Question

    All countries have their own characteristics that make them stand out. One thing that visitors to the UK always notice is how good British people are at waiting, especially in queues. Everywhere in the UK, it’s common to see queues. People wait in long lines at bus stops, in shops and in cinemas.

Speaking to BBC News, Kate Bradley, a lecturer at the University of Kent, explained that queuing in the UK isn’t simply about having goodwill toward other people. Indeed, British people also like everything to be in perfect order, so being shouted at for skipping ahead of someone in a line is something that most British try to avoid.

The British obsession (痴迷) with queuing goes back to World War II. When the amount of food that people are allowed to have is limited by the government due to wartime, people had to wait in line to get important goods in shops, particularly food. The government at the time was worried that trouble and disorder would break out, so it made a point of telling people that queuing was civilized and a British thing to do. And that message is still alive today.

There’s probably only one factor that will affect a Briton’s willingness to stand patiently in line — the weather, which can change quite quickly in the UK. One minute it can be fine and sunny, and the next it can be wet and windy. If people are queuing in bad weather, their main hope is that the bus arrives soon, or the people in front of them waiting to use the ATM give up and decide to leave.

But if the weather is good, queuing can be fun. Although people are waiting, they may be excited about the thing they’re waiting for. There’s an air of expectation when people are standing in line for a pop concert, for example. This can create a great atmosphere, which can make queuing for something an enjoyable experience all of its own.

1.What do the most British people try to avoid?

A.Cutting in a line.

B.Waiting in long lines.

C.Behaving badly in public.

D.Having goodwill towards other people.

2.Why did the British people wait in line during World War II?

A.They loved to queue to kill time.

B.They thought of waiting in line as a tradition.

C.They wanted to get their important goods in shops.

D.They wanted to leave a good impression on others.

3.What can prevent the British from standing in line patiently?

A.The weather. B.The time.

C.The mood. D.The war.

4.In which of the following cases do the British enjoy queuing?

A.They wait for the bus on a rainy day.

B.They wait to use the ATM in bad weather.

C.They go to the restaurant on a windy day.

D.They go to the concert with friends on a sunny day.

Answer

1.A

2.C

3.A

4.D

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章介绍英国的排队现象。所有国家都有自己的特点，使他们脱颖而出。到英国旅游的人总会注意到英国人有多么善于等待，尤其是在排队的时候。在英国，到处都能看到排队的现象。

1.细节理解题。根据第二段的最后一句Indeed, British people also like everything to be in perfect order, so being shouted at for skipping ahead of someone in a line is something that most British try to avoid.可知，事实上，英国人也喜欢一切都井井有条，所以当插队时被人冲在前面大喊大叫是大多数英国人尽量避免的事情。由此可知，大多数英国人会尽量避免“插队”。故选A。

2.细节理解题。根据第三段的第二句When the amount of food that people are allowed to have is limited by the government due to wartime, people had to wait in line to get important goods in shops, particularly food.可知，战时，由于政府的限制，人们的食物数量受到限制，人们不得不排队购买商店里的重要商品，尤其是食物。由此可知，英国人在二战期间之所以要排队是因为他们想在商店里买到重要的商品。故选C。

3.细节理解题。根据第四段的第一句There’s probably only one factor that will affect a Briton’s willingness to stand patiently in line — the weather, which can change quite quickly in the UK.可知，可能只有一个因素会影响英国人耐心排队的意愿——英国的天气变化很快。由此可知，天气能阻止英国人耐心排队。故选A。

4.推理判断题。文章第四段说唯一一个可能让英国人不愿排队的原因是天气，最后一段说排队看演唱会时，因为有美好的期待，所以等待也是一种愉快的体验。由此可知，英国人喜欢在一个晴朗的日子和朋友排队去听音乐会。故选D。