It was decades ago, but it's still one of the most memorable conversations of my life. On a long, slow train rattling north, with nothing to do but watch the rain, the guy sitting opposite began trying to talk to me. Like most young women who have learned the hard way to be cautious of strangers, I reacted coldly. But curiosity took over when he said that he was just bored, and liked talking.

So that's what we did, for hours and hours, since he turned out to be very talkative. When the train eventually pulled in, we didn't swap numbers—it was a conversation strictly of its time—but I still think about it occasionally on long, boring journeys, before getting a phone out and scrolling silently like everyone else. Rarely can a person cheerfully break the social taboo（禁忌）about talking to strangers without any trace of ill intention but life would be more interesting if more of us knew how to do it

And that's why I feel it ridiculous about a campaign launched this week to heal bitter national divides by encouraging Britons to talk to each other. Obviously, it takes more than a small talk over garden fences to unite a divided nation now. More people live alone than they did a generation ago, and we socialise increasingly through screens instead of bothering to call. In reality, social media platforms designed to bring people together have unknowingly fueled the division.

It is true that the "tube chat" campaign of a few years back failed in its attempt to make Londoners talk to each other on public transport. But even city residents who would normally die rather than make eye contact with strangers still happily join the large crowds of people by the Thames for the New Year's Eve fireworks. They would get a far better view at home on TV—it's not really about the fireworks, but being part of social engagement.

There's no guarantee that this latest attempt to reconnect will succeed, but I hope that my temporary train friend then is still talking, wherever he is now.

【小题1】What led the author to start the talk with the guy on the train?

A．Her growing interest in communication.

B．Her typical easygoing personality

C．Her habit of chatting with strangers.

D．The intention of the train journey.

【小题2】What has made talking to strangers a social taboo among the Britons?

A．A lack of basic communicating skills.

B．The absence of common topics.

C．The concern for personal safety.

D．The addiction to social media

【小题3】How does technology affect people's mutual connection?

A．It is bringing people together in a larger sense.

B．It is positively helping break the national boundaries.

C．It has made people more divided than connected.

D．It is the key driving force of removing divisions.

【小题4】What does the highly-attended firework show indicate?

A．Tube chat campaign can never make it.

B．TV programs at home are not appealing.

C．The charm of the fireworks is hard to resist.

D．People's desire to connect is still alive.