Read the article and answer the questions. 

 THE SECRET OF CONVERSATION FLOW

What makes conversations so special? Well, they all have something called conversation flow. Conversation flow happens when conversation is comfortable, effortless, and smooth. It’s the way conversations are supposed to work.

Sometimes, conversation flow seems to happen automatically. You and your conversation partner get along and the conversation feels very friendly and natural. That‘s great when it happens, but what do you do when the conversation doesn't flow?

That’s where the ideas of invitation and inspiration come in. An invitation is when you say something that lets your conversation partner clearly know it’s her turn to speak. And when your partner says something to you that makes you want to speak, that’s known as inspiration. Invitation and inspiration are the key ingredients of smooth, comfortable conversation. These conversational strategies keep the conversation flowing. Learn how to use them and you will have conversations free of awkward pauses and fake small talk.

Here's how it works:

Let's say that you and your friend Steve are chatting as you work.

You ask, "How was your weekend?"

Steve replies, "Oh, it was great. How was yours?"

You reply, " It was fine."

Steve says nothing and goes back to work.

What happened? Well, you didn’t give Steve a clear invitation or a strong inspiration. Without either of those things, he didn't know what to say next (and perhaps was unsure if it was his turn to speak). So, he didn't respond. The conversation failed.

Without an invitation or an inspiration, your partner might not know what to say or whether to respond. That’s why you want to make sure to offer invitations and inspirations to your partner in order to have a conversation flow.

1. What do you think the writer means by "conversation flow" ?