One morning, I was waiting at the bus stop, worried about{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(be) late for school.

        There were many people waiting{#blank#}2{#/blank#}the bus stop, and some of them {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(look) very anxious{#blank#}4{#/blank#}disappointed . when the bus finally came, we all hurried on board. I got a place next {#blank#}5{#/blank#}the window, so I had a good view of the sidewalk. A boy on a bike {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(catch) my attention. He was riding beside the bus and waving his arms. I heard apassenger behind me shouting to the driver, but he refused {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(stop) until we reached the next stop.Still, the boy kept {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(ride). He was carrying something over his shoulder and shouting. Finally, when we cameto the next stop, the boy ran up to the door of the bus. I heard an excitedconversation. Then the driver stood up and asked,“{#blank#}9{#/blank#} anyone lose a suitcase at the last stop?” Awoman on the bus shouted, “Oh, dear! It's{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(I )”. She pushed her way to thedriver and took the suitcase thankfully, Everyone on the bus began talkingabout what the boy had done, and the crowd of strangers suddenly becamefriendly to one another.

    Small talk is the short conversations we have at parties, while we wait in line at the store, at family events or work. Sometimes we make small talk with people we already know but not well. Often we have to make small talk with complete strangers. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. Here are some tips to improve your small-talking ability.

    ⒈{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    If you have seen a really good movie or have read a really good book, you can talk about that.

   When you are sharing the same experience with someone, it's easy to start a conversation. You simply notice and comment on what's going on around you. For example, if you are at a party and a song comes on that you like or that reminds you of something, you can talk about that.

    ⒉Ask open-ended questions

    These types of questions require more thought and more than a simple one-word answer. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}, the conversation will go on longer.

    ⒊Become a student

    Nobody knows everything. So, as someone is answering one of your open-ended questions, they bring up something about which you know nothing. So, tell them! This lets the other person become the teacher. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. It's a win-win situation.

    Like anything, getting good at making small talk takes practice. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}, you might become happier. If you are making small talk using English, you will most definitely improve your speaking and listening skills.

A. Have some conversation starters ready

B. If you make small talk in your native language

C. However, some people are not good at small talk

D. If you ask questions that need more details to answer

E. You can talk about something that you recently learned

F. Many people find these small conversations about random topics easy

G. They feel good about sharing their knowledge and you get to learn something

    When I left for the United States to study, I had butterflies in my stomach. I was nervous because I was going to {#blank#}1{#/blank#} new place with new people and new customs. I couldn't even understand {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (they) language. Everything was different {#blank#}3{#/blank#} my own country. There was nobody that I could talk to. I just had my husband, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} was a new person for me, too.

    It was a sad moment when I had to say goodbye to my family and friends. I didn't want {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (leave) my hometown because I grew up there and had wonderful {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (memory) of the place. So, {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(think) about all these changes made me nervous and I was {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (worry) about my new life. But studying abroad was a {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(decide) that I made myself. I had to continue and accept the challenge. I looked forward to {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (visit) my family in the summer vacation.

    Have you ever wanted to be in a TV show or movie? There is a new app {#blank#}1{#/blank#}lets you put yourself in your favorite shows.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} some people are worried about this app.

    The app is called ZAO. A tech company{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(call) Momo released it last month. It lets users put their faces over the faces in photos and videos. Users can put themselves into popular TV shows and movies. For example, you can put your face into a scene from the movie Titanic. Your face {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(replace) Jack's or Rose's. It looks very {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(nature). Released on Aug 30, it was the most-downloaded free app in China as of Sept 10, according to App Annie, {#blank#}6{#/blank#}website that tracks app data.

    However, some people worry that the app could be abused. People can use the app to make themselves look like politicians or celebrities (名人). They could also violate (侵犯) celebrities' right of publicity, {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (use) their faces to make videos or {#blank#}8{#/blank#}other illegal uses.

    Other people worry that they might lose their facial recognition data. {#blank#}9{#/blank#}is possible that hackers (黑客) could steal this data from app{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(company) and use it to break into users' phones and steal their money.