Many Americans find silence uncomfortable during a buffet or a formal dinner. 【C1】______ in the States there is the 【C2】______ practice of making "small talk" in certain social situation. Small talk deals 【C3】______ various topics, superficially, simply for the sake of keeping a conversation 【C4】______ . The topics 【C5】______ include the weather, sports, college courses, clothing, food, etc. Small talk is 【C6】______ useful at social gathering when you meet someone for the first time, or when polite conversation is expected but no serious discussion 【C7】______ .
It is common but not necessarily expected that one should know 【C8】______ in a group before engaging him or her in conversation. 【C9】______ , at a party or 【C10】______ informal social gatherings, a simple " May I join you？" and a self-introduction is normally sufficient 【C11】______ acceptance into a group and to join in a conversation. In some 【C12】______ , such as the lobby of a concert hall or theater, a waiting room or a classroom, it is common for 【C13】______ to start a conversation even 【C14】______ an introduction.
【C15】______ the informality that pervades U. S. society, people in the States expect those whom they 【C16】______ to put aside 【C17】______ they are doing and listen. As a 【C18】______ , the conversation distance between two people is at least two or three 【C19】______ . Standing at a closer range will make many Americans feel 【C20】______ .
【C1】______

A. But
B. And
C. So
D. Or