Module 1 Small Talk Section Ⅳ Other Parts of the Module[原文呈现] [读文清障] The Wrong Kind of Small TalkEsther Greenbaum was a saleswoman① for a firm② of fax③ machines and business supplies
But she was also the most outspoken④human being⑤ in the world — well, Westchester County, at least⑥
Her motto⑦ was “Every time ⑧ I open my mouth, I put my foot in it⑨
”Esther Greenbaum's major○shortcoming⑪ was that she had a complete absence⑫ of small talk⑬
No, that's not quite true
She had small talk, but it was the wrong kind
In fact⑭ , she had never learnt the basic rules of social communication, and as a consequence⑮ , she made systematic⑯ mistakes every time she opened her mouth
It was no coincidence⑰ either that she wasn't a very good saleswoman⑱
①saleswoman/'seIlz w m n/ˌ ʊ ən.