsociable engineer---no one has worse skills than I once did. I have become an expert by learning some skills and then practicing them. It’s that simple.

26. According to Paragraph 2, those who are poor at casual conversation .

A. are sometimes considered unfriendly B. believe small talk is a waste of time

C. have few chances to meet strangers D. feel comfortable when they are with neighbors

27. What does the author stress in Paragraph 4?

A. The important functions of small talk.

B. The difficulties of starting a deep conversation.

C. The advantages of small talk over real conversation.

D. The differences between small talk and real conversation.

28. In the last paragraph, the author mentions his own experience to .

A. show a good method of improving social skills B. prove some people are born brilliant speakers

C. show his achievements in social activities D. prove conversation skills can be acquired

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