Mind Your Manners

卢芳

In England three foreign gentlemen came to a bus stop and waited. About five minutes later， the bus they wanted came along. They were just going to get on when suddenly there was a loud noise behind them. People rushed onto the bus and tried to push them out of the way. Someone shouted at them. The bus conductor came rushing down the stairs to see what all the trouble was about. The three foreigners seem all at sea and looked embarrassed①. No one had told them about the British custom of lining up for a bus that the first person who arrives at the bus stop is the first person to get on the bus.

Learning the language of a country isnt enough. If you want to have a pleasant visit， find out as much as possible about the manners② and customs of your host country. You will probably be surprised just how different they can be from your own. A visitor to India would do well to remember that people there consider it impolite to use the left hand for passing food at table. The left hand is supposed to be used for washing yourself. Also in India， you might see a man shaking his head at another to show that he doesnt agree. But in many parts of India a shake of the head means agreement. Nodding③ your head when you are given a drink in Bulgaria will most probably leave you thirsty.

In that country， you shake your head to mean “yes”—a nod means “no”. At a meal in countries on the Arabic Peninsula， you will find that your glass is refilled as soon as you drink up. If you think that you have had enough， you should take the cup in your hand and give it a little shake from side to side or place your hand over the top. In Europe its quite usual to cross your legs when you are talking to someone even at an important meeting. Doing this in Thailand， however， could bring about trouble. Also， you should try to avoid④ touching the head of an adult⑤—its just not done in Thailand.

Choose the best answer.

1. The British people tried to push the three gentlemen out of the way， because the gentlemen

____.

A. were foreigners                          B. didnt have tickets

C. made a loud noise                      D. didnt line up for the bus

2. According to the article， if you want to have a pleasant journey in a foreign country， you should ____.

A. learn the language of the country

B. understand the manners and customs of the country

C. have enough time and money

D. make friends with the people there

3. In India it is considered impolite ____.

A. to use the right hand for passing food at table

B. to pass food with the left hand

C. to eat food with your hands      D. to help yourself at table

4. To cross ones legs at an important meeting in Europe is ____.

A. a common habit                         B. an important manner

C. a serious trouble                        D. a bad manner