Many people believe small talk is very{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(bore).Although that is true,there are many places where small talk is very important.In Western culture,strangers talk to other strangers{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(frequent).On the other hand,small talk is not so common in Eastern culture.Strangers are{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(friend)to one another in Western culture,and small talk is very important to English learning.One other place where small talk is important is in{#blank#}4{#/blank#}interview.Besides,the best way to learn small talk is to provide many examples.Here are some{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(suggest)about how to use examples.Small talk{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(involve)many different topics.In other words,students can learn several lessons,{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(cover)other subjects,such as sports,jobs,schools,etc.Once we have started the small talk,{#blank#}8{#/blank#}is your responsibility to keep the conversation{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(focus)on your work and study.In order to do so,you can talk about anything{#blank#}10{#/blank#}is not too personal.

Journey to the Center of the Earth spoke of a trip to the centre of the earth through a volcano in Iceland. When Professor Otto Lindenbrock，his nephew and the guide they hired {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(reach) the volcano， they journeyed underground through a small cave. After many days， they came to a vast room {#blank#}2{#/blank#}a large ocean inside. The three men built a small boat and set sail.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (sudden)， two dinosaurs rose to the surface and began to fight each other. The small boat was almost sunk by the dinosaurs {#blank#}4{#/blank#}they were able to get away.

They sailed to shore and explored the forest. They came across huge insects and many strange {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(creature). As they were wandering around， they noticed a man sitting against a tree in the {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(distant)—he was at least four meters tall. The men became afraid， and ran back to the boat.

The boat floated down with the water {#blank#}7{#/blank#} they could only hold on to the boat in terror. Finally， they reached the bottom of the hole. Then the water began to push them up. They floated upwards for miles. The water rushed beneath them， {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(push) them out into the sunlight. They now found {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(they) in a volcano in Italy—their adventure was over，but a new one was about {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(begin).

Recently I failed an exam. However, when I came out of my teacher's office, I told myself, "Smile! It's not so serious."

    I smiled a big smile and it {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(work) a little, really.

Everyone gets {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(disappoint) sometimes. I used to be always influenced by pressure and I was often in low spirits. But one day I meet {#blank#}3{#/blank#}a sentence in the Bible, "Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself, let the day's own trouble be enough for the day." {#blank#}4{#/blank#} suddenly occurred to me that {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(worry) about a problem doesn't help. Why not just give a big smile and face up to the trouble？"

    Now every time I want to cry, I remind myself that {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(laugh) is better than tears and anger. I {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(deep) believe that there's something magical about a smile. A smile helps me recover confidence and gives me {#blank#}8{#/blank#}courage to move on.

    Remember, whenever you're faced with a setback, {#blank#}9{#/blank#} difficulty you come across, all it takes is determination and you can feel happy again. Smile at life, {#blank#}10{#/blank#} it will shine on you.

Dear Tom，

    How time flies! You {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (study) in Beijing for nearly a month, during which you must have achieved a lot. Well, how's everything going? It is reported that the weather there is very hot and dry these days, which is very different from{#blank#}2{#/blank#} of your country. Have you adapted to it? In addition, you once complained that the food {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (serve) there was not {#blank#}4{#/blank#} your taste. I hope that should have been improved.

    I am glad to tell you that I will go to Beijing to take part in an English speech contest in July, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} is not only an honor, but also a great opportunity for me to improve {#blank#}6{#/blank#}. And now I try my best to make {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (prepare) for it. {#blank#}8{#/blank#}, I have some trouble in collecting the materials relevant and using the language. I will appreciate {#blank#}9{#/blank#} if you give me a hand to solve the problems.

    After the contest, I am to drop {#blank#}10{#/blank#} at your school to visit you. Please wait for my phone.

Li Hua

    Jane Scott is fourteen years old and last year she {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (begin) to study in a middle school. She likes {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (dance) and singing and spends a lot of time on them. But she hates math and {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (not study) hard at it. She thinks it difficult to learn math. Once she failed the math exam, and now she decides to give it up. Her father is angry with her when he knows about it.

    It was Sunday. Mr. Scott gave a call to his sister. She teaches math in another school. He hoped she {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (come) and tell his daughter how {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (learn) math. The woman came quickly and said, “You're a clever girl, Jane. I'm sure you'll soon do well in math if you work hard at it. ”

    “I'm afraid I can't, Aunt,” said Jane. “I am not interested in math at all.”

    “I don't think so.” said the woman. “You {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (be) good at it if you try your best. You {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (do) more exercises and practice a math problem again until you make it. Well, here's a math problem. Think it over and practice it again and again, then you {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (work) it out. ”

    “OK,” said the girl, “Let me {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (have) a try.”

    About an hour later Jane took the exercise book to her aunt and said, “I {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (do) the problem ten times by now.”

    “Well done!” her aunt said happily, “What answers did you get?!”

    “Ten answers.”