small talk

Small Talk

Which topics are appropriate?

Appropriate

Inappropriate

clothes /fashion

the news

family

politics

pets

sports

traffic

food

weather

health

holidays /trips

movies /series

Can you think of a word to fill in each blank in this text?

Read this conversation between two co-workers. Do you think any of the topics mentioned are inappropriate?

Woman: Hi there. Man: Hi. I haven't seen you around here before. Have you worked here long? Woman: No, I've only been here a few months. I work in the Human Resources Department. Man: Oh, you must make more money than I do then. I'm in Sales. Woman: Sales sounds like an interesting job. Man: It's okay. Hey, you look like you could really use a coffee. Woman: Yes, it's been a really hectic week. Man: Tell me about it! At least it's supposed to be a nice weekend. Woman: Yes, I've heard that they are calling for blue skies. Man: Say, did you happen to catch the game last night? Woman: No, I was working late. Man: It was a great game. We won in overtime. Woman: Actually, I don't even know who was playing. I don't really follow sports. Man: The Chiefs! Do you think they're going to make it to the finals this year? Woman: I'm not sure. Well, I better get back to my desk. Man: Speaking of desks, what do you think of the new office furniture? Woman: It's nice, but I would rather get paid for my overtime hours than have new furniture. Man: Oh. Well, I think I'll be heading home early today. It looks like it might snow. Woman: I know. I can't believe all of this cold weather. Hopefully spring will come soon. Man: I can't wait until spring. Woman: Me neither! My divorce will finally come through by then!

These days, people talk a lot about Covid. Are you familiar with the vocabulary related to it? Match the words to their definitions below.

test negative | test positive

diagnose

flatten the curve

self-isolate

incubation period

contagious

asymptomatic

carry

epidemic

• (verb): if you take a test for an infection and you _____________, that means you do not have the infection. If you ____________, that means you have the infection. - The President is pleased to announce that he has _____________ for the virus.

• (verb): put oneself in quarantine, away from other people - The prime minister's wife has tested positive for COVID-19 and the couple are now ___________ and working by phone and Skype.

• (adjective): showing no symptoms of a particular disease - She had no idea her husband had coronavirus because he was __________.

• (verb): be infected with a disease and able to transmit it to others, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic - Some people may ______coronavirus without knowing it.

• (adjective): describing a disease that can pass from person to person, usually by direct contact - Patients who are still __________ are kept in isolation.

• (verb): identify an illness by examining the symptoms - Only a medical professional can properly ___________the cause of your problem.

• (noun): occurrence of a particular disease in a large number of people in a particular area. - The city was devastated by an ________ of cholera in the 19th century.

• (verb - figurative): change the upward curve on a graph of new disease cases to a flatter upward curve - Authorities hope that by introducing social distancing they will be able to ______________ and avoid hospitals being rapidly overwhelmed with new cases.

• (noun): the time from a person’s first exposure to a disease to the time when symptoms develop - When they know the _________ they will know how long to keep people in quarantine.