Ever been talking about something important with someone you care about and found the discussion frustrating instead of fruitful? negative energy can then cast a 26 over your efforts to build a shared understanding.

In fact collaborative problem-solving conversations require skills. strong listening skills are essential.Sprinkling in positivity via appreciation, 27 smiles, and warm comments helps. So does the essential ability to keep your emotional tone in the calm zone. If the tone of a dialogue heats up and anger erupts,the dialogue 28 from collaborative to adversarial, and progress is likely to come to an immediate 29 .

In addition, effective dialogue generally has another important characteristic: symmetry.

Symmetry in dialogue refers to the balance of how much each partner talks. Are you each getting equal airtime? When one participant does most of the talking, this asymmetry or lack of balance tends to become annoying to one or both of you. The silent partner 30 tires of only listening, while the talker can feel 31 . Usually, both would prefer more equal give and take.

Different rates of speech and levels of voice volume can 32 symmetry as well. The faster or louder partner can easily begin taking up more airtime. The slower-talking or softer-voiced one can have trouble getting the floor.

Conversations also lose balance when one partner's opinions count more than the other's. One person's input may carry more sway because their style of expression is more 33 . One viewpoint may tend to get lost because it is expressed more 34 .

If either partner fairly consistently 35 or evaporates, modifying the pattern will be helpful. The dialogue will feel more productive, and at the same time, the relationship overall is likely to feel more positive.

A) affectionate

B) approximately

C) elapses

D) erode

E) flattered

F) flips

G) halt

H) overburdened

I) predominates

J) propagate

K) scenario

L) shadow

M) tentatively

N) typically

O) vigorous

答案解析：

“cast a... over...”是固定结构，“a”后接名词，“over”前也需名词性成分，空格处应填名词。空格所在处句意：消极的能量会给你们建立共同理解的努力蒙上一层阴影。“cast a shadow over”是固定搭配，意为“给……蒙上阴影”，所以选L。

“appreciation, 27 smiles, and warm comments”是并列结构，共同作“via”的宾语，“appreciation”和“warm comments”都是名词性成分，空格处也应填名词或形容词修饰“smiles”。空格所在处句意：通过欣赏、亲切的微笑和温暖的评论来融入积极性会有所帮助。“affectionate”是形容词，意为“亲切的，深情的”，可以修饰“smiles”，所以选A。

“If the tone of a dialogue heats up and anger erupts”是条件状语从句，“the dialogue 28 from collaborative to adversarial”是主句，主句缺少谓语动词，空格处应填动词。空格所在处句意：如果对话的语气升温且愤怒爆发，对话就会从合作性的变成对抗性的。“flip from...to...”表示“从……变成……”，“flip”是动词，符合语境，所以选F。

空格处是“come to +名词”的结构，表示到达某种状态，空格前是形容词immediate，可知此处应填名词。空格所在处句意：进展很可能会立即停止。“come to a halt”是固定短语，意为“停止”，所以选G。

空格所在句的主干是partner tires of listening，不缺必要语法惩罚，空格又在动词tired前面，可知此处应填副词来修饰动词“tires”。空格所在处句意：沉默的一方通常会对只听不说感到厌烦。“typically”是副词，意为“通常，典型地”，符合语境，所以选N。

“feel”是系动词，后接形容词作表语，空格处应填形容词。空格所在处句意：而说话者可能会感到负担过重。“overburdened”是形容词，意为“负担过重的”，符合语境，所以选H。

“can”是情态动词，后接动词原形，空格处应填动词。空格所在处句意：不同的语速和音量水平也会破坏对称性。“erode”是动词，意为“侵蚀，破坏”，符合语境，所以选D。

“is”后面需要接形容词作表语，空格处应填形容词。空格所在处句意：一个人的意见可能更有影响力，因为他们的表达方式更有力。“vigorous”是形容词，意为“有力的，充满活力的”，符合语境，所以选O。

“is expressed”是被动语态，“more”后接副词修饰“expressed”，空格处应填副词。空格所在处句意：一个观点可能会被忽视，因为它表达得更加犹豫。“tentatively”是副词，意为“犹豫地，试探性地”，符合语境，所以选M。

“if”引导条件状语从句，从句缺少谓语动词，空格处应填动词。空格所在处句意：如果任何一方相当一致地占据主导地位或消失不见，改变这种模式将会有所帮助。“predominate”是动词，意为“占主导地位”，符合语境，所以选I。