Several days ago, a doctor Lord Robert Winston from Britain took a train from London to Manchester, he found himself becoming steadily angry. A woman had picked up her phone and begun a loud conversation, which would last an unbelievable hour. Furious, Winston began to put the message about the woman on his twitter. He took her picture and sent it to his more than 40 ,000 followers.
As the train arrived at its destination, Winston had enough of the woman's rudeness. But the press were now waiting for her on the platform. And when they deliberately showed her the Lord's messages, she used just one word to describe Winston's actions: rude.
The story of Winston is something of a microcosm of our age of increasing rudeness, fueled by social media ( and often politics). What can we do to fix this?
Studies have shown that rudeness spreads quickly and virally, almost like the common cold. Just witnessing rudeness makes it far more likely that we, in turn, will be rude later on. Once infected, we are more aggressive, less creative and worse at our jobs. The only way to end a strain is to make a conscious decision to do so. We must have the courage to call it out, face to face. We must say, “ Just stop. ” For Winston, that would have meant approaching the woman, telling her that her conversation was frustrating other passengers and politely asking her to speak more quietly or make the call at another time.
The anger and injustice we feel at the rude behavior of a stranger can drive us to do odd things. In my own research, surveying 2 ,000 adults, I discovered that the acts of revenge people had been taken ranging from the ridiculous to the disturbing. Winston did shine a spotlight on the woman's behavior but from afar, in a way that shamed her.
We must instead fight with rudeness directly. When we see it occur in a store, we must step up and say something. If it happens to a colleague, we must point it out. We must defend strangers in the same way we'd defend our best friends. But we can do it with grace, by handling it without a trace of aggression and without being rude ourselves. Because once rude people can see their actions through the eyes of others, they are far more likely to end that strain themselves.
12. Why did the woman use the word “rude” to describe Winston's actions?
A. Because he behaved improperly and spoke loudly on the train.
B. Because he said rude words to the woman.
C. Because he lost his temper due to other people's rudeness.
D. Because he pointed out the woman's rude behavior in a wrong way.
13 What is the function of the third paragraph?
A. To draw a conclusion to the above story.
B. To act as a connecting link of the former and latter part.
C. To show us the positive and negative effects of the social media.
D. To tell us the ways to fix this kind of situation.
14. What does the underlined phrase mean in Paragraph 5?
A. Uncover. B. Combat.
C. Concern. D. Undertake.
15. According to the writer, how should we respond to some uncivilized behaviors?
A. We can only point out rudeness from familiar people.
B. Do nothing but wait for other people to fix it.
C. Both strangers and acquaintances deserve our friendly warning.
D. Take revenge on rude people by doing equally disturbing things.
【答案】
As the train arrived at its destination, Winston had enough of the woman's rudeness. But the press were now waiting for her on the platform. And when they deliberately showed her the Lord's messages, she used just one word to describe Winston's actions: rude.
The story of Winston is something of a microcosm of our age of increasing rudeness, fueled by social media ( and often politics). What can we do to fix this?
Studies have shown that rudeness spreads quickly and virally, almost like the common cold. Just witnessing rudeness makes it far more likely that we, in turn, will be rude later on. Once infected, we are more aggressive, less creative and worse at our jobs. The only way to end a strain is to make a conscious decision to do so. We must have the courage to call it out, face to face. We must say, “ Just stop. ” For Winston, that would have meant approaching the woman, telling her that her conversation was frustrating other passengers and politely asking her to speak more quietly or make the call at another time.
The anger and injustice we feel at the rude behavior of a stranger can drive us to do odd things. In my own research, surveying 2 ,000 adults, I discovered that the acts of revenge people had been taken ranging from the ridiculous to the disturbing. Winston did shine a spotlight on the woman's behavior but from afar, in a way that shamed her.
We must instead fight with rudeness directly. When we see it occur in a store, we must step up and say something. If it happens to a colleague, we must point it out. We must defend strangers in the same way we'd defend our best friends. But we can do it with grace, by handling it without a trace of aggression and without being rude ourselves. Because once rude people can see their actions through the eyes of others, they are far more likely to end that strain themselves.
12. Why did the woman use the word “rude” to describe Winston's actions?
A. Because he behaved improperly and spoke loudly on the train.
B. Because he said rude words to the woman.
C. Because he lost his temper due to other people's rudeness.
D. Because he pointed out the woman's rude behavior in a wrong way.
13 What is the function of the third paragraph?
A. To draw a conclusion to the above story.
B. To act as a connecting link of the former and latter part.
C. To show us the positive and negative effects of the social media.
D. To tell us the ways to fix this kind of situation.
14. What does the underlined phrase mean in Paragraph 5?
A. Uncover. B. Combat.
C. Concern. D. Undertake.
15. According to the writer, how should we respond to some uncivilized behaviors?
A. We can only point out rudeness from familiar people.
B. Do nothing but wait for other people to fix it.
C. Both strangers and acquaintances deserve our friendly warning.
D. Take revenge on rude people by doing equally disturbing things.
【答案】
苏19057182-3号