1st QUESTION: What is a fundamental exercise to improve conversational skill, according to the text?

2nd QUESTION: Why is it crucial to talk with people from diverse backgrounds?

It ensures that you can only speak with experts on those topics
It limits opportunities to connect with new people
Guarantee that you'll always win any argument
It makes you a more interesting person and gives you more opportunities to connect

Step out of our social comfort zone and talk with people from diverse backgrounds
Practice conversations only with people in the same profession as us
Reading books about how to manipulate conversations
Avoiding people with whom we believe we have nothing in common