A
In most Englishspeaking countries，it is necessary and of great value to make small talk in certain situations.There are a few different reasons why people use small talk.The first，and most obvious, is to break an uncomfortable silence.That is why it is so common to make small talk when you are waiting for something.Some people make small talk in order to be polite.You may not feel like chatting with anyone at a party, but if someone introduces you to another person who you do not know anything about, you have to start some small talk in order to show a polite interest in getting to know that person better.
There are certain “safe” topics that people usually make small talk about.The weather is probably the number one thing that people who do not know each other well discuss.Sometimes even friends and family members discuss the weather when they meet or commence a conversation.Another topic is current events.Sports news is a very common topic, especially if a local team or player is doing extremely well or badly.Entertainment news，such as a celebrity(名人) who is in town，is another good topic.If there is something that you and the other speaker have in common, that may also be acceptable to talk about.
There are also some subjects that are not considered acceptable when you make small talk.Discussing personal information such as salaries or a recent divorce is not done between people who do not know each other well.Compliments(赞美) on clothing or hair are acceptable；however，you should never say anything (good or bad) about a person’s body.Also，it is not safe to discuss subjects that society thinks controversial(有争议的) such as religion or politics.Last, it is not wise to continue talking about an issue that the other person does not seem comfortable with or interested in.
【解题导语】 本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了闲聊的作用，及闲聊的安全话题及禁忌话题。
1．According to Paragraph 1, the author thinks that small talk in certain situations is ________．
A．boring B．fixed
C．hard D．important
D 解析：推理判断题。根据第一段第一句“...it is necessary and of great value to make small talk in certain situations.”可知，答案为D。
2．The most obvious purpose in making small talk is to ________．
A．make friends B．break the silence
C．share ideas D．welcome others
B 解析：细节理解题。根据第一段第三句“The first, and most obvious, is to break an uncomfortable silence.”可知，答案为B。
3．The underlined word “commence” in Paragraph 2 probably means “________”．
A．finish B．start
C．remember D．change
B 解析：词义猜测题。根据语境可知，朋友和家人谈论天气是在他们见面或开始谈话时，故答案为B。
4．If you are introduced to a stranger, you can start small talk by ________．
A．bringing some personal information
B．commenting on his body
C．complimenting him on his clothes
D．discussing religion or politics
C 解析：细节理解题。根据第三段第三句中的“Compliments(赞美) on clothing or hair are acceptable...”可知，答案为C。
