The Business pi answer key

1.4 Speaking
 Making small talk
1
Small talk is talking about relatively unimportant, everyday things, e.g. the 
weather, in order to build up a relationship with someone you do not know 
well.
2
Safe topics – the weather; fi lms and books; whether this is the fi rst time you 
have been in / at a particular place, etc.
Unsuitable topics – controversial areas, e.g. politics and religion; very 
personal areas which might include a person’s age, salary, health issues, etc.

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2
Answer key
1 The weather, sports news and something that you and the speaker have 
in common.
2 Personal information and negative comments about other people.
3 Don’t continue talking about something that the other person doesn’t 
seem interested in and avoid one-word answers.
3
Conversation 1
1 at 
work
2 last 
weekend
3 four
Conversation 2
1 at a conference
2 a recent business trip
3 fi ve
Conversation 3
1 in a taxi
2 job
3 four 
(
Where do you want to go to?
isn’t small talk)
4
1 Did you have good weather?
2 Where did you go?
3 Did the children enjoy it?
4 Was it your fi rst visit there?
5 Where did you stay?
6 Was it called the Continental?
7 Are you here in Paris for work or on holiday?
8 What do you do?
9 Do you like your job?
10 Are you going to visit India?
6
1 Sorry, but I have to go now. E
2 It’s been nice meeting you. E
3 I can’t believe how busy it is. B
4 Did you have a good journey here? B
5 How was your weekend? B
6 Enjoy the rest of the conference. E
7 Nice talking to you. E
8 It’s lovely weather today. B
How was the fl ight?
I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay.
Bye for now.
Is this your fi rst time at (an international conference)?