The English are famous for their manners． The phrase “Manners maketh the man” was coined by Englishman William of Wykeham back in 1324 but they’re just as important today． Books are written on the subject advice columns in magazines tell people how to behave and “finishing schools” still exist to ensure that young girls bee young “ladies”．
The best example of English manners is in their mastery of the art of forming a queue． It is a popular joke in England （the land of sporting failures） to say “ if only queuing was an Olympic sport we’d win hands down ． ” No one knows exactly how and when it started but queuing plays an important role in the English social make-up． School children are taught to queue for roll-call assembly and lunch and English people across the land form orderly queues at shops banks cinemas and bus-stops every day． The English obviously aren’t the only people who queue but they seem to do it better than anyone else． As one visitor said “I have travelled across Europe the Middle and Far East and nowhere have I seen the single-file queues which are formed in England．”
The English are also famously polite when it es to language． Whereas many other notions are more direct in their munication the English prefer a more indirect form of asking for things． For example an American who wants to talk to a colleague might say “Got a minute?”; however an English person will often use a more indirect means might of requesting the chat “Sorry to bother you but would you possibly have a minute or so to have a quick chat if you don’t mind please?”
The English also love to apologize for things． When squeezing past someone people say “sorry”． And they will apologize if you bump into them “whoops! Sorry! My fault．” In fact no one seems to say “sorry” as much as the English: “sorry I’m late． /Sorry I forgot to call you last night．/I’m sorry you didn’t get the e-mail．” And so on． They also like to use “please” and “thank you” a lot． In a shop they will say “I’d like a packet of crisp please． Thanks．” British students thank their lectures a nd bosses often thank their employees for doing their jobs．
【小题1】 Why does “finishing schools” still exist to help young girls bee “ladies”? A．Because the English mind their manners very much． B．Because the English parents want to marry their daughters to the royal family． C．Because the English girls are so rude that they need to be taught to be polite． D．Because the English government ensures their existence． 【小题2】The underlined sentence in paragraph2 implies ________________． A．The English love the Olympics very much． B．The English spend nothing winning an Olympic medal． C．The English are best at queuing． D．The English prefer to queue with their hands down． 【小题3】 According to the passage if Americans say “Waiter! Could I have another fork please?” how will the English express such a meaning? A．Excuse me! Give me another fork please! B．Excuse me! I have to be a bother but would you mind awfully changing this fork please? C．Hi! Would you mind giving me another fork? D．Waiter! Come here and change the fork! 【小题4】According to the passage why do the employers often thank their employees for doing their jobs? A．The employees can bring them a lot of benefits． B．The employees finish their jobs perfectly． C．The English employers’ good manners lead them to do so． D．The employers do it as a result of the pany’s regulation．
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【答案】
【小题1】答案A。本题是推测题。第一段开始提到英国人以讲究礼貌而闻名，“finishing schools” still exist to help young girls bee “ladies是围绕它展开的一个例子。
【小题1】 答案C。本题是理解题。从第二段The best example of English manners is in their mastery of the art of forming a queue．中我们可以得知答案。
【小题1】答案B。从文章中得知，英国人非常讲究礼貌，从这个例子中可以看出For example an American who wants to talk to a colleague might say “Got a minute?”; however an English person will often use a more indirect means might of requesting the chat “Sorry to bother you but would you possibly have a minute or so to have a quick chat if you don’t mind please?”
【小题1】答案C。本题是理解题。本文是介绍了讲究礼貌的英国人，讲究礼貌是他们的习惯，所以雇主感谢雇员也是礼貌使然。
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