It's really true what people say about English politeness: it's everywhere. When squeezing past someone in a narrow passage, people say sorry. When getting off a bus, English passengers say thank you rather than the driver. In Germany, people would never dream of doing these things. After all, squeezing past others is sometimes unavoidable, and the bus driver is only doing his job. I used to think the same way, without questioning it, until I started traveling to the British Isles, and here are some more polite ways of interacting (交往) with people in UK.
People thank each other everywhere in England, all the time. When people buy something in a shop, customers and retail assistants in most cases thank each other twice or more. In Germany, it would be exceptional to hear more than one thank you in such a conversation. British students thank their lecturers when leaving the room. English employers thank their employees for doing their jobs, as opposite to Germans, who would normally think that paying their workers money is already enough.
Another thing I observed during my stay was that English people rarely criticize others. Even when I was working and mistakes were pointed out to me, my employers emphasized several times but none of their explanations were intended as criticism. It has been my impression that by avoiding criticism, English people are making an effort to make others feel fortable. This also is showed in other ways. British men still open doors for women, and British men are more likely to treat women to a meal than German men. However, I do need to point out here that this applies to English men a bit more than it would to Scottish men! Yes, the latter are a bit tightfisted.
【小题1】What is the author's attitude towards English politeness?A．He thinks it is artificial. B．He thinks little of it.C．He appreciates it very much. D．He thinks it goes too far.【小题2】 What can be inferred from the passage?A．The author think it's unnecessary to say thank you to the bus driver.B．In Germany, employers often say thank you to employees for their job.C．German men never treat a woman to dinner.D．Germans think it is unnecessary to thank workers because payment is enough.【小题3】We can learn from the last paragraph that Scottish men .A．are more likely to be involved in a fightingB．are as generous as English menC．treat women in a polite wayD．are unwilling to spend money for women【小题4】Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?A．English drivers often say thank you to passengers when they get off the bus.B．In Germany, passengers sometimes say thank you to bus drivers.C．English people try to avoid criticizing others in the daily life.D．Germans are more considerate and polite than Englishmen.【小题5】The author develops the text through the method ofA．making parisons B．telling storiesC．giving ments D．giving reasons/examplesC
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(答案→)C
解析：相比德国人和苏格兰人，英国人的礼貌无处不在。作者通过把英国人和德国人、苏格兰人相比较，来体现英国人的礼貌及绅士。
【小题1】推理判断题。通过第一段及全文可知，作者看到英国人的礼貌无处不在，起初他不以为然，认为有些事大可不必说客气话，但是在英国大不列颠岛的一次旅行改变了作者对英国人礼貌的看法，所以选C。appreciate意为“欣赏”。
【小题2】细节理解题。通过文中第二段最后一句话可知，英国老板会感谢工人为自己做的工作。相反，德国老板却不会，因为他们觉得付给工人的钱已经足够了。所以D项与原文意思相符。
【小题3】细节理解题。根据文中最后一段的后半部分可知，英国男士比德国男士更喜欢请女士吃饭，但是，作者同时指出这个规律相比苏格兰男士而言更适合英国男士，因为苏格兰男士有一些很吝啬，不愿意出钱，故选D。
【小题4】细节理解题。通过文中最后一段第二句和第三句话可知，当我工作中出错时，老板会强调好几次，但从来没有批评的意思，他们总是避免批评以免使别人尴尬，所以选C。
【小题1】细节理解题。通过全文可知，作者通过把英国人和德国人、苏格兰人相比较，来体现英国人的礼貌及绅士，所以选A。