Directions: Read the following passage and then translate the underlined parts into Chinese.
Psychologists have long said that connecting with others is central to well-being, but just how much conversation we require is under investigation. 1.In one study, researchers eavesdropped on undergraduates for four days, then cataloged each overheard conversation as either “small talk” or “substantive”. They found that the second type correlated with happiness—the happiest students had roughly twice as many substantive talks as the unhappiest ones. Small talk, meanwhile, makes up only 10 percent of their conversation, versus 30 percent of conversation among the least content students.
2.But don’t write off chitchat just yet. Scientists believe that small talk could promote bonding; and maintain closeness with loved ones, and couldn’t be merely the stuff of awkward exchanges with strangers.
Still, bantering with strangers could brighten your morning. 3.In a series of experiments, psychologists gave Chicago commuters varying directions about whether to talk with fellow train passengers. Those told to chat with others reported a more pleasant journey than those told to “enjoy your solitude” or to do whatever they normally would. None of the chatters reported being rebuffed. And the results held for introverts and extroverts alike—which makes sense, since acting extroverted has a positive effect on introverted.
4.Small talk can also help us feel connected to our surroundings. People who smiled at, made eye contact with and briefly spoke with their Starbucks baristas reported a greater sense of belonging than those who rushed through the transaction.
Of course, some of us are better than others at turning small talk into something bigger. In one study, people who were rated “less curious”, by researchers had trouble getting a conversation rolling on their own, and had greater luck building closeness with others when they are supplied with questions that encouraged personal disclosure. 5.But people who are deemed “curious” needed no help transforming about mundane things like favorite holidays into intimate exchanges. A “curious mind-set”、the authors concluded, can lead to “positive social interaction”. So go ahead, pry. Chitchat needn’t be idle. And noisiness isn’t all bad.
