新编英语教程（大一第一学期）unit3语法点
Whatever Happened to Manners?
Linda Dano
1.Do you remember a time when people were a little nicer, a little softer, a little gentler
with each other? I certainly do, and I feel that much of the world has somehow gotten away from that. I see such a difference in New York City, for example, from when I first moved here more than 20 years ago: people rushing into elevators without giving those inside a chance to get off first, never saying “Thank you” when others hold a door open for them, or “Please” when t hey want a coworker to hand them something, never giving a wave or nod of appreciation when another motorist lets them pull out into traffic.
2.We get lazy, and in our laziness we think that something like a simple “Thank you”
doesn’t really matter. But it can matter very much. The fact is that no matter how nicely we dr
ess, how beautifully we decorate our homes, or how lovely our dinner parties are, we can’t be truly stylish without good manners.
3.In fact, I think of good manners as a sort of hidden beauty secret. Haven’t you noticed
that the kindest, most generous people seem to keep getting prettier? They become Cary Grant or Lauren Bacall right before our eyes. It’s funny how that happens, but it does.
4.Take the long-lost art of saying “Thank you.” Like wearing a little lipstick or making
sure your hair is neat, getting into the habit of saying “Thank you” can make you feel better about yourself, and then you look better to everyone around you. A gracious manner not only sets an excellent example for your children and grandchildren but it adds priceless panache to your image.
5.Positive Thanking
Of course, saying “Thank you” does wonder s for the person on the receiving end too. I rec
ently got a thank-you note from a guest who attended a 40th birthday party that Frank and
I hosted for Frank’s daughter-in-law. The note was lovely enough, but even lovelier was the
fact that the guest had also included a recipe for a dish I’d compliment ed her on at an earlier gathering. It was a sweet gesture that made me feel terrific and put me in a great mood. What
a gift!
6.Many of us know we should write thank-you notes, but we think we don’t have the time
or energy. Now, I know we all have busy lives, but I bet the note my guest sent me didn’t take long to write. If you feel like a feel because you’ve put off sending a card, write a note that says, “I should have done this two weeks ago, but I didn’t want to let another day go by without telling you how much I enjoyed your party.” It’s much better than not writ ing at all.
Magic Words
7.Just as powerful as a thank-you note is the simple phrase “Excuse me.” Don’t you just
hate it when someone knocks an enormous carry-on bag into your head when he’s barrel ing down the aisle to board an airplane —and then doesn’t bother to say he’s sorry? But when someone does stop and turn around and genuinely apologizes, doesn’t it melt away most — if not all — of the irritation you felt?
8.Same for holding the door open for others when you see their hands are full. I’ll even do
this for a hotel bellman carrying my luggage. Just because his job is to carry my bags doesn’t mean he doesn’t appreciate a little gesture that makes his life a wee bit easier. And punctuality is not a thing of the past, either. Being on time for lunch dates, for example,
shows the person we’re meeting that we value his or her precious time as much as we do our own.
9.Bringing Manners Home
sort of英文
And for heaven’s sake, we shouldn’t forget to use good manners with our own families.
That’s where it count s the most because those are the people we love the most. How lovely it would be to put a card on your spouse’s pillow at night to say “Thank you” for some dear thing he or she did for you or even just to say “I love you.”
10.Similarly, bringing home the most insignificant little presents for people you cherish
will go a long way. It shows they’re in your thoughts and you want to make them happy. If you’re a husband, how long has it been since you walked in the door with a rose for your wife? Or maybe her favorite candy —even if it’s just a Snickers bar.You’d sure get my attention if you brought me a Snickers! I firmly believe spouses should be gracious about the routine things they expect each other to do. Show that you don’t take the other person for granted. He or she is much more likely to treat you the same way.

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