Look at the new words in the box.

absence acquaintance anniversary

apology awkward brunch cautious

clerk customer fax firm fool

haircut hostess human being interrupt

mature messy motto outspoken

pregnant saleswoman shortcoming

tease typist

1. a place of work

2. people or jobs

3. thing you say or write

Find words for:firm

acquaintance clerk customer fool

hostess human being saleswoman

typist

apology motto

4. personal characteristics/appearance

awkward cautious mature messy

outspoken

brunch6. meal

5. a physical statepregnant

Answer the questions about the words

above.

1. When is the next important anniversary

in your life?

2. Do people ever tease you?

3. Can you think of a personal motto?

4. When was the last apology you have

given or received?

5. What are you cautious about?

6. Do you know anyone who is outspoken?

Work in pairs. You’re going to

read a story about a sales

woman. Discuss what kind of

small talk you need as a

statesperson.

Read the passage and answer

the questions.1. What did Esther often do when she

spoke to others?

2. What do you think are “the basic

rules of social communication”?

She put her foot in it (she said

something embarrassing).

To be polite and not to embarrass

people.

Because she didn’t want to say

her age.

She said she wasn’t pregnant.

3. Why did the customer look awkward

when she was asked how old she

was?

4. How did the typist contradict Esther?

5. What was wrong about Esther’s advice

to the salesman?Her advice was very insensitive as she

told him that his wife was a fool and

no one liked her.

She wanted to know how much it cost.

6. What did Esther think of the clerk’s

haircut?

He thought the office would be quieter

without him.

She thought he was ugly.

8. What did Esther think of her old school

friend’s husband?

7. Why did the young man think the

company gave him a new job miles away?

1. three things you can say when you

make small talk

Nice to meet you.

Nice hair cut.

I’d like you to meet my husband…

Read carefully and find:

2. two things you should not say

How old are you?

How much did your haircut cost?

3. one way of replying to questions which

you don’t wish to answer

I’d rather not say.

1. Wonderful. aren’t they? (They’re

wonderful, aren’t they?)

2. Been here before? (Have you been

here before?)

Look at the sentences. Notice

how certain words are left out in

informal conversation.

Now make complete sentences from

the examples.

1. Language course?

Are you taking (doing / going to do) a

language course?

2. Staying long?

Are you staying long?

3. Going anywhere nice?

Are you going anywhere nice?

4. Lovely place.

It’s a lovely place.

5. Go there a lot.

I go there a lot.

6. Never been there.

I’ve never been there.

1. As a consequence, she made systematic

mistakes every time she opened her

mouth.

be ready to take / suffer/bear the cons

equences of one’s actions

准备承担自己行动的后果

in consequence 因此，由此as a consequence 因此，结果e.g. As a consequence of smoking, my

father coughs frequently.

因为吸烟的缘故，我父亲经常咳嗽。 He studied hard, and in consequence 

he passed the exam. 

他努力学习，因此通过了考试。

词汇扩展： ① adj. consequent (on/upon sth)

由……引起的，随之发生的e.g. the rise in prices consequent on the failure of the crops 由于农作物歉收而引起的物价上涨

② adv. consequently=as a result/ therefore 所以，因而e.g. My car broke down and consequently I was late. 我的车坏了，所以我迟到了。

2. Esther was never cautious about other

people’s feelings.

cautious 谨慎的，小心的e.g. He is cautious in his choice of words. 

他措辞很谨慎。The boss is cautious about making

promises.

老板对承诺持谨慎态度。

3. Notice how certain words are left out i

n informal conversation.

leave out 省去，删去e.g. We can leave out the second sentence.

我们可以省去第二句话。 She left out the date on the cheque.

支票上她漏写了日期。

leave 词组：leave behind 留下，忘记携带leave for 动身去某地leave school 毕业leave sth. to / with sb. 把…交给 / 留给某人leave sb. sth. 把…交给 / 留给某人leave word / a message 留言，留信

根据句意及首字母提示完成下列句子。1. In the a_______ of the manager, I shall

be in charge of the company.

2. The new store across from the street ha

s taken away most of my c________, an

d it is a great loss to my store.

3. The Finance Director was unable to att

end the meeting and sent her a_______.

bsence

ustomers

pologies

4. He was not my close friend; I made

his a__________ at a party last

weekend.

5. She is very m_______ about her

success though she had a drawer of

medals.

6. Next Monday is my parents’ 31st

wedding a___________.

cquaintance

odest

nniversary

用适当的介词或副词填空。1. He has little acquaintance _______

Japanese, but he speaks English fluently.

2. Some of the players may, _______ occas

ion, break the rules.

3. Employers may become overly cautious

_______ taking on new staff.

with

on

about

4. May I ask a favor _______ you?

5. Just think about what you went

_______ last time you gave up

smoking.

6. The rain discouraged us _______ going

out.

of

through

from

根据括号内的汉语提示完成下列句子。1. He didn’t realize that he had

______________________ ( 说错话 ).

2. ____________ ( 缺少 ) sunlight made it d

ifficult to take good pictures.

3. _________________ ( 由于 ) smoking, m

y father coughs frequently.

4. _____________________ ( 真巧 ) he was

born on his mother’s birthday.

put his foot in his mouth

The absence of

In consequence of

It was a coincidence that

5. I only ever use that machine

__________________( 在特殊的场合 ) so

it’s as good as new to me.

6. She ________ ( 漏掉 ) the date on the

cheque when she filled in the form.

7. The dog may bite you if you __________

( 一直挑逗 ) it.

8. Jim got an ___________________

( 热情接待 ) when he returned home.

on special occasions

left out

keep teasing

enthusiastic reception

9. At the formal party John

________________ ( 看起来不自在 ) and

out of place.

10. The job ______________________ ( 包 括国外旅行 ) for three months each

year.

looks awkward

involves traveling abroad

Answer the questions and give reasons.

1. Is small talk important in your society?

2. Is it as important as “real”

conversation?

3. Do you think small talk is more or

less important in English than in your

language?