Some people make you feel comfortable when they are around. You spend an hour with them and feel as if you have known them half your life. These people have something in common. And once we know what it is, we can try to do it ourselves.
How is it done? Here are several skills that good talkers have. If you follow the skills, they'll help people feel relaxed and make friends with them quickly.
First of all, good talkers ask questions. Almost anyone, no matter how shy he is, will answer a question. One well-known businesswoman says, "At business lunches, I always ask people what they did that morning. It's a common question, but it will get things going." From there you can move on to other matters—sometimes to really personal questions. And how he answers will let you know how far you can go.   
Second, once good talkers have asked questions, they listen to the answers. This point seems clear, but it isn't. Your questions should have a point and help to tell what sort of person you are talking to. And to find out, you really have to listen carefully and attentively. Real listening at least means some things. First it means not to change the subject of conversation. If someone sticks to one topic, you can take it as a fact that he's really interested in it. Real listening also means not just listening to words, but to tones of voice. If the voice sounds dull, then, it's time for you to change the subject.
Finally, good talkers know well how to deal with the moment of parting. If you're saying good-bye, you may give him a firm handshake and say, "I've really enjoyed meeting you." If you want to see that person again, don't keep it a secret. Let people know what you feel, and they may walk away feeling as if they've known you half their life.
【小题1】Asking questions might be a quite good and suitable way _______.

A．for you to make more and more new friends

B．to begin your business talks

C．to get the conversation going smoothly

D．for you to make a deep and lasting impression on others

【小题2】After having asked somebody a question, it'll be polite of you to _______.

A．make clear what kind of person he is

B．listen to his reply attentively

C．wait quietly and patiently for his answer

D．go on asking him more questions

【小题3】Generally speaking, good talkers are persons who _______.

A．are good at making any topic interesting

B．never talk too much or too little

C．always speak in a gentle way

D．know how and when they should change the topic of the talk

【小题4】If you really want to meet someone again, _______.

A．you may take him as your lifelong true friend

B．it seems necessary for you to let him know it

C．it's proper for you to give him a second handshake

D．it'll be helpful for you to have further understanding of him

These simple ways can increase(增加)your popularity and win you more friends，so why not try them?
●PAYING ATTENTION TO OTHERS This will reduce any shyness you may have. You'll be more relaxed and therefore more natural and fun. And you will get more good-people will love the fact that you're paying attention to them while you don't have to worry about what people think of you.
●LOOKING PEOPLE IN THE EYE Making eye contact is very important because it shows you're interested in them. If you let your eyes wander(游移)or keep looking over their shoulders，people will feel slighted(轻视)，and they'll like you less they would otherwise.
●ASKING QUESTIONS Doing this gives you two advantages，It shows other people that you are indeed paying attention to and that you consider what they are telling you important. Being sure to follow up when you've shared a conversation with someone about something important in his / her life，be sure to ask about it later. This shows that you listen and you care.
●MAKING AN EFFORT TO SMILE A smile means acceptance，and that makes people open up to you. Make a conscious(有意识的)effort(努力)one day to smile at the people you stay or work with and watch how well they respond(作出反应)to you；
●BEING RELIABLE(可靠的)People like those who help them，and they quickly begin to hate those who don't.
【小题1】By fixing your attention on others，you will _______.

A．be more worried and tired	B．feel more confident
C．be paid less attention to	D．feel less liked

【小题2】When having a conversation with people，you'd better NOT _______.

A．be open up to them	B．fix your eyes on them
C．ask questions about them	D．look at them

【小题3】Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A．Showing continuous care for others is highly valued.

B．Smiling at others can often be misunderstood.

C．Looking people in the eye will make them uncomfortable.

D．You don't have to continue helping others if you don't want to.

【小题4】Which is the best title for this passage?

A．Ways to Make You More Natural	B．Trying to Be a Polite Person
C．Making as Many Friends as Possible	D．Ways to Make You More Popular

“Cool” is a word with many meanings. Its old meaning is used to express a temperature that is a little bit cold. As the world has changed, the word has had many different meanings. “Cool” can be used to express feelings of interest in almost everything.
When you see a famous car in the street, maybe you will say. “It’s cool.” You May think,“He’s so cool,”when you see your favourite football player.
We all maximize(扩大)the meaning of “cool”. You can use it instead of many words, such as “new” or “surprising”. Here’s an interesting story we can use to show the way the word is used. A teacher asked her student to write about the waterfall(瀑布) they had visited. On the student’s paper was just the one sentence,“It’s so cool.”Maybe he thought it was the best way to show what he saw and felt.
But the story also shows a scarcity(缺乏)of words. Without “cool”, some people have no words to show the same meaning. So it is quite important to keep some credibility(可信性).Can you think of many other words that make your life as colourful as the word “cool”? I can. And I think they are also very cool.
【小题1】We know that the word “cool” has had ________.

A．only one meaning	B．no meaning
C．many different meanings	D．the same meaning

【小题2】In the passage, the word “express” means “_______”.

A．see

B．show

C．know

D．feel

【小题3】If you are ________ something, you may say,“It’s cool.”

A．interested in

B．angry about

C．worried about

D．unhappy with

【小题4】The writer takes an example to show he is ______ the way the word is used.

A．pleased with

B．strange to

C．worried about

D．unhappy with

【小题5】In the passage, the writer suggests(暗示)that the word “cool”___________.

A．can be used instead of many words	B．usually means something interesting
C．can make your life colourful	D．may not be as cool as it seems

It is a cold and dry winter morning. When you wake up, you feel that your throat hurts. You begin to sneeze and later you may cough. You must have a cold! Wait a moment. Could it just be a common cold or the flu (流感) that’s been going around?
A cold gives you a runny nose and cough. But it’s usually easy to deal with. Some take medicine while others drink herbal tea or chicken soup. Usually you feel better after a week.
On the other hand, the flu can be much more dangerous. It usually gives you fever. Sometimes it can cause death. According to an American magazine, the worst flu killed about 50 million people from 1918 to 1919.
Don’t worry. If you get a flu vaccine (疫苗), it can stop you from getting the virus (病毒). Flu vaccines work by giving the body a small amount of flu viruses. This causes your body to develop antibodies (抗体). So next time you get the flu, the antibodies should help you.
The flu virus changes every few years. Therefore, there are so many types of flu, such as H1N1 and H5N1. The antibodies for one type of flu can’t help us against all types of flu. That’s why we need to get the vaccine every year.
However, good health habits may also help stop you developing a cold or flu. Washing your hands often helps stop you from getting viruses. It is also important to get regular exercise and eat healthy food. All these can help you strengthen your immune system (增强免疫系统).
【小题1】If you have a common cold, usually you’ll feel better after ________.

A．a week	B．two weeks
C．ten days	D．twenty days

【小题2】According to the passage, which is TRUE of the flu?

A．It first happened in 1919.

B．It usually doesn’t give you fever.

C．It is easy to deal with.

D．It can kill people sometimes.

【小题3】If you get a flu vaccine, ________.

A．it can’t stop you from getting the flu virus

B．it won’t cause your body to develop antibodies

C．your body will develop antibodies

D．your body will get a large amount of flu viruses

【小题4】We need to get a flu vaccine every year because ________.

A．we probably have a cold in winter

B．the flu virus changes every few years

C．the flu is very dangerous

D．you don’t need to take any medicine after that

【小题5】The following ways can help stop the flu EXCEPT ________.

A．staying indoors	B．getting regular exercise
C．eating healthy food	D．washing our hands often

                                                         Chicago  on  a  Budget
How to have fun in Chicago without spending a lot of money?
Sightseeing
○ The Art Institute of Chicago has a fine collection of photos and paintings. The ticket is ＄10.00,but go on Tuesdays and you’ll get in free(免费).
○ The Sears Tower is the world’s third tallest building. By going to the 103rd floor, you can get a great view of the whole city! All for only ＄8.50.
○ There are free concerts in Grant Park in summer. They are held Wednesday through Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.
○ Attend the taping of a TV show for free. The Oprah Winfrey Show and The Jenny Jones Show both offer tourists free tickets. For The Oprah Winfrey Show you’ll have to book tickets at least a month before.
Places to stay
You can get a hotel for ＄100 to ＄ 300 a day. However, you can get a room in the dormitory(宿舍) at Roosevelt University for ＄215 for a whole week! But you have to stay for 30 days to get this great rate(优惠).
【小题1】This passage is written for telling us ___________.

A．Chicago is a big and beautiful city	B．where we can see fine photos and paintings
C．how to make a cheap trip in Chicago	D．there are many free concerts in Chicago

【小题2】It will cost you _________ if you visit the Art Institute instead of the Sears Tower on Sundays.

A．more

B．less

C．the same

D．none

【小题3】You may go to ________ if you like to get a great view of the whole city.

A．the Art Institute	B．the Sears Tower
C．Roosevelt University	D．Grant Park

【小题4】 You have to spend at least _____________in all to stay in a dormitory room at Roosevelt University at a good rate.

A．＄100

B．＄300

C．＄215

D．＄860

【小题5】 According to this passage, which of the following statements in NOT TRUE ?

A．You are free to go to the Art Institute on Tuesdays.

B．Free Grant Park concerts are held four nights a week in summer.

C．The Sears Tower is the world’s third tallest building.

D．You can get tickets to The Oprah Winfrey as soon as you arrive.