Manners nowadays in metropolitan cities like London are practically nonexistent. It is nothing for a big, strong schoolboy to elbow an elderly woman aside in the dash for the last remaining seat on the tube or bus, much less stand up and offer his seat to her, as he ought to. In fact, it is saddening to note that if a man does offer his seat to an older woman, it is nearly always a continental man or the older generation.
This question of giving up seats in public transport is much argued about by young men, who say that, since women have claimed equality, they no longer deserve to be treated with courtesy and that those who go out to work should take their turn in the rat race like anyone else. Women have never claimed to be physically as strong as men. Even if it is not agreed, however, should stand up for young women, the fact remains that courtesy should be shown to the old, the sick and the burdened. Are we really lost to all ideals of unselfishness that we can sit there indifferently reading the paper or a book, saying to ourselves “First come, First served”, while a grey-haired woman, a mother with a young child or a cripple stands? Yet this is all too often seen.
Conditions in travel are really very hard on everyone, we know, but hardship is surely no excuse. Sometimes one wonders what has been the behavior of these stout young men in a packed refugee train on its way to prison camp during the War. Would they have considered it only right and their proper due to keep the best place for themselves then?
Older people, tired and irritable from a day's work, aren't angels, either — far from it. Many a brisk argument or an insulting quarrel breaks out as the weary queues push and shove each other to get on buses or tubes. One can't command this, of course, but one does feel there is just a little more excuse.
If cities are to remain pleasant places to live in at all, however, it seems urgent not only that communications in transport should be improved, but also that communication between human beings should be kept smooth and polite. All over cities, it seems that people are too tired and too rushed to be polite. Shop assistants won't bother to assist, taxi drivers growl at each other as they dash dangerously round corners, bus conductors pull the bell before their desperate passengers have had time to get on or off the bus, and so on and so on. It seems to us that it is up to the young and strong to do their small part to stop such “deterioration”.
16. What's the author's opinion concerning courteous manners toward women?
［A］ Now that they have claimed equality, they no longer need to be treated differently from men.
［B］ It is generally oldfashioned for young men to give their seats to young women.
［C］ “Lady First” should be universally practised.
［D］ Special consideration ought to be shown to them.
17. What's the purpose of giving the instance of stout young men during the War in paragraph 3?
［A］ To arouse readers'indignation toward War.
［B］ To make people realize the crowd of city transport.
［C］ To illustrate that hardship is no excuse.
［D］ To warn people to avoid traffic prime.
18. According to the author, communication between human beings would be smoother if .
［A］ people were more considerate towards each other
［B］ people were not so tired and irritable
［C］ women were treated with more courtesy
［D］ public transport could be improved
19. What's the possible meaning of the word “deterioration” in the last paragraph?
［A］ Worsening of the general situation.
［B］ Lowering of the moral standards.
［C］ Declining of physical constitution.
［D］ Spreading of evil conduct.
20. How could you describe the tone of this passage?
［A］ Neutral.
［B］ Indignant.
［C］ Optimistic.
［D］ Edificatory.
责任编辑：虫虫
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