In many cultures, small talk is a big deal. 【小题1】 it is actually very important for communicating and bonding with others.

According to US inspirational speaker Wadsworth, “Small talk is about making use of possibilities.” 【小题2】 which can lead to friendships, jobs, or other goals. Not only that, small talk is shown to increase brainpower by encouraging empathy (同感), making you consider what another person feels or thinks.

If small talk is so important, how do you do it? 【小题3】 Well, some of the most common topics include the weather, hobbies, work, family and travel. These topics are great for small talk because they are relatable. It’s easy for people to talk about them.

【小题4】 For example, you can talk to your schoolmates about your classes or that teacher who drives everyone crazy. If you are at a party, you might comment on the snacks, music, or the number of people there. If you are lucky, you might have a friend introducing you to others first to help start a conversation.

Sometimes, it may seem a bit difficult to start a conversation with someone you don’t know. That’s OK. 【小题5】 Wadsworth has the best advice for this: “Approach the conversation excited about the friendship, the good laugh, the fascinating story, the job opportunity, the date, the joy or the sense-of-belonging potential inherent (内在的) in this shared experience.” Small talk might just be the first step to something much bigger.

The human brain remembers negative experiences more easily than positive ones.Our brains have developed in this way because threats,like dangerous animals,have a more immediate effect on people's survival compared to positive things like food or shelter.As a result,you clearly know what makes you unhappy,but do you know what makes you happy?

Research suggests that our level of happiness is partly shaped by the choices we make.If you've been chasing wealth,fame,power and some material things,you may be looking for happiness in the wrong places.Psychologists suggest that the following habits can make people happier.

People who own close relationships tend to be happier than those who do not.The number of our friends is not important.What matters is the quality of our relationships.Relationships that bring happiness usually consist of the sharing of feelings,acceptance,mutual respect and trust.

People who exercise on a regular basis can improve both their physical and mental well-being.Some research has shown that exercise can be as effective as some medicine in treating depression.

If we are so interested in an activity,we may lose track of time,and we can be in a state of flow.The activity could be playing the piano,surfing the Internet or playing a game...People who experience flow in their work or life tend to be happier.

People are more likely to be happy if they know what their strengths are and can use them regularly.People are especially happy when they can set goals and use their strengths to achieve them.

People,who think positively by being grateful,mindful and optimistic,are more likely to be happy.Being grateful means being thankful.Being mindful means considering,focusing on,and enjoying the experiences of the present moment.Being optimistic means being hopeful about the future.

Like it or love it, social media is a major part of life. Teens spend more than half of their waking hours online. They use some of that time to post pictures and create profiles on social media accounts. 【小题1】

Clicking on a thumbs-up or a heart icon is an easy way to stay in touch. 【小题2】 Some social media sites use those likes to determine how many people eventually see a post. One with many likes is more likely to be seen-and to get even more likes.

What’s more, viewing posts with a lot of likes activates the reward system in our brain. 【小题3】 For example, posts related to alcohol may encourage teens to drink. That means that what you like online has the power to influence not just what others like, but even what they do.

【小题4】 And not always in a good way. For example, in one 2011 study, teens doing a driving task in a lab took more risks when their friends were around. Researchers also looked at the teens’ brains during this task. They saw activity in a part of the brain that’s involved in rewards, which suggests the teens were changing their behavior to try to get social approval.

Joining social media can give people a sense of being in the know. But posts may exaggerate (夸大) how well our friends and others are feeling, making them appear much happier than we are. 【小题5】