Question

Bright red post boxes, the Queen and queuing－What do they all have in common? They are all part of British life. Or so I thought.

However, the ability to queue for long periods of time, once believed to be a traditional character of the British, is no longer tolerated by people in the UK, according to a survey done for British bank Barclays.

Once upon a time, queuing was seen as normal. During the Second World War, everyone had to queue up to receive their daily ration（配给）of foods. In fact, if you didn’t stand up and wait in line with all the others, it was seen as impolite.

The famous English double－deck buses, with only one entrance, might also help explain why queuing was seen as a part of life. Almost always, there is queue to get on. But perhaps the British are tired of being pushed past by the Spanish, the Italians or the French as they queue up to get a table at a restaurant. The people of these other European countries have more than one entrance to their buses, which could explain their more relaxed attitude to the queue.

Two minutes is now the longest time most British are prepared to stand and wait. But could it be that the Internet, which allows us to carry out tasks quickly, is the main reason why British people are no longer prepared to queue?

“Used to buying without delay, customers are even abandoning purchases rather than wait their turn,” says Stuart Neat of Barclaycard. “Shoppers are also less likely to queue for long if the item they are buying is of low value.”

Perhaps I will have to replace “queuing” with “impatience” in my list of things I associate with the British.

60. What can we learn about the tradition of queuing in Britain from the article?

A. It was considered as a symbol of polite behavior among the British.

B. It is what makes British different from other European countries.

C. It was a product of the slow pace of life in old times.

D. It is a long time tradition as old as the queen.

61. According to the passage, the British gradually stopped queuing because _______.

 A. they prefer shopping online to going to the shops

B. they follow the example of foreigners in Britain

C. the use of the Internet has changed their way of life

D. British buses now have more than one entrance

62. The purpose of the passage is to _______.

 A. list some things that are associated with the British

B. introduce the change in the British way of life

C. express writer’s approval of changes in the British way of life

D. complain about the British losing patience

63. Which is the best title of the passage?

A. Queuing Is a Part of Life Now.                            B. The British Queue up at a Restaurant.

C. UK Won’t Wait Now.                                          D. The British Have No Patience Now.

Answer 1

ACBC