外研英语选修6课文原文(每个模块4篇文章齐全)

外研英语选修6

全部阅读课文原文（每个模块4篇）

Module 1 Small Talk

How Good Are Your Social Skills?

Have you ever crossed the road to avoid talking to someone you recognize? Would you love to go to a party and talk confidently to every guest? Do you want to make more friends but lack the confidence to talk to people you don’t know? And are you nervous about the idea of being at a social event in another country? Don’t worry – we can help you!

You needn’t worry about situations like these if you have good social skills. And they are easy to learn. People with good social skills communicate well and know how to have a conversation. It helps if you do a little advance planning. Here are a few ideas to help you.

Learn how to do small talk.

Small talk is very important and prepares you for more serious conversations. Be prepared! Have some low-risk conversation openers ready. For example:

Think of a recent news story –not to serious, e.g. a story about a film star or sports star.

Think of things to tell people about your studies.

Think of “safe” things you can ask people’s opinions about – music, sport, films, etc.

Think of topics that you would avoid if you were talking to strangers – and avoid talking about them! That way, you don’t damage your confidence!

Develop your listening skills

Listening is a skill which most people lack, but communication is a two-way process – it involves speaking AND listening. Always remember –you won’t impress people if you talk too much. Here are some ideas to make you a better listener:

DO

Show that you are listening by using encouraging noises and gestures –smiling, nodding, saying “uh-huh” and “OK”, etc.

Keep good eye contact

Use positive body language

Ask for more information to show your interest

DON’T

Look at your watch

Yawn

Sign

Look away from the person who’s talking to you

Change the subject

Finish other people’s sentences for them

Always remember the words of Benjamin Disraeli, British Prime Minister in the 19th century: “Talk to a man about himself, and he will speak to you for hours!”

Learn the rules

If you go to a social occasion in another country, remember that social rules can be different. In some countries, for example, you have to arrive on time at a party; in other countries, you don’t need to. In addition, you need to know how long you should stay, and when you have to leave. Some hosts expect flowers or a small gift, but in other places, you can take things, but you needn’t if you don’t want t. remember also that in some countries, you mustn’t take flowers of a certain colour, because they’re unlucky. In most places, you don’t have to take a gift to a party – but find our first!

The Wrong Kind of Small Talk

Esther Greenbaum was a saleswoman for a firm of fax machines and business supplies. But she was also the most outspoken human being in the world –well, Westchester County, at least. Her motto was “Every time I open my mouth, I put my foot in it.”

Esther Greenbaum’s major shortcoming was that she had a complete absence of small talk. No, that’ not quite true. She had small talk, but it was the wrong kind. In fact, she had never learnt the basic rules of social communication, and as a consequence, she made systematic mistakes every time she opened her mouth. It was no coincidence either that she wasn’t a very good saleswoman.

One day during a meeting, Esther was introduced to an important customer, a mature woman.

“Nice to meet you,” she said. “How old are you?” The customer looked awkward.

“Forty? Forty-five?” said Esther. “You kook much older. And your friend … she’s older than you, but she looks much younger!”

On another occasion, Esther teased a typist, “Hey!

When’s your baby due?”

The typist went red and contradicted Esther. “Actually, I’m not pregnant,” she said.

“Oh, sorry,” said Esther without any apology. “Just putting on a little weight, huh?”

Esther was never cautious about other people’s feelings. One of her acquaintances, a salesman in the firm, was going through a very messy divorce and was very depressed. She tried to cheer him up.

“Forget her! She was a complete fool. No one liked her anyway.”

Much of the time, Esther said the first thing to come into her head. One day at work, a clerk came into the office with a new hairstyle.

“Nice haircut,” said Esther. “How much did it cost?”

The woman replied, “I’d rather not say.”

Esther replied, “Well, anyhow, either you paid too much or you pai d too little.”

She met a very famous writer once. “Hey, what a coincidence!” she said. “You’re writing a book and I’m reading one!”

The trouble with Esther was she said what she thought, and didn’t think about what she said. A young man was tryin g to modest about his new job many miles away.

“I guess the company chose me so they’d get some peace in the office,” he smiled.

“No, I guess they chose you to discourage you from spending your whole career with us,” Esther replied sweetly. Once, Esther went to a brunch party to meet some old school friends on the anniversary of their graduation. She greeted the hostess.

“Do you remember that guy you were dating? What happened to him?” she asked. “You know, the ugly one.”

At the moment, a man came up and stood by her friend. “Esther, I’d like you to meet my husband,” she said, “Charles, this is…”

Esther interrupted her, “Hey, so you married him!”

Making Friends in the USA

In the USA, conversation is less lively than in many other cultures, where everyone talks at the same time. When someone talks, everyone is expected to listen, no matter how dull the person’s speaking may be.

If you’re not sure what to talk about, you can ask what people do. We’re defined by our jobs and we’re usually happy to talk about them, unless you’re spy!

Some people say that Americans talk about their feelings more than Asians, but are more secretive about factual matters. You can safely ask questions about families, where you come from, leisur e interests, as well as the latest movies. We’re interested in people’s ethnic background too. But it’s best to avoid politics, religion and other sensitive topics.

A highly personal conversation can take place after a very short period of knowing som eone, but this doesn’t mean that you’re close friends, or the relationship is very deep. But a lot of people are very friendly and hospitable, and the famous invitation “If you’re ever in Minneapolis / San Diego / Poughkeepsie, do call by and see us!” is n ever made without a genuine desire to meet again.

But while few Americans will worry about the questions you may ask, particularly if you clearly show you’re aware of cultural differences, they may hesitate before they ask you similar questions. In fa ct, it’s a sign that they don’t wish to violate your private life. So, many Americans will talk about safe topics because they don’t dare to be too curious or

personal, but will happily talk about more private matters if you take the lead.

Generally we dislike arguments, and we avoid topics which lead to disagreement. It’s easy to return to discussing the weather: “Do you like the USA?” How do you like the weather?” or making compliments: ”What lovely flowers and what a beautiful vase!” “That’s fabulous dress you’re wearing.” You should accept compliments graciously and say “Thank you!” There are a couple of dangerous topics of conversation: age and money. Age is not treated as something very special, unless someone is very old: “Isn’t she wonderfu l for her age!” and there are no special rules or signs of extra respect for elderly people. Anyway, Americans always want to look younger than they really are, so don’t expect an accurate reply!

Income is a very private matter, and you’d do well to avoid asking how much people earn, although some people may not only be open about it, but show off their wealth. We don’t ask how much things cost, either.

But what we don’t like is silence, and almost anything is better than the embarrassment for a quiet party and silent guests.

The AAA

It is estimated that 80% of all conversation in English is small talk. A very important function of small talk is to establish a relationship between people who don’t know each other very well, or don’t know each othe r at all.

Psychologists say that the most successful formula for small talk between people like this is the AAA model. AAA = answer, add and ask. This is how it works.

Imagine a situation where two strangers are talking to each other after someone they both know has left the room, or the café or party, etc. the first person asks a question:

A: Do you live near here?

The second person replies by answering the question, adding some extra information and then asking another question: B: (Answer) Yes, I do.

(Add) In an apartment on Brown Street.

(Ask) Do you live nearby too?

The first person does the same, answer, add and ask:

A: (Answer) No, I live in Bristol.

(Add) I’m just visiting London.

(Ask) Have you lived here long?

B: (Answer) Not so long.

(Add) I moved here three years ago.

(Ask) What’s the purpose of you visit to London?

The speakers may have difficulty at first, but they soon realize that the important thing is that they are saying something. By continuing with the AAA model, the conversation continues. Because the thing they both want to avoid is an embarrassing silence.

The conversation can continue in this way for a long time. However, something can happen that completely changes the atmosphere.

B: Why do you live in Bristol?

A: I’m studying there. History. Are you a student?

B: Yes. And I know some people who are studying at Bristol. Do you know a girl called Helen Brown?

A: Helen Brown? Yes! She’s on of my best friends! How do you know her?

B: She’s my cousin.

At this point, the AAA model stops. Because they used this very useful technique, they found something they have in common at last.

Module 2 Fantasy Literature

The Cat That Vanished

Will was stupefied with exhaustion, and he might have gone on to the north, or he might have laid his head on the grass under one of those trees and slept; but as he stood trying to clear his head, he saw a cat.

She was a tabby, like Moxie. She padded out of a garden on the Oxford side of the road, where Will was standing. Will put down his shopping bag and held out his hand, and the cat came up to rub her head against his knuckles, just as Moxie did. Of course, every cat behaved like that, but all the same Will felt such a longing to turn for home that tears scalded his eyes. Eventually this cat turned away. This was night, and there was a territory to patrol, there were mice to hunt. She padded across the road and towards the bushes just beyond the hornbeam trees, and there she stopped. Will still watching, saw the cat

behave curiously. She reached out a paw to pat something in the air in front of her, something quite invisible to Will. Then she leapt backwards, back arched and fur on end, tail held out stiffly. Will knew cat-behaviour. He watched more alertly as the cat approached the spot again, just an empty patch of grass between the hornbeams and the bushes of a garden hedge, and patted the air once more.

Again she leapt back, but less far and with less alarm this time. After another few seconds of sniffing, touching, whisker-twitching, curiosity overcame wariness.

The cat stepped forward, and vanished.

Will blinked. Then he stood still, close to the trunk of the nearest tree, as a truck came round the circle and swept its lights over him. When it had gone past he crossed the road, keeping his eyes on the spot where the cat had been investigating. It wasn’t easy, because there was nothing to fix on, but when he came to the place and cast about to look closely, he saw it.

At least, he saw it from some angles. It looked as if someone had cut a patch out of the air, about two metres from the edge of the road, a patch roughly square in shape and less than a metre across. If you were level with the patch so that it was edge-on, it was nearlyinvisible, and it was completely invisible from behind. You could only see it from the side nearest the road, and you couldn’t see it easily even from there, because all you could see through it was exactly the same kind of thing that lay in front of it on this side: a patch of grass lit by a street light.