Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can be used only once.
Note that there is one word more than you need.
A. stressed B. exhibited C. reveals D. momentary E. reluctance F. unforgettable
G. attaches H. amusedly I. understatement J. confusedly K. delivery |
The Correct Answer to the Question
The usual answer to the greeting “How are you?” is generally “Not too bad.” Why? Because it’s all-purpose. Whatever the circumstances, whatever the conditions, “Not too bad” will get you through. On an average day it 【小题1】 a confusing modesty. In good times it implies a decent pessimism (悲观), a kind of 【小题2】 to express oneself. And when things are rough, really rough and annoying, it becomes a heroic 【小题3】, as if everything goes well. Best of all, it gently prevents further inquiry with all three syllables (音节) equally 【小题4】, because it is basically meaningless.
Americans are small-talk artists. They have to be. This is a wild country. The weakest agreement 【小题5】 one person to the next. So the “Have a nice day”, the “Hot enough for you”, and the “How about those guys” serve a vital purpose. Without these little commonly-used phrases and the 【小题6】 social contract that they represent, to calm people, the streets would be a free-for-all exhibition of disaster.
But that’s the negative view. Some of my happiest interactions with other human beings have been glancing moments of small talks. It’s an extraordinary thing. A person stands before you, a complete stranger, and the best everyday small talk can have his or her soul 【小题7】 in front of your eyes.
I was out walking the other day when a UPS truck pulled to the side of the road. As the driver leaped from his cab to make a 【小题8】, I heard relaxing music coming out of the truck’s speakers -- a kind of familiar and weightless blues music, and it’s my favorite tune. “China Cat Sunflower?” I said to the UPS guy as he rushed back to his truck. He 【小题9】 showed a huge smile, “You got it, babe!”
The exchange of feelings, the perfect understanding, the simplest small talk that emerged instantly between us, and, most of all, the 【小题10】 “babe”—I was high as a kite for the next 10 minutes after such a pure small talk.
