so/well

[diamondcutter]

A: Hi! My name's Carl. Nice to meet you.
B: Nice to meet you, too. My name is Francisco.
A: Wait, wait, please. ( ) ?
B: Francisco. All my friends and family back in Peru call me Pancho.
A: Okay, Pancho. ( ) ?
B: Well, I have three brothers and two sisters.
A: Wow. ( ). So are you the oldest, Pancho?
B: No. I'm the second oldest in my family.
A: So, what do your parents do?
B: ( ) . It's a hard job, but he works hard to support the family.
A: How about your mother?
B: She helps run a small family store with some of my brothers and sisters.
A: ( )?
B: We mainly sell food, like bread, eggs, soft drinks, rice, sugar, and cookies. Things that people buy every day.

Source: English test paper, Henan Province Senior High School Entrance Examinations, 2020

This question asks students to fill in the brackets to complete the conversation. I have no questions about the answers but the use of “so” in two sentences:
1.So are you the oldest, Pancho?
2.So, what do your parents do?

I don’t think the word “so” is used properly in the two sentences. What about using “well” instead?

 

[5jj]

'So' is widely used these days as a meaingless sentence starter. I don't recommend learners do this, but it's natural enough.

 

[diamondcutter]

Thanks, 5jj.

If you were the test maker, which word would you use instead of "so" in the two sentences?

 

[5jj]

So I wouldn't use a word. I tend to be like filler-free, you know.

Sometimes.

 

[tedmc]

I think "so" doesn't mean much in the context, but "well" doesn't fit at all.

 

[Tarheel]

It's a filler. Like "Eh".